Russian sage is in all its glory in summer. It is so happy in mountain landscapes it can get out of control sometimes, or difficult to maintain. The violet color can be overdone in a neighborhood as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love the easy care and bright look, but we have some new choices that combine will as a companion plant, or a replacement outright without the suckers and sage seed popping up. The new “Heatwave Hyssop” is an excellent alternative.
Heatwave Hyssop – Spicy licorice-scented foliage attracts humans and hummerbirds alike. This hardy color option is a breakthrough with eye-catching lavender pink flowers that hoover over the aromatic green foliage. A knee high show off and perfect for landscape hotspots for years of summer long color to come. It is one of those heat loving perennial you will only find at Garden Centers when the temperature reach the 90 degree mark. Hyssop loves being planted in the summer.
Unlike glyphosates such as ‘KleenUp’, ‘Roundup’ and ‘Weed Beater Ultra’, weed preventers keep seeds from ever emerging. However, timing is everything when using weed preventers as they must be applied before the weeds start to grow. These products dramatically cut back on weeds without affecting the desired plants in a landscape.
Weed Beater Complete – With the start of the rainy season weeds have begun their summer migration into the yard. Weed Beater Complete is one of those magic new products that combine several laboring yard tasking into one application. This unique product provides both pre-emergent and post-emergent control of both grassy and broadleaf weeds into one product and works amazingly well on our native weeds. Administered granularly through a hand spreader, like any fertilizer the systematic action is absorbed into the leaves down to the roots where it inhibits cell division and disrupts photosynthesis. Then it keeps weed seed from emerging thereafter. Definitely a time saver if you have weeds already up in the landscape that dramatically reduces weeds that will come up in the yard later.
The average yard will use about 2-3 bags of weed preventer, with each bag worth its weight in toil and sweat. Spend the energy and money now to prevent weeds and as the season progresses. You will be able to sit back and relax while thinking to yourself “That Mountain Gardener’s advice is near genius, and I was utterly brilliant to follow it!”
If your summer plants have not bloomed yet, their growth slow and colors pale, or you just want bigger shade trees and healthier natives, this is the time for a summer feeding. Apply plant food in the landscape within the next 2-3 weeks. I fertilized my own landscape just as this week’s rain hit; talk about perfect timing. Many ask, “What did you feed your landscape with, Ken?”
Three years in the making and WOW do plants love the taste. I used a special formula created just for our mountain landscape. Appropriately named “Ken’s All Purpose Plant Food”, this all-natural food is perfect on anything in the yard including roses, flowers, container gardens, lawns, trees, and shrubs. Ken’s All Purpose is specific to our region, easy to use, difficult to make a mistake with, and a must for all our summer bloomers to look their best.
One bit of advice when using fertilizer, whether synthetic or all natural: Don’t allow plant foods to rest on the foliage because the leaves can become spotted. Shake the leaves or hose off any excess that may settle on them. For lawns and flowers run the irrigation after applying their summer meal. When feeding agaves and yuccas do not let granular foods remain in the hearts of these plants as they can be seriously damaged.
The best placement of plant food is always at the outer edge of a plant’s drip line. If you’re not sure where to put your food imagine that you are a tree; then fully extend your arms and envision placing most of the plant food in the area from your elbow out to your fingertips. This comparable area under a plant is the location of most of the feeder roots, those fine root hairs able to pick up food and water. Roots directly under the trunk of a plant are simply there to hold up the plant and support it and are unable to absorb plant food. With properly placed and thoroughly watered-in plant food it won’t be long ‘til our gardens are filled with blossoms.
There just aren’t enough words in a weekly column, but we have a free garden clinic at 9:30 where the subject of weeds and bugs dive deep. You are invited to this mornings clinic titled, “No Weeds, No Bugs, No Problems”. Classes held in the middle of a greenhouse are inspirational and very fun, join us. July 21 our Prescott clinic will be, “Vibrant Green Lawns to Life” held right here on the Garden Center grounds.
Until next week, I’ll see you at the Garden Center.
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