Through trial and error I have learned that it is best to group plants together that have similar cultural requirements. This may sound like common sense, but all too often we let other factors determine what gets planted, and where. 

I needed a low, yellow annual in front of a wave of red coleus this year and selected portulaca. It started out okay, but I soon realized that the water requirements for the two plants were vastly different. In order to keep the coleus from wilting, I had to supply more water than the portulaca could handle. So one or the other had to go. 

It is helpful to remember this when designing planters as well. You wouldn’t want to combine lavender with hydrangeas because of the different watering requirements. Each year I like to group succulents in containers because they are so low maintenance. 

During a recent two week drought I was watering my coleus and dahlia container arrangements daily but didn’t have to provide a drop of water to the succulent containers.

The same principle applies to pH requirements. The need for some broadleaf evergreen shrubs led to the planting of some pieris and azaleas in one of my gardens. But often these acid-loving plants were sited right next to lilacs, roses and bottlebrush buckeyes, which prefer neutral to alkaline soils. As a result, I have to amend soils and alter pH in some very restricted and sporadic areas throughout my beds to try and keep everyone happy.

So if we want our plants to all get along and play nice together, start by selecting a grouping of plants that all have similar cultural requirements.

Posted by Bob Rensel

Sometimes a planting doesn’t quite work and you are not sure why. You can have the right soil conditions and the right sun exposure and still the plant doesn’t seem happy. How long do you put up with that?

 

My annuals get yanked pretty quickly if they don’t look good. I might first try fertilizing or spraying for annoyances such as powdery mildew. But the summer is too short to put up with sick-looking annuals and I’ll swap them out with something else. I will typically give perennials one season to get acclimated. If they don’t perform up to par in the second year, they get yanked. I noticed that some plants just don’t like to be moved and will let you know if you try. I moved some Japanese Painted Ferns one year and complained all season about how weak they were. They browned out a bit and just didn’t get very big. The next season they were great. Shrubs can be the same way. I planted some new Oakleaf Hydrangeas one year next to some established ones. The new ones constantly wilted that year while the older ones were fine. But in year two, all was well with the new ones. Trees can take a bit longer. I have some Japanese Tree Lilacs that were transplanted in 2003. The stress of moving the mature trees took several years to go away. The first picture shows one of the trees in 2006.  The second picture shows the same tree in 2008.  Each year I would get lots of water sprouts and significant die-back at the ends of the branches. Five years later they are finally having a good year and filling out nicely.

There are few plants that rival Lantana as a nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds. As annuals here in Ohio, they grow exceedingly fast and make excellent container additions. We have several varieties here at the Garden and some of the showiest cultivars include, ‘New Gold’, ‘Radiation’, ‘Gold Mound’ and ‘Confetti’. Lantanas are orignially from the new world tropics but they have since spread to tropical areas around the world. In fact, they are considered an invasive weed in many areas due to their agressive growth habits. I often see them growing in ditches in Central and South America. They love it hot and dry and must have good drainage. Previously, Lantanas required lots of dead-heading to keep them in bloom in the summer. Now, there are new varieties that are sterile and therefore are not producing seeds that need constant removing. One word of caution, the leaves of Lantana can be irritating and will cause a slight rash to those with sensitive skin. Even so, Lantanas are relatively care free and will look great on your patio!

Posted by Cynthia Druckenbrod