What to do when your beautiful spring garden suddenly has a large empty space in August? Here are some perennial pairings that I’ve discovered over the years to hide declining foliage and gaps in the border. Lupinus perennis and Lobelia siphilitica Let the native lupine foliage “ripen” like bulb foliage in order to photosynthesize. The lupines will…
Katie Metzger comes to us from Land’s Sake Farm in Weston, where she was recently Education Director. With the move to developing online learning, she decided to stay outdoors and came to our crew to keep her hands in the soil. Laura Semple is our new part-time Decor Coordinator, responsible for all containers and in-ground plantings of…
Sedum sarmentosum Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ with Lambs Ears There are clumping sedums (‘Autumn Joy’ and Matrona’) and there are spreading sedums (‘John Creech’, ‘Fuldagut’ and ‘Lime Zinger.’) Great in any garden with full sun to part shade, sedums are extremely drought tolerant due to their fleshy, succulent leaves. In fact, a dropped sedum stem will…
If you’re reworking your spring containers of pansies, primroses and the like – think about some summertime drought tolerant alternatives: succulents and sedums (see article below), petunias, dahlias, lantana, herbs such as thyme or rue, and geraniums (including scented ones) come to mind. These plants will need watering probably only every other day. Summer Container…
We will be carefully observing your landscapes and evaluating the timing of our pruning work that usually happens during summer. If a large amount of wilting is seen, we may choose to not prune this year if you lack in-ground irrigation. The spike waterer will be in use as we work, helping plants adjust to…
Your crops will appreciate a layer of straw or leaf mulch at their bases. Again, this helps retain water. And bare soil only means a spot for weed seeds to germinate and grow quickly! Vegetable crops are among the heaviest of water lovers in the plant kingdom. To get a good harvest, you will have…
We like the current trend of layering plants together to make an interesting, interconnected layer of vegetation. This avoids the need for so much mulch in beds, too! I notice when weeding in these beds that more moisture is retained because of the continuous groundcover. Here are some examples of layered plantings: For…
You may enjoy registering for a new twist on a summer standby that goes online this month. The Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Summer Conference will be held July 20-August 9. NOFA is a group of consumers, farmers, and gardeners with an interest in sustainable living the organic way. Workshops have been the cornerstone of the…
For any tree planted since spring 2019, a TreeGator of water at set at the root zone slowly drips needed moisture in the right place. Refill the TreeGator with your garden hose. Deep watering with your wand, filling the well around the tree, is also recommended at least twice weekly. 15-Gallon TreeGator TreeGator
Has your town already banned outdoor water use, or limited it severely? We at PBOG can help. Our spray trucks, outfitted with 200 gallon sprayers, can bring the water directly to your thirsty garden. We often add a kelp-seaweed-micronutrient powder to the water called Stress X, proven to help revive drought-stressed plants. This is same…