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Summer Gardening: Beat the Heat with Perennials

June 10th, 2008 · No Comments · Flower Gardening, Gardening Techniques, garden method, garden plants, home gardening tips

Summer Perennial
Questions & Answers (Q&A)
Summer GardeningSummer time during the month of June is good for new plantings. Earlier perennials used to be marketed either bare-root or field-dug but now use of plastic and other containers has made it easy as the new plants get acclimatized to the new surroundings and environment.When gardening in the month of June you must ensure that, it is well treated with humus and other organic matter. Moisture retention becomes extremely important during these hot days. If the beds are new and raised you must ensure that it has at least 4-inches organic matter layer in a soil profile of 12-inches.For optimum root-growth and good drainage it is extremely important.

Proper watering is one of the key factors for perennials in the month of June. Instead of several repeated shallow watering, you may go for one deep watering every week. It is comparatively more beneficial for the plants. You would save your energy as well.

You should never forget mulching after the plantings. Proper mulching would help retain moisture and retard weed growth. You may also use shredded hardwood, pine bark, and compost after planting. However, mulching should not be applied for more than two inches and it should be kept away from the crown of the plant in order to avoid rot.

Summer gardening and specifically gardening in the month of June should better be a combination gardening. Plants in combination will certainly give a unique look to your garden. If you are looking for a long flowering period then Russian Sage (Perovskia Atriplicifolia), Rudbeckia Goldstrum (Gloriosa Daisy), and Autumn Joy Sedum (Sedum Herbstfreude) will be a nice combination. Similarly, plants in combination like Jupiter’s Beard (Dusty Red Centranthus Ruber), Lance leaf Coreopsis (early sunrise Coreopsis Lanceolata), and Perennial Saliva (Saliva Mainacht) would enhance the beauty of your garden.

During the whole summer time, you must be looking for new perennials in garden stores, nurseries, and local botanical gardens. You may also join a garden tour if it is nearby your area. This tour will help you lot study perennials and garden designing with perennials.

Until the end of June, you have sufficient time to cut late bloomers to half in order to control their height. Doing this would help you avoid staking also. With this height treatment, you can easily control the plant’s growth and they will bloom at lower height. Flower will also come a little later than normal on such plants. Some of the common plants that respond well with this treatment include New England Aster(Aster Novae-Angliae),Silver King(Artemisia),Boltonia(Boltonia Asteroids),Joe-Pye Weed(Eupatorium Maculatum) , Rudbeckia Nitida’Herbstsonne’ and Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (Autumn Joy Sedum).

Gardening with PerennialsHerbaceous perennials are known for their extra-ordinary ornamental qualities. These plants require very less caring. During summer times, it is always better to maintain such plants. A well-designed summer schedule of maintenance will greatly help you in shaping up your garden and helping the perennials flourish at optimum pace.

It is time for shearing the tops of spring bloomers. You must take care of foliage effects and ornamental characteristics of the plant while doing this. You may use the grass - shear for this purpose. Some of the perennials you can shear this time include candytuft, Gold Dust, Rock Cress, and Moss Flox.

With little care, low maintenance, and well planned summer schedule you can easily have some fantastic combinations of perennials in your garden.


Summer Perennial Pictures

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Summer Perennial Videos

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Summer Perennial Question & Answers

Summer Perennial Question: 1


Can I plant seeds now for summer perennial flowers for next year?

Can I just through a bunch of seeds in or is there a method for spacing and such?

