Possessed by the color of leaves, from the ground up into the sky, I am always on the lookout for unusual cultivars and new happenings in the plant world.
Autumn color is a benefit to seek out when selecting a new addition to your garden, and you should definitely consider it.
The dazzle of ginko biloba’s autumn farewell is an amazing lesson in color, echoed by the red/burgundy foliage of the hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea). Rhus copallina (dwarf winged sumac) is an up-and-coming low-growing shrub with beautiful detailed green/yellow/ orange leaves, invigorating quiet garden spots. A small tree, heptacodium (seven son flower) has become the rage with glossy dark leaves, exfoliating bark and fragrant creamywhite summer flowers. Best attribute is a persistent shower of reddishpink sepals in late fall.
More “must-have trees” on my list include metasequoia “Miss Grace” (dawn redwood). Airy blue-green foliage in spring turns bright shades of orange/chocolate in autumn. It is a slow-growing fine choice for small spaces. Another small tree that seems to glow is acer palmatum Beni Schichihenge (variegated maple), striking in shape and color with autumn foliage turning into a brilliant shade of orangegold. It is slow-growing and highly resistant to leaf scorch. Hamamelis (witch hazel) is another superstar of autumn glory. This small tree allows you to plant woodland treasures underneath. Now is the perfect time to add plants and trees to your garden. Break away from cookie-cutter gardens and add some bling.
Autumn is also the time to think about next year’s perennials. A fine choice – environmentally smart, pleasing to the eye and faithfully performing – are our native plants.
Why go native? These plants are well adapted to our soil and climate. A wide variety of beautiful flowers, textures, sizes and colors attract and support local fauna. Native plants fit beautifully within your landscape and more and more people are attracted to ecologically friendly, sustainable landscapes. Here is a small sampling of native plants: aster, purple coneflower, California poppy, liatris, yellow and white primrose, penstemon, rudbeckia, asclepias, monkshood, delphinium, camassia, lobelia and giant salomon seal. Some or all of these colorful natives would look beautiful in any garden.
Bond with your garden! Your plants depend on you. Learn to recognize signs of stress (yellowing leaves, drooping, loss of vigor) and learn to read those signals, prompting your attention. Great-looking plants must be happy underground and have access to air, nutrition and moisture. The whole terrestrial universe, called soil, provides an anchor for plants to absorb nutrients. Natural materials, such as composted leaves and manure, add important texture and nutrition to the soil and encourage an active bacterial component to keep your soil alive. Buying “good soil” is not going to help you unless you dig it in with what you already have. So, get with the program and start digging. The inevitable result will be a vigorous, flourishing garden.
The eastern U.S. is considered to be among the richest areas in plant diversity of the temperate worlds, second only to China. This allows a huge variety of specimens to flourish. To expand your horticultural acumen, visit some of the great botanic gardens in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York and gather impression and information for your own garden. Autumn is the ideal time to stroll through a landscape that has been carefully assembled to please your senses. From the leaves rustling underfoot to the scents wafting through the trees, the mournful song of turtle doves and the busy little creek seeking its destination, all this makes a “walk in the park” a wonderful experience and elicits an emotional response.
The frugal gardener: Prepare for a bounty next year by taking 4-5-inch cuttings of coleus now and placing them in individual small containers, filled with water. By November you will be able to pot them up in 4-inch pots.
need to cut the tops to develop nice branching and by May your gorgeous coleus will be ready to go outside. All my coleus are second- and third-year generation and thriving. Some noteworthy exciting coleus have been introduced such as “Flittin’ Skirts,” a brazen selection of burgundy streaked with green and edged in cream-colored frills.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a beetle native to Asia and was first detected in Michigan in 2002. Since then, EAB has destroyed more than six million ash trees in southeastern Michigan, has been observed in Ohio, Virginia and Maryland and is now threatening Pennsylvania. EAB is a greater threat than Asian long-horned beetle. It is a much stronger flyer and moves farther and faster. Signs of older infection can include vertical bark slits, excessive epicormic branching on lower tree trunk, yellowing leaves, “D” shaped holes in trunk and branch dieback in the upper crown. Inform yourself of this threat and check out the Internet for more details. If you think you have found EAB, report it to your extension service.
Gypsy moth: There is no easy way to control it. For decades communities have saturated themselves with pesticides to escape the consequences of a gypsy moth year. Bakterium bacillus thuringiensis, Bt, which is touted as safe to humans, is now being used by communities. Bt is, however, death to any larvae that happen to be alive at the time of spraying. All caterpillars and many kinds of larvae are decimated, not just those of the gypsy moth. All species dependent upon the cyclical abundance of caterpillars and larvae for food are affected. An excellent source of information is the West Virginia University Extension Service’s “Homeowners Guide to Gypsy Moth Management” from Rutgers Extension Service or the master gardeners in your county. The booklet suggests Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, based on close monitoring of conditions and use of controls whenever necessary. IPM uses cultural controls such as improving tree health, planting resistant tree species, encouraging natural predators, removing gypsy moth hiding places and destroying egg masses when found. Be vigilant and observant.
Gotti Kelley is a longtime member of the Navesink Garden Club and is on the board of The Garden Club of New Jersey