Archive | June 2016

Hydrangeas

Jun9

There are so many different types of Hydrangeas that grow here in our area.  Dear Violet’s favorite website for Hydrangeas is: hydrangeashydrangeas.com. You can get all the advice you need from this wonderful website. They do a great job of answering the #1 question for Hydrangeas. Why won’t my bloom? Follow their tips and advice and your Hydrangeas will be blooming very soon.

Diane Burke sent Dear Violet her trick for keeping Hydrangeas fresh as well as the beautiful mint that was in the beautiful flower arrangements at the picnic. Here’s what she does:

  1. When you go out to your yard to cut your hydrangeas, take a container of water with you. The water should be tepid, not cold. Place the cut hydrangeas directly into the water and then bring them back into your kitchen.
  2. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium sauce pan and then pour the water into a heat resistant cup or other container. Let cool for a minute and then get ready to dip the hydrangea stems into the boiled water. This removes a sticky sap like substance from within the stem that may block the stems ability to take in the water.
  3. Make sure you cut the stems to the length you want first, and then place the stem into the boiling water and leave 30 seconds. Remove the hydrangea stem from the boiled water and immediately place it in a vase or container with water at room temperature.
  4. Arrange the blooms as you’d like in your vase/container and ENJOY.

Great Advice. Dear Violet would only add that Hydrangeas should be cut first thing in the morning and I submerge the entire flower, stem and all in the first container of water. This hydrates the entire flower. The above method can also be used when the hydrangea flowerettes start to droop.  You can cut them again and place the stems in very hot water from the tap and they will perk right up. Works about 2 maybe 3 times before the hydrangea has had it.

Happy Gardening!

 

 

Deadheading is #1 job for June

Jun9

Again, The # 1 job in June is to deadhead, water now that the temperatures are soaring and fertilize. With the 90’s right around the corner, you will want to check your pots to see how dry the soil has become. You will be surprised! Make sure to drown them before this weekend’s 90’s.

Also, it’s a great time to cut back plants like coleus and diamond frost that are fillers in your pots so they don’t take over the pot. Remember to deadhead your geraniums and petunias. They will thank you with a lot more flowers.

Deadheading is #1 job in June

Jun9

Before you rush out and start trimming nad deadheading, take a minute and read New Garden’s Landscaping and Nursery Summer 2016 newsletter.

Most perennials an annuals will benefit from deadheading. Here’s a few specific tips:

Peonies: You need to cut off the spent blooms down to the first leave pass the blooms for more blooms next year. Dear Violet’s favorite website for al things Peonies is Peonysenvy.com

Perennials Chrysanthemums: Pinch or cut them back for bushier growth and more blooms in the fall. Make sure to get all the flowers buds. If not, they will bloom June and July and not in the fall when we want them to be showy.

Day lilies: Pinch (don’t pull) off spent blooms daily. When the stalk is empty and still green, cut it to the ground. When all stalks are finished blooming and have been removed: fertilize and water well and most day lilies with bloom a second round. Day Lilies get their names from the fact that the bloom is only open for one day.

Amaryllis Part 3

Jun9

Now that the torrential rains have stopped, your Amaryllis bulbs in their original pots with the only the leaves because you have trimmed the dead stems off, can go outside. Place them in morning sun/afternoon shade. Keep them watered and also fertilize them every 2 weeks or so. Dear Violet uses a liquid sprayer attached to my hose. Makes it so must faster to fertilizer all my pots.

Check out the web site’s directions for more inform on summering Amaryllis bulbs outside. More inform to come in August on how to force the bulbs for a December bloom.

https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/t-bys-amaryllis-post-bloom-care.aspx

You can also plant them outside in the ground BUT you must plant them in a south facing garden. Dear Violet’s are also planted close to a stone wall which helps them stay warm during the weather. We are right on the line for Amaryllis bulbs surviving our winters. Please follow the directions at this website for planting them outdoors.

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/g-3-amaryllis.aspx?