Entranced by bedding plant displays in the big box, many an aspiring gardener brings home an array of flowers, vegetables and herbs. Whether creating containers, busting sod in the backyard or enhancing the mailbox, hearts and minds are determined in spring. Alas, many a project has fallen by the wayside long before the dog days of August arrive. Let’s look at common sources of failure in an effort to avoid these pitfalls.
(Photo: Field of dreams...)
Long before I became a master gardener volunteer, I was frequently consulted when a coworker’s flowers failed to thrive. I would identify the flower and ask how much sun the site received. Invariably, impatiens were wilting in the sun while marigolds languished in the shade. Easy problems to fix early in the season: Marigolds love full sun; impatiens can’t abide it.
(Photo: Field of failure!)
Not so simple to resolve are those tricky spots which do not fit either category. Full sun is defined as receiving six hours of direct sunlight daily while shaded areas receive three or fewer hours of sun. For all those areas in the three- to five-hour zone, more analysis of the situation is required. Afternoon sunshine is more intense than the rays of the morning. With days being longer in summer, five hours of afternoon sun can be considered full sun while the same amount of gentle morning sun is not. To be honest, my “go-to” plants for iffy situations are New Guinea impatiens and sun-tolerant coleus.
Irrigation presents a continuing challenge for area gardeners. One pitfall for backyard farmers is planting in a space that has no convenient water source. During a dry spell, toting water by the pail in the hot sun quickly becomes a dreaded chore. Better to fix this one up front: Place the veggie patch within reach of the hose.
Impatiens raise their faces winsomely to the gardener as if to say, "Don’t let me wilt in the hot sun, stoopid!"
Containers need more frequent watering than in-ground plants because the roots are not sheltered by the earth. They may need daily attention. Whether planting in the soil or in containers, place plants with similar water needs together. Many of our herbs want to dry out between waterings while others need continuous moisture.
Another source of frustration and failure is weed control. Remove as many as possible from the garden before planting. Have a plan for keeping them at bay. Barrier mulches such as newspaper and straw or grass clippings stop weeds from seeing the light of day. In flowerbeds, consider a pre-emergent herbicide because weed seed is ever present in the soil.
For the first 22 years of my life, I lived in the Mediterranean climate of California, a USDA Zone 9 for cold tolerance. Then I moved to Houston, Texas, also in Zone 9. One doesn’t need to be a gardener to know that plants thriving along the foggy Pacific coast are going to fare poorly in Houston’s heat and humidity. The American Horticultural Society has developed a heat tolerance zone map of the United States. It is based on the average number of days above 86 degrees. We are in heat Zone 7 with 60 to 90 such days each summer. This information is most useful when thinking of using unusual or exotic plants.
As we enjoy the arrival of warm weather and another season in the garden, let’s resolve to prevent plant abuse.
Master gardener Ann Bartlett never lets lack of familiarity with a plant stop her from trying it in the ornamental beds around her home--in the place with the right amount of sun!
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