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From NPR:
With remnants of once-legal lead paint, leaded gasoline and other pollutants from the nation’s industrial past tainting land in U.S. cities, soil researchers warn that the growing number of urban farmers and community gardeners need to test their dirt and take steps to make sure it’s safe.
I would like to use a copper trellis to support climbing roses on a hot, south-facing wall. Will the copper get too hot and harm the rose canes that touch it?
Trellises and arbors are great garden accents that provide support and definition for vining or trailing plants. If not for support, these plants would meander aimlessly around the garden. Trellises and arbors with established plants can be used to provide interest to blank walls, frame other garden ornaments or provide a dramatic entrance to the garden.
The most popular material for trellises and arbors is wood. However, iron, copper, or other metal trellises are once again becoming popular. They lend a feeling of stability and elegance to the garden, and, in fact, are quite long-lasting when properly maintained (unpainted iron, for example, will rust).
Growing plants on metal arbors or trellises poses no particular problems. The vines will shade the metal as they grow, keeping it from absorbing excessive heat.
How do I propagate boxwood? Would it be through cuttings? How and when should I do it? I want a low hedge for a perennial cottage garden like I’ve seen in England, but there’s no way I can afford to purchase that many boxwood.
Boxwood can be easily rooted from cuttings nearly anytime with the use of rooting hormones and a high humidity environment. Unfortunately, it would take several years for the plants to reach any noticeable size (the main reason why boxwood cost what they do). For hedges like yours, 1 gallon starter plants should be a cost effective way to begin your hedge, and with much faster results. While boxwood grow well throughout England, one must be careful as to where to plant them here in Michigan. An eastern exposure gives good protection from winter winds and sun, both of which can severely damage the foliage.
Please recommend annual vines with bright flowers. I want to grow them in full sun on a tall trellis (they can grow 10 to 20 feet).
There are several annual vines which will grow in full sun and give you plenty of color most of the summer. Here are a few:
Be sure and check out the calendar for some new events that were just added for the month of March. Spring is near…the April issue of Michigan Gardener will be in stores in two weeks!
David Milarch founded Archangel Archive with the goal of re-growing old growth forests:
“In our infinite wisdom, we’ve destroyed 98 percent of the old growth forests that kept nature in balance for thousands of years,” said David Milarch, the group’s co-founder. “That’s what we intend to put back.”
Milarch, a tree nursery operator from the northern Michigan village of Copemish, and sons Jared and Jake have been producing genetic copies of ancient trees since the 1990s. They’ve now joined with Elk Rapids businesswoman Leslie Lee and a team of researchers to establish Archangel Archive, which has a staff of 17 and an indoor tree research and production complex.
What is the difference between own-root and grafted roses? Is one better than the other?
Own-root roses are produced by rooting and growing the cuttings of desired varieties. The types produced by this method often include Antiques, Flower Carpet, Meidiland and many Shrub varieties. Most own-root roses do not need ground level protection in winter once they are established. Budded (or grafted) roses are produced by inserting a bud of a desired variety onto a vigorous rootstock. The types produced by budding include Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas, Climbing and English varieties, as well as a few from the Antique and Shrub groups. Budded roses should be planted with their swollen bud union 1 to 2 inches below the surface, plus have winter protection each year to help them survive our cold Michigan climate.
Very few rose varieties are produced using both methods, so the question of one method being “better” than the other really does not apply. Since the propagation method relates to the type of rose, your choice is really determined by the rose producers and their experience of which one works best for that particular variety.
W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
Aubrieta ‘Hybrids Mix’by George Papadelis
Early flowering bulbs are a sure sign that spring is near. Your bulbs may be planted by themselves, or with some pansies. Perhaps they are interplanted with some early-blooming perennials. Of all the plants we have available for April flowers, Aubrieta is one that combines beautifully with these early season bulbs.
Valleybrook Gardens
Aubrieta ‘Argenteovariegata’Aubrieta is considered an excellent rock garden plant. Rock gardens can vary, but this term typically describes sunny gardens with smaller, shorter plants that look good growing among rocks. Alpine plants are usually rock garden plants; however, the term “alpines” refers to plants that originate from mountains, above the timberline. They are always compact to better withstand strong winds and are happiest in well-drained “rocky” soil. This is a little confusing, but it is interesting to note that most alpines are rock garden plants, but rock garden plants are not necessarily alpines. Aubrieta is in fact an alpine plant that originated on the mountains of southern Europe and Turkey.
