“Life is a garden: Dig it.” — unknown
Surviving the giant, sweaty embrace of July’s heat, cooler fall temperatures are on the horizon, creating an ideal planting season for trees and shrubs.
Once planted, these will be part of your landscape for decades, so choose wisely and take the long view. It is a common mistake to plant trees or shrubs too close to each other or surrounding structures. Fully grown trees may interfere with the foundation of your home, overhead wires and your view, not to mention needles or leaves in the gutter.
If you are looking to add or replace a tree, shop with a plan to avoid a repercussion to your budget. Consider your available space and the overall landscape design.
Broadleaf evergreens, such as holly, azaleas and rhododendrons, produce flowers or berries, maintain their leaves throughout winter and create a delightful sight in spring.
Large conifers planted on the west or north sides of open space reduce wind and heating costs, while pyramidal yews and junipers add strong vertical forms and impose symmetry.
You and your garden have a long-term relationship that requires continual work. There are many reasons for the way we arrange and rearrange our gardens, among them a need for order, a desire for beauty and a level of comfort.
Over the years, I have come to value hydrangea in my garden.
These stunners come in a wide range of shapes, colors and forms. From the well-known mopheads in pink and blue, to lesser-known climbing varieties, there is a hydrangea variety to fit almost any garden.
Once these plants begin to flower, many of their billowy blossoms make for gorgeous fresh-cut centerpieces that can be dried to last well into winter. Hot stuff!
I am very fond of the cultivated big-leaf hydrangeas, which have gathered momentum over the years. You will find options small enough for tiny gardens and bushes big enough to fill a huge space.
In generations past, it took tricky soil science to force them to bloom blue or pink, but today, growers have developed varieties that will hold true to their named color regardless of your soil’s acidity level. Big-leaf hydrangea flowers come in mophead form or delicate lace-cap shape.
If you need a plant that climbs, both deciduous and evergreen varieties of climbing hydrangeas are on the market. But be aware: Both grow slowly. The deciduous one shows beautiful peeling bark in winter, yellow fall color and white lace-cap flowers in spring to summer.
The evergreen ones do not lose their deep-green leaves, but it may take years before they put on a show of fluffy white flower puffs. These climbers require little pruning; just clip and tie as needed to train them to grow up walls or trellises. Their adventitious roots will take hold, enabling the plant to support itself. Deadheading is not necessary but will prove aesthetically worthwhile.
Need a hydrangea that will tolerate a bit more summer sunshine? Consider the hydrangea quercifolia. Its robust oak leaf-shaped foliage will put on a better burgundy all-leaf show when grown in a sunny spot.
Its white, cone-shaped summer flowers are both lovely in the garden or in a bouquet.
Come winter, these shrubs may or may not drop their colorful autumnal leaves. Oakleaf hydrangeas require very little pruning.
Cutting out any dead or broken material regularly and removing every other year a few of the oldest, most unattractive shoots by cutting them to the ground will keep them attractive and productive.
The Forever & Ever hydrangea can be pruned anytime. Flowers set on old and new wood, contrary to the old-fashioned hydrangea cultivars.
The spectacular Annabelle hydrangea with its passionate red-and-pink color benefits from a light hand-pruning in the spring to give you a stunning summer show.
On a smaller scale, Petunia Supertunia Picasso in Pink has created great interest this year with a soft violet petal surrounded by a chartreuse edge. A nice introduction to keep in mind for next year’s patio planters.
What to do now:
Give your roses a last feeding by Labor Day.
Fertilize your tomatoes once a month.
Pinch back suckers to grow a more vigorous tomato plant.
Cut and freeze herbs for future use.
Pull obnoxious weeds; add mulch to retard their growth.
Apply deer repellent faithfully.
Continue to clean up spent flowers and browned leaves.
Keep your garden tidy; control perky vegetation.
Train your fall clematis to follow the path you dictate. Happy gardening!
Gotti Kelley, a past president of the Navesink Garden Club, also serves on the board of The Garden Club of New Jersey and Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs.