Perennials

Garden Design & CarePerennials

How to Grow: Fall Garden Cleanup

  As the leaves start dropping, many gardener's attention turns to fall garden cleanup. While this is an autumn tradition, there's some new advice about how and when to cleanup the yard and garden that might help make the work easier and help our bees, beneficial insects and birds. The best way for me to remember these new tips is to think of one of my commands for our dogs, “leave it.” Leaves on the lawn should be mowed and left to decompose. This creates a thin leaf layer that earthworms will feed on and enhance the soil. Thick...

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GroundcoversPerennials

How to Grow: Ferns

Learn about growing ferns in your garden, including unusual varieties to grow. Listen to podcast: podcast transcript   Sun Requirements Part sun, part shade, full shade   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Grown mostly for their green ferns. Some ferns turn a golden color in fall   Mature Height x Spread 1 to 4 feet x 1 to 3 feet   Added Benefits Fall color, native, deer resistant   New England woodlands and shady areas are loaded with native ferns. They are so ubiquitous in our region; we often overlook them as garden plants....

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Perennials

How to Grow: Foxglove

Digitalis spp and hybrids Other Name common foxglove   Sun Requirements full sun, part sun, part shade   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Spring to early summer in colors such as blue, pink, peach, red, yellow, purple and speckled.   Mature Height x Spread 2 to 4 feet x 1 to 3 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant   This common cottage garden plant can be a biennial or perennial depending on the species. Biennials grow just leaves the first year and flower the second. Since they self-sow...

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AnnualsPerennials

How to Grow: Gaillardia

Sun Requirements Full sun for best flowering, but can thrive in part shade especially in warm summer areas. Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Gaillardia blooms on and off all summer. Mature Height x Spread 10 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on the variety. Gallardia, or blanket flower, is a native plant that grows as a short-lived perennial (hardy to zone 3) or as an annual variety, depending on the selection. The 1- to 2-foot tall plants feature orange or yellow daisy-like flowers. Recent breeding has expanded the color range to include...

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PerennialsPodcast

How to Grow: Goldenrod

Listen to this podcast on how to grow and care for goldenrod in your garden and landscape. This native wildflower is often overlooked as a garden plant. The yellow flower blooming now was once used medicinally -- and to make a wine -- by Native Americans and Europeans. The leaves were even used by colonists to make tea after they threw all the British tea overboard at the Boston Tea Party. What common flower is this? It's goldenrod. Before you poo-poo goldenrod as just a common roadside weed, let me tell you a little about this tough...

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Perennials

How to Grow: Hardy Geranium

Geranium spp   Other Name cranesbill geranium   Sun Requirements full sun, part sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Late spring to early summer with some reblooming throughout the summer in colors such as white, blue and pink.   Mature Height x Spread 6 to 24 inches x 1 to 2 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials   Geraniums aren’t really geraniums. The geranium most gardeners refer to is actually Pelargonium, an annual flower. I cover those in the chapter on annuals. True geraniums are hardy perennials in New England...

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PerennialsPodcast

How to Grow: Hardy Hibiscus

Learn how to grow hardy hibiscus, including how to plant and grow them. Listen to podcast: podcast transcript Watch this video on Hardy Hibiscus: How to Grow: Hardy Hibiscus Hibiscus moscheutos Other Name Swamp rose mallow   Sun Requirements Full sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Late summer to fall in colors such as white, pink, red, and bi colors.   Mature Height x Spread 2 to 5 feet x 2 to 5 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, attracts hummingbirds   Yes, you can grow hardy hibiscus in New England. Often people...

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PerennialsPodcastUncategorized

How to Grow: Helenium

Listen to this podcast on how to grow Helenium or sneezeweed perennial flower.     Watch this video about Helenium:   It's August and soon we'll hit that quiet time in our perennial flower garden after the early summer flowers fade, but before the fall flowers shine. We're always looking for plants to fill this late summer void and one of the best is Helenium.  Helenium is a hardy, native, aster-family perennial with few pests. It grows in the wild in damp areas in meadows. It also goes by the unfortunate common name of...

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Perennials

How to Grow: Helenium and Boltonia

Helenium and boltonia are perennials that grow well in our region. Both come in a range of colors and boast great attributes: pollinators love them, and deer and woodchucks don't. Looking for some beautiful native plants that are fairly care-free and boast bright colors in late summer and fall? Try growing boltonia and helenium, both from the aster family. These perennials are blooming now and can be a nice alternative to goldenrod and other asters. They do well in our climate and can grow 3 to 5 feet tall with multiple, small and bright...

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