Answer:
If you have already planted seeds & they are sprouting, you'll have to make sure you protect the seedlings with mulch. Because freezing of tender seedlings is a major concern when planting seeds, many people advocate waiting until after a killing frost before they sow seeds in the fall. "The timing is roughly the same as when tulip bulbs are planted-late enough to be sure your seeds will not sprout before winter. The point is to wait until the soil is so chilled that seed cannot sprout, but stays dormant until warming soil and moisture trigger germination in spring." http://www.americanmeadows.com/QuickGuideToWildflowers/WildflowerHowTo/WildflowerSeedPlantingInstructions.aspx#FallPlanting Simply choose your site, prepare your ground, and sow your seed before the ground freezes. There's definitely less time-pressure on the gardener in fall than in spring. You can broadcast many perennial & wild flower seeds, pat them down, & allow frost heave to bury them. Make sure the ground has been freshly tilled & not hard-packed. You can also mix roughly ten parts of light sand or vermiculite to one pack of seed and simply sow it. Nature plants wildflowers in the fall. Flowers in the wild bloom, then "go to seed" ... dropping their seeds to propagate their individual species. Black-eyed Susans bloom in mid-summer, and then drops a large number of seeds from each dying flower in late summer. If weather cooperates, these seeds may sprout before winter. If it is dry and hostile for the seeds, they will simply lay there through the winter and sprout in spring. After Sowing. Once all your seed is evenly sown, do not rake or cover it with soil. (Some species require light to germinate.) Instead, simply compress the seed into the loose, bare soil. If your site is small, walking over the whole area, being careful to leave the area solid with footprints does just as well. Some people have been known to lay down an old sheet of plywood, and then jump on it to compress the seed into the soil. This is a very important step, since compressing the seed into soil creates all-important "seed to soil contact"-a major aid in successful seed germination. Here's some more methods for fall planting of summer-blooming perennial flower seeds : http://www.alchemy-works.com/fall_planting.html Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Summer Perennial Question: 2


What kind of summer blooming perennial is this?

I live in Otsego County in New york State. We just moved into a new home and this plant is growing out front. It had died back entirely this winter. It is about 3 1/2 ft tall. Large simple leaves.Smoothed waved edge. The stems are a reddish color and are very thick. White pointed compound flowers. Shaped similar to a lilac but a lot smaller. Only about 2 inches long or so. The main branches and shoots on the flower are red/pink in color and at the very end of each shoot there is a single white flower with 5 petals and a very large green center that is rounded. I have pictures available. email me at Trinity_1121@yahoo.com. I think it might be pokeweed. ??

Answer:
if it gets purple berries about a month from now, it's pokeweed. Here's some more photos... http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Pokeweed.html I actually think the plant is pretty. The birds like the berries and they will eat them. I used to let one plant grow in my compost heap at my first house, just for that reason. FYI: They pull easily when they first come up. If you take a look at the photo of the taproot in the link I gave, you'll see why it is a Good Idea to get them pulled when they're young if they are in an area where you do not want them.

Summer Perennial Question: 3


can you gave me a perennial plants that blooms in summer? i need one badly for my front garden.?

i need a perennial plant that will only grow max of 24 inches tall and have flowers. if you can give me a site that would be helpful too.

Answer:
Hi, Since you didn't specify color, we'll do it that way. Purple: Hybrid Aster, Aster x dumosus 'Woods Purple,' Height-to 20" Mildew resistant, Blooms July to Spetember White: Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba,' Old Fashioned bleeding heart, Height-to 28" Blooms May, June, needs partial shade Shasta Daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky, Height-to 24" Blooms June-July Full sun Yellow: Yarrow, Achillea x 'Schwellenburg,' Height--to 24" Full sun Orange: Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa Height-to 24" Blooms mid-late summer Full sun Pink: Threadleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams,' Height-to 24" Blooms early to late summer Sun or partial shade Pink Wand Flower, Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou,' Height-to 28" Blooms June to November (first frost) Full sun Also comes in white Red: Red Beebalm, Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline,' Height-to 30" Blooms May-September Full sun Butterflies and hummingbirds love this one. Happy shopping! gg

Summer Perennial Question: 4


Which perennial flowers bloom in summer and would be good to plant inbetween Foxglove in partial shade?

Thanks for your answers!

Answer:

Summer Perennial Question: 5


What are some good perennial plants and flowers that will bloom for about a month during the summer?

I am planning on having a really big flower garden next year. I would like to plant some perennials, but I would want them to last for about a month, more would be better. I have already bought some gladiolis and some other different kinds of mixed bulbs, and these will bloom for about 1-3 monthes. What are some more? Any lillies or anything like that? I don't care which type of perennial, but as long as it is nice. Ps. I have a packet of snapdragon seeds and a packet of larkspur seeds that i didn't get to plant this year, will they still be good for next year, so i can plant them then? Thanks in advance.

