picture from pinterest.com
I got some good response from my posting yesterday about what family bee balm is in? Many of you knew it was the mint family....very good. So now for a couple of more questions and answers are at the end of this posting.
1. Daylilies are an easy perennial to grow, so easy you don't have to do anything with them from deadheading to trimming back? True or False
2. Daylilies are one of the many true lilies like Asiatic lilies. True or false
Let us know what you think....A question or two are fun I am finding out.
While it is tempting to cut back the whole flower garden in the fall, even in colder climates, it can be nice to leave some perennials standing throughout winter months. The seeds of echinacea and rudbeckia will attract and feed the birds and sedum will hold onto snow like frosting. There are also plants that like the protection their foliage provides for their crowns like asclepias (butterfly weed), chrysanthemums, and heuchera (coral bells), which all fare best if cleaned up in the spring. But, there are other plants that will need to be pruned in the fall.
No one can pinpoint when the frost and snow will come. Many gardens survive just fine with no attention at all in the fall. This listing can serve as a guideline, but all gardens are unique. What works for one, may not work for another. It never hurts to take some time and put your garden to bed in the fall.
Some perennials do not handle rough weather well. They will not remain attractive after frost, and they have recurrent problems with pests and diseases, which will overwinter in their fallen foliage and surface in the spring. These perennial flowers are best cut down in the fall. If they are diseased, throw the foliage away, do not even compost it. There will always be exceptions and time will play a factor.
Here are some more work to do with perennials. I found this list interesting. Have you grown Bronze fennel. I love the look of this herb and it is a host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterflies. Zone 5 so we might find it hard to winter over here. BUT plant it as a great annual plant.
Bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare "Purpureum")
Bronze fennel has increased in popularity lately and can be found accenting many gardens. The foliage provides food for swallowtail caterpillars, which can leave the stems completely stripped by fall. If that is the case, it is no longer providing any useful service and can be cut back to the ground. It grows best in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Nepetas respond well to severe pruning throughout the season. The foliage will be damaged by winter cold and will need to be cut back anyway, so get a head start by pruning in the fall. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 8.
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Remove any foliage showing leaf miner damage and remove any debris around the base of the plants. Aquilegia sends out growth early in spring and would likely appreciate not having the old foliage to contend with. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 9.
Corydalis (Corydalis lutea)
It is hard to kill corydalis, but if you would rather cut back on its enthusiastic spreading habit and it has not been deadheaded during the summer, cut it back after a killing frost. It grows best in USDA zones 5 through 7.
Crocosmia (Crocosmia)
The flowers of crocosmia fall off naturally once blooming has finished and the seed heads can offer interest, but the foliage eventually heads downhill and there is nothing to be gained by leaving it up through winter.
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies respond well to shearing and unless you are in an area where they remain somewhat evergreen, fall pruning will save you a messy cleanup in the spring. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 9.
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/perennial-plants-to-cut-back-in-the-fall
answer to the question do I need to cut back the daylilies this fall?
Fall Care of Daylilies
Daylilies bloom in a variety of colors, depending on the cultivar.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are by far one of the easiest flowers to grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Sure, you can let them be and enjoy their colorful, lily-like flowers, especially in the first year. But, to maximize their growth and number of blooms for years to come, adopt a few cultural habits when growing daylilies, some of which are best performed in the fall.
1 Water flowering daylilies one or two times a week with 1 inch of water to keep them blooming. Do this only if rain is lacking or scarce. Reblooming varieties such as "'Stella de Oro" flower in the fall.
2 Pinch or cut off spent blooms if your daylilies are a reblooming variety and flowered in the fall. This practice cleans up the garden and prevents the daylilies from using their energy to make seeds.
3 Remove or cut off daylily foliage with a pair of hand clippers only when it starts to yellow, not while it is still green. This habit prolongs the time the daylilies have to photosynthesize sunlight into energy, which will result in more blooms the following year.
4 Lift the clump with a garden fork after cutting back the foliage if your daylilies are overcrowded and not blooming well. Brush and shake off the soil and separate the roots and the base of the foliage, called fans, with your hands. Use a clean knife, if necessary, to divide the mass of daylilies into sections. Each section should have roots and fans.
5 Replant the divided sections in full sun to partial shade at the same depth as before. Space divisions 1 to 2 feet apart. Daylilies grow well in most soil types, but they prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Tip
◾To create the ideal planting bed for daylilies, cultivate the soil about 8 to 12 inches deep and mix in approximately 4 inches of organic matter, such as compost or chopped leaves, before planting.
taken from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fall-care-daylilies
Answer to the question are day lilies really true lilies?
The Difference Between Asiatic Lilies and Daylilies
Daylilies brighten dark spots in the garden.
Daylilies (Hemerocallidaceae) and Asiatic lilies (Lilium spp.) are popular types of lilies for gardens in Mediterranean type climates. Asiatic lilies are one of the easiest lilies to grow. A colorful addition to any garden, Asiatic lilies are extremely hardy, are not particular about soil type and require no staking. Daylilies are often known as the "perfect perennial" as they require little maintenance and thrive in almost any soil condition. Although they are similar in care and cultivation, daylilies and Asiatic lilies have unique and distinctly different characteristics.
