Gardening ABCs

 HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

By Kit Flynn
Columnist

The longer I garden, the more I return to basic gardening principles. Provided you follow some general rules, gardening is not that complicated. Now is the time to review them as soon we’ll all be pouring over the new offerings from the garden catalogs. Here are several rules you might want to follow.

Keep in mind those plants that are highly susceptible to pests and disease. Our native plant Phlox paniculata is highly susceptible to powdery mildew for example so be sure to select a cultivar that carries “mildew resistant” in its description. I only order roses that carry the designation “highly disease resistant” because I don’t want to subject myself to the necessity of constant spraying. Yes, this requires some research but in the long run it will save you a lot of time and stress. The Mt. Cuba Center (found here) has performed good research on many of our native plants.

There is a tendency to think that because a plant is native to North America it will settle in comfortably into our gardens. Monarda, along with Phlox, is also prone to develop powdery mildew so care must be taken in choosing the right cultivar. A member of the mint family, Monarda can travel by rhizomes to such an extent you might consider it invasive. This works if you have a large area to fill but it can be tiresome when it oversteps its boundaries as it surely will. Just because a plant is native doesn’t mean it is trouble-free. Again, research is valuable here.

Think of diversity when planning your garden. If a pest ravages a plant, diversity helps to prevent utter devastation. It also makes a garden more interesting. A landscaping company recently installed huge sections of just four different species in an effort to cover a neighboring large front yard; the planting consisted of two large lines of identical evergreens lining the edges of the property and then mass plantings of two innocuous-looking groundcovers. A lack of diversity smothers interest and protection from disease and pests.

Become a good observer and really look at your plants.  Plants up close can look quite different than from afar. I had to cut down an evergreen so infected with aphids simply because I hadn’t bothered to look at the tree before it had turned black with aphid infestation. Early infestations are far easier to destroy than widespread ones.

Look over every plant before you place it into your garden. I succeeded in introducing scale to my orchids because I failed to notice it on a particular one I was introducing to the group. By the time I noticed the scale infestation, it had spread to many of the orchids, and it has taken me a full year to have scale-free orchids.

Consider the requirements of the plants before placing them in the ground. Plant a fern in a sunny area and you’ll end up with an unhappy fern. Siting a rose in a shady area will produce a very disappointing rose. I used to think that hostas were shade loving plants but slowly discovered that they perform best in areas that receive light from the morning sun. Some like H. plantaginea, a hosta species that is deliciously fragrant, can even survive in the afternoon sun. Again, this calls for research before planting.

Practice good gardening hygiene. Does the plant require regular watering? To give them the water they need, it’s best not to plant water hogs on the far side of the garden, as lugging 100 feet of hose during the height of the summer is not fun. Likewise, refrain from placing echinacea in soil that remains soggy, as this native plant will resent it.

Learn the fertilizing requirements of a particular plant. Roses require regular feedings through July because they are termed as “heavy feeders.” If you gave Monarda the same amount of fertilizer, you’d have a travelling monster on your hands – and echinacea would simply give up. Generally, I lean towards fertilizing with a very light hand, perhaps at the beginning of the growing season when rain is in the forecast as rain dilutes the fertilizer, thereby preventing fertilizer burn. I’m a firm believer in building up my soil rather than relying upon fertilizer.

If you have any pests, do your research before you spray. First, determine whether it is really a pest. A praying mantis might look ferocious to a new gardener, but this insect is actually a gardener’s friend. Second, try a light organic spray before falling back on the synthetic ones. I’m a great believer in the efficacy of insecticidal soap. Other organic sprays include garlic oil and horticultural oil. These, like insecticidal soap, need to be sprayed directly on to the pest.

I’d like to say that my garden is an organic one – but it, alas, is not. I have lots of camellias that I adore, and camellias can be susceptible to scale. These hard-coated creatures will spread if not contained so chemical treatment is necessary if the camellias are to remain intact. Consequently, when my camellias had a scale invasion, I was unwilling to sacrifice my camellias, ones I have known since they were babies. To save them, we used a synthetic spray twice a year as they serve as a major backbone to my garden.

These gardening principles are simple ones, ones that can potentially save you from some grief.

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