Aubrieta has the common names rock cress and false rock cress. This is an excellent example of when common names can be confusingly tricky. Another popular rock garden plant, Arabis, is also called rock cress. Our focus will remain on Aubrieta, whose characteristics are similar to Arabis.
Valleybrook Gardens
Aubrieta ‘Dr. Mules’Aubrieta usually begins to bloom in mid to late April and continues into May. They bloom four to six weeks, which is twice as long as the popular creeping phlox. Plants rarely grow taller than 6 inches and may spread as far as 24 inches. Almost all Aubrieta have mat-forming, gray-green leaves that hold their color and remain alive all four seasons. The only maintenance they may require is a light trim of the leaves after flowering is completed.
Their flowers are rarely over 3/4-inch wide, but are produced in masses. Flower colors include white, pink, red, blue, and violet. Many seed grown varieties produce flowers in a range of colors. ‘Royal Blue,’ for example, has flowers of blue, lavender, and violet. ‘Royal Red’ has flowers in shades of red, purple, and magenta. For semi-double flowers, try ‘Bengal,’ which comes in shades of lavender, cerise, and purple. Some varieties are truly one color, such as the dark purple flowers of ‘Whitewell Gem’ and the fluorescent blue flowers of ‘Novalis Blue.’
Valleybrook Gardens
Aubrieta ‘Red Carpet’Some Aubrieta are grown from cuttings to more perfectly reproduce the desirable characteristics of the parent. Aubrieta ‘Aurea,’ also called golden Aubrieta, has gold-yellow leaves that provide another attractive feature long after its blue-violet flowers have faded. Aubrieta ‘Aurea Variegata’ has bright gold and green bi-colored leaves topped with blue-violet flowers. Aubrieta ‘Argenteovariegata’ forms a extra dense 2- to 4-inch tall mound of creamy white variegated foliage and intense blue flowers. These are all newer varieties that are well worth the effort it may take to find them.
There are several other rock garden or wall plants for sun that bloom about the same time as Aubrieta. Some of the more popular ones include Arabis, candytuft, perennial alyssum, pasque flower, and cushion spurge. All of these are great companions for bulbs that, like rock cress, prefer well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and full sun. The blues, purples, and reds of Aubrieta make perfect companions for pink tulips or golden daffodils.
Walters Gardens
Aubrieta ‘Whitewell Gem’The garden of Lauren Springer has one combination using Aubrieta that should not go without being mentioned. She planted Aubrieta with the blue-leafed, donkey-tail spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites. Its chartreuse flowers are planted with the purple flowers of rock cress in a dry corner of her yard. She writes “it is perhaps the most psychologically effective combination in the garden, setting the mood for advancing spring, filling me with delight and anticipation each time I go in and out of the otherwise still dormant garden.”
With the winter we have just had, I think it is especially important to celebrate the long-awaited spring. If you can find or create a well-drained sunny site, try using Aubrieta to herald the promise of another gardening season – just like Lauren Springer.
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Common name: Rock cress, false rock cress
Plant type: Perennial
Plant size: Height: 6 inches, Width: 24 inches
Habit: Mat-forming mound
Hardiness: Zone 4
Flower colors: Purple, blue, violet, red, white and pink
Flower size: 3/4 inch wide
Bloom period: mid-April to May
Leaf color: Gray-green; some varieties are variegated
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, average fertility
Uses: Rock garden, wall garden, edge of perennial beds
Companion plants: Arabis, candytuft, perennial alyssum, pasque flower, cushion spurge, short tulips and daffodils
Remarks: To prevent legginess, cut back stems after flowering to allow new growth to emerge and maintain compactness.
George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, MI.
Organizers of the Ypsi Garden Fair hope to bring together ideas, products and knowledge, in order to promote gardening and sustainabilty within the community. Their goal is to make it easier for everyone to have access to fresh food and a healthy lifestyle.
There will be demonstrations, live entertainment, children’s activities, workshops, products and more. All proceeds from this event will go directly back into the community.
Friday, April 1, Garden Tea Party 3pm-7pm
Saturday, April 2, 11am-6pm: Regular fair hours & 5pm-midnight: Solar powered rock concert
Sunday, April 3, 11am-6pm: Regular fair hours
For more information, please visit http://sites.google.com/site/ypsigardenfair/home