Month: July 2024

Fall is the perfect time to divide perennials since the cooler weather will limit planting shock, and perennials will still have plenty of time to settle into your garden before winter arrives.

I’m going to highlight 3 or 4 plants that most gardeners have had experience with and are quite popular in all parts of the US.

The first perennial to feature is one that is almost impossible to destroy, its the Hosta. Loved by many, but also reviled by some, it just grows and grows forcing one to divide it or be overwhelmed by it.

Hosta (Hosta spp.)

Plant name:	Hosta
Light requirements:	Part shade
Water requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 9

Hostas can be divided in spring or fall, but September is usually the best time to divide these plants. To start off, water the soil well to make it easier to work with, and then dig up your clumps of Hosta’s. Use a sharp gardening knife or spade to cut the Hosta plants into sections with at least 2 to 3 eyes each and try to avoid slicing through the roots if possible.

Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis)

Plant name:	Astilbe
Light requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Water requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 9

Astilbe grows quickly, and it can form a low-maintenance groundcover in shady and sunny areas. Famed for its foamy flowers that come in shades of pink, red, purple, and white, astilbe can become overgrown in a few years, which will limit the number and size of the plant’s flowers

To divide astilbe, moisten the soil with your garden hose and then dig up clumps of the plant with your shovel. Use a garden knife or spade to cut the plant into smaller sections, taking the time to double-check that each new section of astilbe has plenty of roots and healthy shoots. Replant your astilbe as soon as you can and water your new plants in well to help them adapt to your garden beds before the cold temperatures arrive.

Salvia (Saliva spp.)

Plant name:	Salvia
Light requirements:	Full sun to part shade, depending on a variety
Water requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 5 to 9

Salvia is one of the best plants to grow for pollinators, but it also adds a wealth of color to ornamental beds, cottage gardens, and other landscapes as well. Salvia plants don’t need a lot of upkeep, so they’re good choices for beginning gardeners. However, if you want to grow the healthiest salvia around, plan on dividing your plants every 2 to 4 years in spring or fall.

After gently lifting salvia roots from the soil, see if you can tease the roots apart to get new plant starts. If you can’t work the roots apart easily, cut the roots into smaller sections with a gardening knife or a hori hori. You can limit the amount of time your plants are out of the soil and help them recover more quickly after division by pre-digging your new planting holes before you dig up your salvia plants.

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Plant name:	Bugleweed
Light requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Water requirements:	High to moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 9

Bugleweed is a low-maintenance groundcover, and it can also be planted on sloping hillsides to control erosion. Beyond its colorful green, bronze, or purple leaves, bugleweed is beloved for its purple flowers, which are always a hit with bees. But while this undemanding plant doesn’t need a lot of extra care, it can rapidly spread, and dividing bugleweed regularly will prevent this plant from becoming overgrown.

Dividing bugleweed is as simple as digging up the mother plant and breaking it into smaller sections with your hands or a gardening knife. If any weeds have wound their way into your bugleweed patch, use this time to pick out the weedy growth and remove any brown or dead patches of bugleweed too. Then, replant your bugleweed starts in full sun to part shade and water your new plants in well to help them acclimate.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)

Plant name:	Daylilies
Light requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Water requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 2 to 11

Daylilies are fast-growing perennials that form thick clumps of leaves as they spread. These plants should be divided every 3 to 5 years to keep them looking their best and to prevent their roots from becoming overgrown. If you forget to divide daylilies regularly, your plants can become overcrowded and stop producing blooms.

Daylilies can technically be divided in spring, but fall division is usually better as it will give your plants more time to acclimate before they need to bloom. To divide daylilies, dig up the plant’s root ball with a shovel and then insert two gardening forks, back to back, into the clump of roots. Pry the forks apart from each other to break daylily plants up into smaller sections before replanting your new plants into your garden bed.

Most perennials can be divided in either spring or fall; however, dividing your plants in fall can be particularly beneficial for perennials that flower in spring to summer. To limit plant stress, it’s best to divide perennials on days when the sky is overcast, and temperatures are cool. Replanting perennials as soon as you can is also recommended, and you can help your plants adjust more easily to your garden by watering them well after planting and then adding a thick layer of mulch to shelter their growing roots.

This article first appeared in gardening.org and has been edited for space.

There is nothing quite like growing Lantana in containers, hanging baskets and flowerbeds for a gorgeous pop of color – especially when you can keep it blooming big and strong all summer long!

Lantana require very little maintenance for proper blooming. Even better, is rarely bothered by pests. Just two more striking reasons this plant is a perfect choice to beautify your landscape in the summer months. With that in mind, here is an in-depth look at Lantana, including how to keep it flowering all season long!

Planting and Watering – Growing Lantana To Keep It Blooming Big

As an annual plant, Lantana requires minimal care while planting. There are 5 main factors you have to cater to when planting Lantana for success – whether directly in flowerbeds, or in pots, containers and baskets:

• soil drainage
• lighting
• watering
• fertilizing
• deadheading

Drainage

When grown annually, it is imperative to avoid wet or soggy soil. This invites problems such as plant disease and rotting of the roots. When planting in containers, this can be avoided simply by using a good quality potting soil that is loose and friable.

However, when planting directly into bed spaces, amend the soil prior to planting with plenty of compost. Not only will the compost provide nutrients for the plant, it will also help to loosen the soil and improve drainage.

If you happen to have exceptionally heavy or clay like soil, you can also amend with a bit of sand and perlite. The sand will help to drain the water away quickly while perlite will help to keep the soil from clogging together.

Lighting

One of the most pivotal keys to keep your Lantana blooming is giving it enough light. To provide maximum blooming potential, be sure you locate your plants in an area that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.

You need not worry about the heat factor as Lantana can handle the sun’s hot rays. In fact, it can handle heat far better than cold. Cold, damp conditions can lead to low blooming and disease issues for the plant. When growing in containers, bring plants indoors if low temps (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) are in the forecast.

Watering

With Lantana, over watering is more of an issue that under watering. Do not water the plant every day as it may lead to excessive moisture in the soil. Water only to ensure that the root ball along with surrounding area is moist. Be sure to allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lantana growing in containers and baskets will require more watering than those directly growing in beds. But with that said, be careful of providing too much. It is better to soak the plant through every few days when watering than providing just a little water every day.

Fertilizing Lantana:

It is a bit surprising to know that fertilizing is not a major player in keeping your Lantana blooming. In fact, in many cases, it is too much fertilizer that can keep Lantana from blooming more. When the soil is too rich, plants tend to focus their energy on foliage growth in place of producing blooms.

For plants growing in flowerbeds, apply a light all purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer to plants in the early spring, and again in late summer. This is more than enough to provide the necessary nutrients for proper blooming.

For plants growing in containers, a light fertilization once a month works well. For potted plants, a light dose (half-strength of recommended mixture) of an all-purpose liquid fertilizer is more than enough.

Deadheading:

Finally, one of the most important secrets to keep your Lantana blooms blooming is deadheading your plant regularly. It is an uncomplicated task that works wonders for keeping new blooms coming on again and again.

Source: thisismygarden.com