image from georgeweigel.net
I just noticed I had down October 2nd on Monday and it was the 3rd. HOW many of you caught that? Another great fall day. The weather will get cooler, so enjoy what we have now. Putting things away, cleaning up in the greenhouse are still on my list. Other years I have had to have help to do this, but with my new joints and no pain, I am able to do it myself. Just I do get tired, so need to rest. NOW would that be age? ALL of you enjoy and stay safe.
Here is the first perennial I planted in our front yard in 1984…autumn joy sedum. Sedums are in the succulent family, but are very hardy and easy to grow. I know many of you have them in your gardens. Do you noticed that the pollinators like them too? Here is some information about them.
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sedum Flowers
Sedums have it all! This perennial plant has succulent green foliage and produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. It’s easy to care for and beloved by pollinators, too! Here’s how to grow sedum in your garden.
About Sedum
Perennial plants don’t get much easier than Sedum, a genus of succulents with fleshy stems and succulent leaves—also called “stonecrop.” A hardy plant that grows well in shallow soil, this is a sedum variety for almost every garden.
We like to divide sedum into two main categories based on the plants’ growth habits: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.
Low–growing sedum spreads along the ground, reaching only a few inches (or less) in height. This makes them perfect for use as a ground cover along paths, in rock gardens, or cascading down a stone wall.
Tall or upright sedum tends to form tall, upright clumps that produce large flower heads in tight masses of tiny reddish-pink flowers. Their height and attractive flowers make them good candidates for border gardens or pollinator gardens. A few years ago, upright sedum was reclassified to another genus, Hylotelephium, but it is still commonly referred to as a “sedum.”
PLANTING
Sedum enjoy full sun, but will tolerate some shade. If growing sedum in an area that gets long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder), plant in full sun to improve overwintering capability.
Sedum grows well in poor or sandy soil, but it’s important to have well-drained soil to avoid fungal diseases. It is very susceptible to root rot if grown in soil that holds too much moisture. Overly-rich soil can also encourage leggy growth, which can result in upright sedum varieties becoming top heavy when they bloom.
When to Plant Sedum
Sedum is usually bought in plugs or pots and transplanted into the garden. The best time to plant sedum is in the spring—after the threat of frost but before the heat of summer kicks in.
Plant sedum seeds in early spring in well-drained, average to rich soil. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
How to Plant Sedum
Space plants between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Low-growing sedums will readily spread to fill any gaps, while upright sedums tend to stay more compact.
Planting full plants or divisions: Dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil, then place the plant in the hole and fill in around it. Be careful not to bury the stems of upright sedum especially, as this can lead to rot.
Planting cuttings: Like other succulents, sedum can be readily propagated via cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil and the cutting should have no trouble rooting under proper lighting and watering conditions.
GROWING
Once established, sedum plants require little care. During the summer, check your plants regularly to make sure they are not too dry and water (sparingly) if needed. As long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, sedum shouldn’t need any extra watering.
After flowering, cut back the plants to maintain their shape or contain them in one area.
Tip: For added winter interest, leave the flowers of upright sedum alone after they bloom. They will form attractive seed heads.
Remember to divide your plants in the spring or fall to control their spread. Throughout the summer, divisions and cuttings root readily.
RECOMMENDED VARIETIES
Sedum humifusum makes for a great ground cover and has beautiful, bright yellow flowers
‘Brilliant’, ‘Autumn Fire’, and ‘Autumn Joy’ upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile, aka Sedum spectabile) add bursts of bright pink and magenta to your garden
‘Blue Spruce’ (Sedum reflexum) is a low-growing sedum with blue-green, spruce-like foliage and yellow flowers
PESTS/DISEASES
Mealybugs
Scale insects
Slugs
Snails
Birds, deer, squirrels, and voles may nibble on the succulent foliage of sedum.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/sedum
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
Here is the first perennial I planted in our front yard in 1984…autumn joy sedum. Sedums are in the succulent family, but are very hardy and easy to grow. I know many of you have them in your gardens. Do you noticed that the pollinators like them too? Here is some information about them.
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sedum Flowers
Sedums have it all! This perennial plant has succulent green foliage and produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. It’s easy to care for and beloved by pollinators, too! Here’s how to grow sedum in your garden.
About Sedum
Perennial plants don’t get much easier than Sedum, a genus of succulents with fleshy stems and succulent leaves—also called “stonecrop.” A hardy plant that grows well in shallow soil, this is a sedum variety for almost every garden.
We like to divide sedum into two main categories based on the plants’ growth habits: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.
Low–growing sedum spreads along the ground, reaching only a few inches (or less) in height. This makes them perfect for use as a ground cover along paths, in rock gardens, or cascading down a stone wall.
Tall or upright sedum tends to form tall, upright clumps that produce large flower heads in tight masses of tiny reddish-pink flowers. Their height and attractive flowers make them good candidates for border gardens or pollinator gardens. A few years ago, upright sedum was reclassified to another genus, Hylotelephium, but it is still commonly referred to as a “sedum.”
PLANTING
Sedum enjoy full sun, but will tolerate some shade. If growing sedum in an area that gets long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder), plant in full sun to improve overwintering capability.
Sedum grows well in poor or sandy soil, but it’s important to have well-drained soil to avoid fungal diseases. It is very susceptible to root rot if grown in soil that holds too much moisture. Overly-rich soil can also encourage leggy growth, which can result in upright sedum varieties becoming top heavy when they bloom.
When to Plant Sedum
Sedum is usually bought in plugs or pots and transplanted into the garden. The best time to plant sedum is in the spring—after the threat of frost but before the heat of summer kicks in.
Plant sedum seeds in early spring in well-drained, average to rich soil. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
How to Plant Sedum
Space plants between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Low-growing sedums will readily spread to fill any gaps, while upright sedums tend to stay more compact.
Planting full plants or divisions: Dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil, then place the plant in the hole and fill in around it. Be careful not to bury the stems of upright sedum especially, as this can lead to rot.
Planting cuttings: Like other succulents, sedum can be readily propagated via cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil and the cutting should have no trouble rooting under proper lighting and watering conditions.
GROWING
Once established, sedum plants require little care. During the summer, check your plants regularly to make sure they are not too dry and water (sparingly) if needed. As long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, sedum shouldn’t need any extra watering.
After flowering, cut back the plants to maintain their shape or contain them in one area.
Tip: For added winter interest, leave the flowers of upright sedum alone after they bloom. They will form attractive seed heads.
Remember to divide your plants in the spring or fall to control their spread. Throughout the summer, divisions and cuttings root readily.
RECOMMENDED VARIETIES
Sedum humifusum makes for a great ground cover and has beautiful, bright yellow flowers
‘Brilliant’, ‘Autumn Fire’, and ‘Autumn Joy’ upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile, aka Sedum spectabile) add bursts of bright pink and magenta to your garden
‘Blue Spruce’ (Sedum reflexum) is a low-growing sedum with blue-green, spruce-like foliage and yellow flowers
PESTS/DISEASES
Mealybugs
Scale insects
Slugs
Snails
Birds, deer, squirrels, and voles may nibble on the succulent foliage of sedum.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/sedum
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
