Draught Tolerant Planting

 
            Hi everybody and welcome! Even though many of us have been blessed with abundant rain the past couple of weeks, growing annuals and ornamentals can still be a challenge during the hot summer months. How successful you are in keeping your garden looking great can depend largely on the plants that you choose to place in your garden.

            During the summer, one of my favorite annuals to plant is the Marigold. These sturdy plants come in several varieties whose size can vary from 6-inch dwarfs up to three feet tall. Marigolds vary in color from a bright yellow to orange and they boast extremely deep coloring characteristics. Marigold leaves are fine in texture and look almost fern-like.

            You can use Marigolds in many different ways in your landscape. You can use them in masses for a dramatic color accent. They are also great as an edging around garden decorations, trees and along walkways. Marigolds can also be grown in containers.

            You can either purchase marigolds already grown in 4 inch or one-gallon containers ready for transplant or you can easily start them from seed. You will probably find some of the harder varieties to locate in seed form since most retailers stick to the basic types.

            When transplanting your Marigolds. Place the plant in the ground slightly deeper then it was originally in the retail container. Be sure to use a good quality potting mix when planting. Once your plants are established be sure to remove the spent flower heads in order to promote new blossoms.

            If you want to go with a hardy ground cover, you might want to try Periwinkle. These plants are quite hardy and boast an evergreen broadleaf stem structure with single flowers with a color range from purple to blue. They are also available in white. These plants will do best when planted in partial shade and will do well in a well draining sandy soil. They should not be planted in areas where standing water might be a problem on a regular basis. The plants can grow up to around 6 inches high but they will also tend to spread out as they grow. For this reason, I would classify them as a ground cover.

            Periwinkle are easy to plant. Simply pick out your favorite colors at your local nursery and you are ready to go. Choose a location that does not have frequently standing water and also use an area that is in partial shade.

            The main problems that Periwinkle can encounter are canker and dieback. Although not particularly frequent, canker can cause the shoots to turn a dark brown, wilt and eventually die. Allowing the plant to be in standing water or overly moist soil can often cause this problem. That is why it is important to plant in well-drained soil.

            As with all plants, water as needed before the soil becomes “caked”. Be sure to follow all local water restrictions that are in place for your area. 

Dealing With Draught Stress

 
            Hi everybody! With the draught conditions in our state getting worse every week, it is becoming more and more important to plant bushes and shrubs that will stand up to extended periods with no water. Lat week we talked about ways to decrease that area that you utilize for live plantings and this week we will talk about some of the plants you can use that will survive without daily watering.

            One of my favorite plants to use in low water situations is the Bougainville plant. These colorful plants offer dazzling color throughout the season and do well in full sun, low water situations. These colorful plants require at least six hours of full sun in order to bloom. Do not place them in a shaded area, as this will cause the plant to drop leaves. As with any plant, Bougainville will require more water when it is first planted but the requirements will diminish as the plant roots itself. You should water the plants completely and then allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. Over watering will cause the plant to drop leaves and will also result in little or no blooms.

            Bougainville plants will do great with our South Florida temperatures but they should always be protected during periods of cold weather below 45 degrees. They also will do well with an occasional feeding of a water-soluble fertilizer such as Miracle Gro about once every two weeks or so.

            The plant will go through blooming cycles of heavy blooming to almost no blooms. It is advantageous to trim back the plant after each blooming cycle to help encourage another round of dazzling color.

            Although these plants are very insect resistant, you might want to watch for signs of spider mites or possibly scale. If your plants begin to have wilty, yellowing leaves check for signs of under watering. Similar symptoms can also occur if the plant is receiving too much water. This is usually not a problem unless the plant lies in the direct path of a sprinkler.

            Another interesting and colorful summer plant is a small, colorful flower called Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). This common garden plant is actually considered a weed. Weed or not, they offer beautiful color and do extremely well in sandy soil and full sun. These brilliant flowers open up wide during the bright Florida sun and close up at night as though to go to “sleep”. They can be easily propagated by breaking off cuttings and planting in soil and they also propagate themselves from the seeds of spent flowers. As an added fact, Purslane can also be eaten either fresh or cooked and are said to be extremely high in Omega 3 fatty acids. They can spread easily in your garden and can if not controlled, they can actually take over. I also use these plants in my front bedding area. They look great around my birdbath in fact; I am looking out the window admiring how colorful they are right now! Since the watering requirements are not high for this colorful summer plant, it will do well during these days of severe water restrictions.

That’s all for this week’s column and I hope you enjoyed it; I will see you next week with more great garden tips.