With the heat index here in Maryland in the low 100s this past week, I have had to restlessly wait out the heat to get back into my garden. The heat index, however, is more hard on we gardeners than on our plants. The plants are actually not affected by heat index or wind chill numbers. Of course they do respond to high heat and extreme cold.
Mostly what you will see in your garden right now will be plants that are wilting. This is a common response to the extreme heat. But don't rush out and drench your plants with water. They may have plenty of water and over-watering is actually another cause of wilting in plants. Wilting most often occurs as a result of plants losing moisture (through their extensive surface area on their leaves) faster than their roots can can absorb moisture. If you have a container garden, check first to see if your plants need a larger pot or a location that provides more shade and less sun.
Your thoughts might turn to using drought tolerant plants which is a good idea if you live in an area with high heat and water shortages. But drought tolerant plants have to be well established before they can actually sit out a hot dry summer. Keep this in mind when first planting any of these hardy souls!
What first comes to my mind when I consider drought tolerant plants is the intrepid day lily! They produce masses of color, they multiply beyond imagining, and you can make use of the many varieties to have months of blooms.
Ornamental grasses are another great plant in the drought tolerant category and with the wide range in shape, height, and flower, these are magnificent additions to garden borders, to fill in spots where nothing else will grow, and to add privacy to your yard.
Add some coreopsis, black eyed susans (a Maryland native), yarrow, and echinacea, and you will be assured of variety and color throughout the hot humid dog days of summer!
Garden Coach
I am a garden coach which simply means if you want to learn how to garden -- I will advise you on getting started!
I will come visit your yard with you to understand the sun and the soil and your vision of your garden. I will create drafts of some easy-to-begin gardenscapes for you.
If you want to continue working with me, I have some helpful offerings for nurturing your garden and your own skills as a gardener. As you begin your garden life, I have advise on where to order or purchase healthy plants, how to enrich your soil, determine an initial garden budget for your plants and your pocket book! I am available to go with you to purchase healthy plants your first year. I can also show you some planting magic when you are ready to put in your first garden plants.
Information on plant care and maintenance, wintering over, cutting back, and dividing plants might also be something you would like to learn. At the end of your first garden season I can come and do a "health check" for you and offer advice for the fall plantings and for the coming spring. At this point I can also draft a plan for your second year garden.
I am also delighted and expert in working with you to design gardenscapes which will attract a variety of wild life. I have expertise in gardens for hummingbirds, butterflies, toads - yes, toads are a wonderful addition to any garden - and bees! I have a certified Bee Keeper on staff who advises on how to help increase the population of bees. Bees are essential to our ecology and the bee population has been declining rapidly. This is a critical concern for pollination and continual renewal of our green resources.
Finally, I have artists who create unique and delightful outdoor gardenscapes. They use glass, stone, iron, and other weather resistant materials to add an intimate piece of art which blends in with the personality of your garden.
I am good at assisting gardeners-to-be of all ages. I love working with children and starting them on their life long, colorful garden path!
A few words about what I do and do not work with.
First of all, I will not work with any chemicals or toxic substances. We can enrich our soil and nurture our plants in safe, nutritious ways. We can also work with plant diseases or pests without resorting to chemistry.
I do offer my garden coach experience working with Perennial Flowers, Herbs, Wild Flowers, Ornamental Grass, and Spring Bulbs. I do not advise on Trees, Large Shrubs, Lawn care, or Landscaping. I also do not assist with vegetable gardens.
What I do work with, the flowers, I treat with love and respect.
The earth is our home and our flower gardens are the blooming smiles on its face!
I will come visit your yard with you to understand the sun and the soil and your vision of your garden. I will create drafts of some easy-to-begin gardenscapes for you.
If you want to continue working with me, I have some helpful offerings for nurturing your garden and your own skills as a gardener. As you begin your garden life, I have advise on where to order or purchase healthy plants, how to enrich your soil, determine an initial garden budget for your plants and your pocket book! I am available to go with you to purchase healthy plants your first year. I can also show you some planting magic when you are ready to put in your first garden plants.
Information on plant care and maintenance, wintering over, cutting back, and dividing plants might also be something you would like to learn. At the end of your first garden season I can come and do a "health check" for you and offer advice for the fall plantings and for the coming spring. At this point I can also draft a plan for your second year garden.
I am also delighted and expert in working with you to design gardenscapes which will attract a variety of wild life. I have expertise in gardens for hummingbirds, butterflies, toads - yes, toads are a wonderful addition to any garden - and bees! I have a certified Bee Keeper on staff who advises on how to help increase the population of bees. Bees are essential to our ecology and the bee population has been declining rapidly. This is a critical concern for pollination and continual renewal of our green resources.
Finally, I have artists who create unique and delightful outdoor gardenscapes. They use glass, stone, iron, and other weather resistant materials to add an intimate piece of art which blends in with the personality of your garden.
I am good at assisting gardeners-to-be of all ages. I love working with children and starting them on their life long, colorful garden path!
A few words about what I do and do not work with.
First of all, I will not work with any chemicals or toxic substances. We can enrich our soil and nurture our plants in safe, nutritious ways. We can also work with plant diseases or pests without resorting to chemistry.
I do offer my garden coach experience working with Perennial Flowers, Herbs, Wild Flowers, Ornamental Grass, and Spring Bulbs. I do not advise on Trees, Large Shrubs, Lawn care, or Landscaping. I also do not assist with vegetable gardens.
What I do work with, the flowers, I treat with love and respect.
The earth is our home and our flower gardens are the blooming smiles on its face!
Gardenscape Offerings
Here is a list of my earth-friendly services:
- Detail plan(s) of garden spaces for your yard
- Helping you to pick out healthy plants
- Advice on actual planting of your selections
- Mid-season maintenance check of your garden space
- End of season advice on readying your garden space for winter
- Advice on what, how, and when to put in spring-flowering bulbs
- Creating a hummingbird garden
- Creating a butterfly garden
- Creating a bee-friendly garden scape
- Creating a garden scape for toads
- Gardening with containers
- Garden art
"Earth laughs in flowers."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment