Fall is a great time to thin out and divided your German iris bed. With the recent rains in the Omaha Metro area this makes it easier to work the soil. German iris should be divided and thinned every three to four years. If you have a larger bed with multiple cultivars you may need…
Category: Ornamental Gardening
September Weather Patterns Predict Early Freeze, Deepening Drought
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has some startling news for September 12 through the 15th—a cold front moving through the central Great Plains region will bring falling temperatures, with a moderate risk of these temperatures being below freezing. How far temperatures fall is dependent on just how cold the cold front is and…
Prioritize, then Water Efficiently
In the past few weeks, Mother Nature has not brought much in the way of natural rainfall to many parts of Nebraska.
Don’t Plant This at Home
The common phrase – “Don’t try this at home” refers to all sorts of actions from pro wrestling to theatre and even television shows such as America’s Got Talent. The common thread to all of these is an element of danger, or at least something more exciting than common sense and safety. Don’t try…
Deadheading
No, this is not an article on the trials, exhilarations and tribulations of The Grateful Dead. It’s about dead flowers. Dead flowers should be removed from annuals, perennials, bulbs and shrubs as soon as possible to prevent seeds from forming. As far as the plant is concerned aka if the plant had a mind with…
Three Perennials to Try
With more people working remotely this year we have received an abundance of calls this summer. Callers are looking to spruce up their flowerbeds. Some just wanted something new. Others were wanting to expanding gardens. Here are a few plants that are well known but often not used. Astrantia (as-TRAN-shi-a) or Mastewort is a perennial…
Shade, Semi-Shade and Sun
If you look out at your landscape, you’ll probably see all degrees of sun and shade. There are lots of names of these levels of light, but shade, semi-shade and sun are good descriptors for most plants. One of the most pertinent reasons for focusing on shade levels is that it really helps locate…
Straw Foxglove
Unlike foxglove that are biennial, straw foxglove (Digitalis lutea) is a true perennial. The light yellow bell-shaped downward-facing flowers are smaller than their biennial relatives, but what is lost in flower size, straw foxglove makes up for in reliability and ease of growth. Straw foxglove does best in average garden soil in a site…
Rose Diseases
Unfortunately, roses are not care-free plants, at least not in the Midwest. They are susceptible hosts to several diseases, namely powdery mildew, rust, black spot and rose rosette. Powdery mildew: The name is apt for this disease, as the foliage of affected stems turns to a whitish cast as if dusted with flour. Powdery…
Spring, Summer, Fall Blooming Perennials
Perennial flowers offer great appeal in the spring, ringing the bell of activity of the gardening season. The great news is that perennials do not bloom only in spring – they offer ever-changing garden views in all seasons. If you plan your garden well, it will offer texture, color and movement appeal whenever you look…