Gardening

Now is the time to add spring plants to garden

It's warmed up, we've had some rain, and the plants have taken off, growing in every direction! Unfortunately, it's not just the desirable plants but those pesky weeds also. My almost bare front yard beds became a haven for weeds. Removing plants and raking the soil around stirred up the weed seeds and obviously brought many to the surface. The rain then gave them a great start. I went out every couple of days and hoed the seedlings down. Shortly I hope to have them under control.

The next step before planting was adding some organic material to the beds. I added some fallen oak leafs, which abound now. My neighbors were very generous with their overflow! I also bought bags of compost to mix into the soil. I added some peat to the areas where I will plant azaleas, because they like acidic soil.

Taking the lazy way out, I faxed a plant list to a local nursery and then picked up the plants. This saved me the time of pulling the plants from the field. Although I have only known this nursery manager a short time, I visited the nursery ahead of time, felt comfortable with her and the quality of the plants. I wasn't disappointed. When I picked up the plants Saturday afternoon, I was quite pleased.

My initial planting includes ajuga, an azalea tree, semi-dwarf red ruffle azaleas, nandina, a new variety of philodendron and plum delight fringe flower. These were all planted away from the edge of the bed, because the curbing will be installed and I didn't want the new plantings disturbed. I am changing the size and shapes of the beds just a little, so I'll finish the planting after the curbing is installed.

The ajuga or carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans) is a ground cover suited for a shady area. It doesn't get more than about four inches tall and has purplish-green foliage. It can live in wet, moist or dry soil and, as long as it is in a well-drained location, is suitable for sandy, loam or clay soils. When planting make sure the crown is not covered with soil.

Rooted runner plants' from established plants can be moved in spring or fall. This plant requires little maintenance. Used extensively in other areas of the country, I think it is underused here. If you have a shady to partly sunny location in need of a ground cover, try this one. The purple flowers it sends up on six-inch stems are an added bonus.

The azalea tree is a focal point by the front door. The plant is covered with buds and will shortly be awash in a profusion of pink flowers. Nandina or heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen woody shrub. It distinctive compound leaves, which have lance-shaped leaflets, are held on multiple nonbranching stems. The entire plant has a very lacey appearance and upright form, growing 6 to 8 feet tall. The species tends to sucker out, forming ever-larger clumps. In spring, there are large panicles of small white flowers at the end of stems, followed by green berries that ripen to bright red and are held for many months unless devoured by birds. The wood is often bright yellow.

Nandina prefers reasonably rich soil and does not thrive in sand. Otherwise this is one of the toughest and adaptable plants you will find. I have one in my back yard that is a highly shaded area and has thrived for at least six years. It will also take the full sun.

The new variety of philodendron I planted is called Xanadu (Philodendron Xanadu). I'm not sure whether the name or the growth habit is more appealing. It likes light shade to part sun, but it's best to avoid the afternoon sun. It's an evergreen shrub growing to about three feet tall and the same in width. It does need regular water with more moisture in the summer and less in the winter. I planted it near azaleas because the watering needs are the same. I have been told it is a very slow grower.

Plum delight fringe flower is an evergreen perennial with purple foliage and hot pink flowers in spring and summer. It grows well in sun or shade. It is a finely textured, spreading shrub, which grows about four feet tall with a six-foot spread. Young shrubs have a greater spread than height and they are densely branched. Flowers hang down in small clusters. It grows well in organically rich acidic soil with good drainage. It has few pests and requires no pruning except to maintain a size, if desired. In less than ideal soils it benefits from fertilizing.

The next day found me concentrating on the bed by the front door next to the house. I saved the gardenia that was there, shaping it a bit and giving it a good dose of an acidic fertilizer. A quick trip to the garden center and I was ready to continue planting. I picked up two flats of yellow marigolds, a flat of dahlias, blue lily of the Nile and blue-eyed grass.

The marigolds are used as a border around the bed. They are easy to grow and come in many different colors preferring partial shade to sun. You'll keep your marigolds looking great if you pinch off the wilted flowers and fertilize them every couple of weeks. If you are saving seeds you will have to let some of the flowers develop completely, go to seed, and dry on the plant. This plant is easily started from seeds.

The dahlia (Dahlia hybrid) has always been one of my favorite flowers. It comes in almost every color imaginable and holds up well to our summer weather. Keep it evenly moist and pinch off the withered flowers to keep it blooming. I bought a flat of mixed colors, many of the plants in bloom. It added instant color to the area.

Blue lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus) is a clump forming perennial growing to about two feet high and wide. The flowers are light to dark blue and appear from spring to late summer. It appreciates full sun to partial shade and regular watering.

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium atlanticum) was my impulse buy. The grass-like leaves and petite blue flowers are very appealing. The average size is about 1 foot by 1 foot and it has low water usage once established. It looks like an ornamental grass but is actually part of the iris family. The flowers are short-lived, usually lasting just one day, but the profusion of flowers makes up for their short life. It is supposed to be prone to self sowing.

The weather cooperated and not long after planting and fertilizing this area, it rained. The flowers of the marigolds and dahlia already add lots of color, and when the blue eyed grass and the lily of the Nile start blooming it will be beautiful.

That completes a weekend of work. After the curbing is installed I will finish with the planting and just try and enjoy it for awhile. But there won't be too long to rest, as I have ideas for the back yard also!

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