Answer:
blackeyed susans cone flowers primroses yarrow wild geranium shasta daisies russian sage coreopsis I have had these in my gardens for a couple of years now and they bloom or continue to bloom all summer long. as for your seeds...sorry I can't help with that one, I don't buy flower seeds cuz they never grow for me and I am not that patient...lol

Summer Perennial Question: 6


Is there a perennial that will bloom with colorful flowers all summer?
Answer:
Here are a couple that will bloom most of summer: May Night Salvia (sometimes called MeadowSage)-great blue flower spires that last a long time. If you cut back you may get late Sept/Oct blooming. Echinacea (ConeFlowers) -great breeding has taken this plant from it's common pink flowers to vibrant colors like bright yellow, oranges and bright reds. The first year you plant you may get limited blooming but in it's second or third year you will get nice big clumps of flowers that last for couple months. Again if you deadhead it will reflower later in fall. Monarda (BeeBalm)-Long lasting flowers that come in great reds, pinks, lavender and even white. These flowers will last a couple months and are great cut flowers and butterflies and hummingbirds LOVE them. Russian Sage-great silvery purple flower spires and great foliage that blooms a long time. Agree....coreopsis is another good choice and roses are another option to look into. Shrub roses are great choice. Good luck!

Summer Perennial Question: 7


Best perennial plants to plant this fall that will bloom in spring and summer?
Answer:
http://em.ca/garden/per_photos.html one thing about perennials, they are n't always in bloom. you have some in spring, like lily of the valley and forget-me- nots, violets , irises and peonys. in summer you have lilies, delphiniums, lupines, black-eyed susans, blanket flower and poppies in fall you have mums ,autumn joy sedum and some of the summer flowers last till frost. check out this web site to see which ones you prefer.

Summer Perennial Question: 8


best perennials for spring and summer blooming?

I live in southeastern WI and I need both spring blooming perennials and summer blooming perennials. Any suggestions?

Answer:
Wow so much to choose from! It sort of depends on what you want to get out of it. Do you want to attract butterflies, hummingbirds or maybe you just want continuous colour. Some early blooming perennials are forget-me-not, primrose, oriental poppy, bleeding heart. Some of the later blooming ones that I love are bee balm, phlox, pincushion, black eyed Susan. Mix in some annuals so you are never without colour. The following is a great web site for reference:

Summer Perennial Question: 9


What's the best perennial flowering plant that blooms all summer and deer resistant for the state of Illinois?
Answer:
Marigolds are not perennials but all you have to do is pick the dead heads & store in a paper sack (the spent flowers becomes a seedpod) and replant next year. They are wonderful for blooming for so long, require little care & adapt to most all soils, as well as drought & rain. Very easy & neat as well as pretty. I am not wild about the smell but it does keep alot of animals away. Very long blooming period as well.

Summer Perennial Question: 10


I am looking for a perennial, hardy to zone 4 that will attract hummingbirds during both spring and summer.?

Any suggestions?

Answer:
Plainly as it is... a hummingbird vine! They have orange trumpet like flowers and beautiful dark green leaves... and you can't beat the hardiness of these vines... they thrive in poor soil too! You can order it from DirectGardening for cheap.. I just got 2 of them last week for less than 4 bucks altogether. I've listed the webpage below... and here is the information they listed. "Have you always wanted to attract charming little hummingbirds to your yard? Plant this old-time favorite -- hummingbirds find it irresistible. The Hummingbird Vine has dark, shiny green leaves that are smothered in large, showy, orange-scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers from July to November. Hummingbirds appear to collect the sweet nectar and come back year after year. Hummingbird Vine is a vigorous grower -- reaches 20 feet or more. Covers almost any kind of support -- arbors, brick walls, fences, even covers ugly utility poles. We send hardy plants that will grow in poor soil, sun, or partial shade."

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