Spring 2008 Newsletter, Page 3

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Gleanings

To quote a mentor of mine: "All other things being equal, an ugly landscape costs just as much to install as an attractive one." The difference is in designing the space rather than accumulating a collection of materials. Of course, it’s not just landscape design I’m talking about; the same goes for food, clothes, and interior decorating. I would love to help you turn your dreams into reality. 

Sustainability appears to be the buzzword of the year.  What can we, as individuals, do?  Many things, starting with "Right plant, right place".  This phrase means selecting plants to suit the site rather than changing the site to suit the plants we’ve chosen.  It could also mean drought resistant in order to lessen water usage, disease resistant in order to minimize the amount of chemicals we use, or low maintenance in order to reduce the amount of fertilizer needed.  In areas subject to erosion because of storm water runoff, consider planting a rain garden or using plants with an extensive root system that will help retain the soil and minimize the amount of water that flows into the sewer system. Look at the EPA’s Greenscape Program for Homeowners at www.epa.gov/greenscapes. It’s a simple guide to how homeowners can save time and money and protect the environment too. The program is built on five simple steps:  Build and maintain healthy soil, plant right for your site, practice smart watering, adopt a holistic approach to pest management, and practice natural lawn care. 

I can’t think of any other product on the market that is as sustainable and environmentally friendly as a tree. As America continues to suburbanize, it is more important than ever to understand the importance of our landscapes to our environment, air quality, and water quality. The health benefits of gardening shouldn’t be left out, either. Gardening is great exercise, both aerobically so that it’s good for our hearts, and muscularly so that we stay limber and retain our sense of balance. Not often discussed is the mental benefit of gardening, i.e.stress relief. When I’m working in the garden, I am concentrating so intensely on what I’m doing that I don’t have time to obsess about problems.  That is why our landscapes are not a luxury; they are essential. 

If you enjoy container gardening but are trying to use less water or if you worry about your containers when going on vacation, think about using succulents. There are so many different ones, both annual and perennial, that you can create beautiful and interesting compositions that take care of themselves. I did that last year and was delighted with the results.

Perennial Plant of the Year

The Perennial Plant Association has named Geranium  ‘Rozanne’ (Rozanne Cranesbill Geranium) as the 2008 Plant of the Year. Discovered in an English garden in 1989, ‘Rozanne’ is a standout due to its iridescent violet-blue color with darker veins and white eye, its vigor, and its long bloom period from late spring to early fall. It is a vast improvement on Geranium  ‘Johnson’s Blue’.

Hardy in zones 5-8, this lovely perennial has dark green, deeply cut foliage that takes on a reddish tinge in the fall. This undemanding perennial performs best in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, moist soil. It grows fifteen to twenty inches high and spreads as much as two feet in ideal soil but will be a bit shorter and slower to spread under drier conditions. It is quite drought and heat tolerant once established. To maintain peak appearance and promote new growth, shear back the old foliage to three inches in August; side branches may be removed to control its spread.

The landscape possibilities for Geranium  ‘Rozanne’ are infinite. This colorful perennial is charming but since blue is a color that fades in the distance, try to use it at the front or middle of a border or as a groundcover. It is an excellent companion for early summer as well as late season combinations. For early and then continuing summer color, try combining it with one of the Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy), Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’, or one of the pink Speedwells such as Veronica ‘Fairy Tale’. For a livelier color scheme, try combining it with Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Sunray’ or the new Gaillardia ‘Oranges and Lemons’ (Blanket Flower). For interesting foliar combinations, try pairing it with one of the red-leaved Panicum (Switch Grass) or Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass) cultivars behind it or use one of the dwarf Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain Grass) in front of it.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ also works quite well as a weaver through other perennials and shrubs as well as taller roses. If space is limited, plant ‘Rozanne’ in patio or doorway containers, window boxes, or even hanging baskets.

Happily, hardy geraniums are not on the deer menu so, no matter where you live,
enjoy this easy perennial in your garden.
 

Garden Aids

Mini-scythe: If you need the scythe before the sale (best time to cut down your grasses is mid-March or early April), I have them on hand. ($8.50) Call to arrange pickup.

I have a few large plastic, colorful carryalls (10.5 gallon) that are lightweight and easy to carry. I use mine when I’m weeding or potting a lot of plants. I just dump a bag or two of leaf humus or potting soil in to the carryall, set the pot on top of the soil, and then proceed to fill it with soil and plants. The carryalls are blue, pink, and purple and cost $23. There are matching large, hard plastic scoops for $6.
 

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