Origin
A member of the plant family Liliaceae (Lily), Asiatic lilies are native to Japan and China. Daylilies are not true lilies, although they are also native to Asia, belonging to the genus Hemerocallis.
Flowers
Depending on species and cultivar, Asiatic lilies exhibit flowers that are 4-5 inches in diameter on 20- to 36-inch stems. They display three to 12 flowers per stem. Cultivars are available in shades of white, tan, orange, yellow and red. Popular Asiatic lily cultivars include "Grand Prix" (red), "Connecticut King" (yellow), "Roma" (white), "Enchantment" (orange), "Moulin Rouge" (red), and "Sterling Star" (white). Asiatic lilies present little or no fragrance. Asiatic lilies are popular with the floral industry as long-lasting cut flowers for arrangements and corsages.
Daylilies grow up to 4 feet tall and may require staking, and the flowers last for only one day. Daylilies typically bloom in the morning and die in the evening. There are also daylily varieties that are nocturnal, only blooming during nighttime hours. Because of their short blooming period, they are unsuitable as cut flowers. There are many varieties of daylilies in many sizes and flower colors including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple and blue. Daylilies are deer- and disease-resistant. Hemerocallis "Bright Sunset" is a hybrid that displays flowers up to 6 inches wide in deep shades of orange and red. The center of the flower is a luminescent pale green. A vigorous grower with deep-green, lush foliage, the plant is well-suited for mass planting in flower beds or along a garden pathway.
Hardiness
Asiatic lilies thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 10. Dayliies can be cultivated in all USDA plant hardiness zones.
Cultivation
Daylilies grow best in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil in a full-sun location. They are very drought tolerant and cannot survive in constantly damp soil. Savvy gardeners provide supplemental water during the blooming period to encourage floral development. Daylilies form large clumps and should be planted at least 3 feet apart to accommodate growth. Daylilies benefit from regular applications of organic fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.
Outdoors, Asiatic lily tubers are planted in either the fall or spring. Asiatic lilies can also be forced to bloom as an indoor container planting. Hybrids that lend themselves to forcing include L. auratum, L. speciosum and L. longiflorum. Bulbs must be kept in a cool environment so that they will flower without a natural winter chill. When gardeners force Asiatic lilies, the plant is brought into the warmth of the home or heated greenhouse for flowering six weeks after planting.
taken from tps://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-asiatic-lilies-daylilies-34849.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net
1. Daylilies are an easy perennial to grow, so easy you don't have to do anything with them from deadheading to trimming back? True or False
2. Daylilies are one of the many true lilies like Asiatic lilies. True or false
Let us know what you think....A question or two are fun I am finding out.
While it is tempting to cut back the whole flower garden in the fall, even in colder climates, it can be nice to leave some perennials standing throughout winter months. The seeds of echinacea and rudbeckia will attract and feed the birds and sedum will hold onto snow like frosting. There are also plants that like the protection their foliage provides for their crowns like asclepias (butterfly weed), chrysanthemums, and heuchera (coral bells), which all fare best if cleaned up in the spring. But, there are other plants that will need to be pruned in the fall.
No one can pinpoint when the frost and snow will come. Many gardens survive just fine with no attention at all in the fall. This listing can serve as a guideline, but all gardens are unique. What works for one, may not work for another. It never hurts to take some time and put your garden to bed in the fall.
Some perennials do not handle rough weather well. They will not remain attractive after frost, and they have recurrent problems with pests and diseases, which will overwinter in their fallen foliage and surface in the spring. These perennial flowers are best cut down in the fall. If they are diseased, throw the foliage away, do not even compost it. There will always be exceptions and time will play a factor.
Here are some more work to do with perennials. I found this list interesting. Have you grown Bronze fennel. I love the look of this herb and it is a host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterflies. Zone 5 so we might find it hard to winter over here. BUT plant it as a great annual plant.
Bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare "Purpureum")
Bronze fennel has increased in popularity lately and can be found accenting many gardens. The foliage provides food for swallowtail caterpillars, which can leave the stems completely stripped by fall. If that is the case, it is no longer providing any useful service and can be cut back to the ground. It grows best in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Nepetas respond well to severe pruning throughout the season. The foliage will be damaged by winter cold and will need to be cut back anyway, so get a head start by pruning in the fall. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 8.
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Remove any foliage showing leaf miner damage and remove any debris around the base of the plants. Aquilegia sends out growth early in spring and would likely appreciate not having the old foliage to contend with. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 9.
Corydalis (Corydalis lutea)
It is hard to kill corydalis, but if you would rather cut back on its enthusiastic spreading habit and it has not been deadheaded during the summer, cut it back after a killing frost. It grows best in USDA zones 5 through 7.
Crocosmia (Crocosmia)
The flowers of crocosmia fall off naturally once blooming has finished and the seed heads can offer interest, but the foliage eventually heads downhill and there is nothing to be gained by leaving it up through winter.
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies respond well to shearing and unless you are in an area where they remain somewhat evergreen, fall pruning will save you a messy cleanup in the spring. It grows best in USDA zones 3 through 9.
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/perennial-plants-to-cut-back-in-the-fall
answer to the question do I need to cut back the daylilies this fall?
Fall Care of Daylilies
Daylilies bloom in a variety of colors, depending on the cultivar.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are by far one of the easiest flowers to grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Sure, you can let them be and enjoy their colorful, lily-like flowers, especially in the first year. But, to maximize their growth and number of blooms for years to come, adopt a few cultural habits when growing daylilies, some of which are best performed in the fall.
1 Water flowering daylilies one or two times a week with 1 inch of water to keep them blooming. Do this only if rain is lacking or scarce. Reblooming varieties such as "'Stella de Oro" flower in the fall.
2 Pinch or cut off spent blooms if your daylilies are a reblooming variety and flowered in the fall. This practice cleans up the garden and prevents the daylilies from using their energy to make seeds.
3 Remove or cut off daylily foliage with a pair of hand clippers only when it starts to yellow, not while it is still green. This habit prolongs the time the daylilies have to photosynthesize sunlight into energy, which will result in more blooms the following year.
4 Lift the clump with a garden fork after cutting back the foliage if your daylilies are overcrowded and not blooming well. Brush and shake off the soil and separate the roots and the base of the foliage, called fans, with your hands. Use a clean knife, if necessary, to divide the mass of daylilies into sections. Each section should have roots and fans.
5 Replant the divided sections in full sun to partial shade at the same depth as before. Space divisions 1 to 2 feet apart. Daylilies grow well in most soil types, but they prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Tip
◾To create the ideal planting bed for daylilies, cultivate the soil about 8 to 12 inches deep and mix in approximately 4 inches of organic matter, such as compost or chopped leaves, before planting.
taken from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fall-care-daylilies
Answer to the question are day lilies really true lilies?
The Difference Between Asiatic Lilies and Daylilies
Daylilies brighten dark spots in the garden.
Daylilies (Hemerocallidaceae) and Asiatic lilies (Lilium spp.) are popular types of lilies for gardens in Mediterranean type climates. Asiatic lilies are one of the easiest lilies to grow. A colorful addition to any garden, Asiatic lilies are extremely hardy, are not particular about soil type and require no staking. Daylilies are often known as the "perfect perennial" as they require little maintenance and thrive in almost any soil condition. Although they are similar in care and cultivation, daylilies and Asiatic lilies have unique and distinctly different characteristics.
Origin
A member of the plant family Liliaceae (Lily), Asiatic lilies are native to Japan and China. Daylilies are not true lilies, although they are also native to Asia, belonging to the genus Hemerocallis.
Flowers
Depending on species and cultivar, Asiatic lilies exhibit flowers that are 4-5 inches in diameter on 20- to 36-inch stems. They display three to 12 flowers per stem. Cultivars are available in shades of white, tan, orange, yellow and red. Popular Asiatic lily cultivars include "Grand Prix" (red), "Connecticut King" (yellow), "Roma" (white), "Enchantment" (orange), "Moulin Rouge" (red), and "Sterling Star" (white). Asiatic lilies present little or no fragrance. Asiatic lilies are popular with the floral industry as long-lasting cut flowers for arrangements and corsages.
Daylilies grow up to 4 feet tall and may require staking, and the flowers last for only one day. Daylilies typically bloom in the morning and die in the evening. There are also daylily varieties that are nocturnal, only blooming during nighttime hours. Because of their short blooming period, they are unsuitable as cut flowers. There are many varieties of daylilies in many sizes and flower colors including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple and blue. Daylilies are deer- and disease-resistant. Hemerocallis "Bright Sunset" is a hybrid that displays flowers up to 6 inches wide in deep shades of orange and red. The center of the flower is a luminescent pale green. A vigorous grower with deep-green, lush foliage, the plant is well-suited for mass planting in flower beds or along a garden pathway.
Hardiness
Asiatic lilies thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 10. Dayliies can be cultivated in all USDA plant hardiness zones.
Cultivation
Daylilies grow best in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil in a full-sun location. They are very drought tolerant and cannot survive in constantly damp soil. Savvy gardeners provide supplemental water during the blooming period to encourage floral development. Daylilies form large clumps and should be planted at least 3 feet apart to accommodate growth. Daylilies benefit from regular applications of organic fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.
Outdoors, Asiatic lily tubers are planted in either the fall or spring. Asiatic lilies can also be forced to bloom as an indoor container planting. Hybrids that lend themselves to forcing include L. auratum, L. speciosum and L. longiflorum. Bulbs must be kept in a cool environment so that they will flower without a natural winter chill. When gardeners force Asiatic lilies, the plant is brought into the warmth of the home or heated greenhouse for flowering six weeks after planting.
taken from tps://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-asiatic-lilies-daylilies-34849.html
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net
