perennial flower gardens (NF)

[Raf]

Can anyone point me to an active gardening forum where I could get some questions answered?

 

Here's our situation. We moved into our house 2 years ago and it came with a WELL established perennial garden. We are finding we both lack any kind of a green thumb and need to learn before we have to turn it to grass. Outside of hostas, tulips, poppies, we can't even begin to identify what it is we have in our garden, never mind care for it properly. I think ID'ing everything is step one!

 

I can start posting pics here but I am not sure the knowledge base we have on this topic. If there's anyone in the Orangeville/Grand Valley area who's willing to see it with their own eyes (we can do the work!!), I am sure there are several plants which need division in it for you.

[Walleye72]

Well I'm no expert, but I have been working on my perennial garden for the last 5 years. There are only so many popular perennials that grow in Ontario that are widely available. What ever is in your garden now is very hardy after the last 2 winters we've had.

 

If you post clear pics, I can do my best with identifying what you have.

 

As for caring for them, for starters, just weed the area around the plant well and and side dress with compost, then cover with biodegradable mulch, (Not rubber pellets). It helps if you know the difference between the weeds and the desirable plants but it should hopefully be obvious. LOL. A basic garden fertilizer can be applied if you think it really needs it but I find compost has most of what's needed.

[KLINKER]

Check around your local farmers market or garden center and ask for a contact with a Gardening club. Our farmers market sometimes has a master gardener on for a day . You would be way ahead if you can get someone to come look at it.

[Raf]

Good idea about Gardening Club Klinker

It helps if you know the difference between the weeds and the desirable plants but it should hopefully be obvious. LOL

For the most part I think we do LOL maybe after I post the below that will change.

I'll post up a small sample of the stuff that's in the garden

1. >> Yellow Loosestrife ???


2. >> Blue False Indigo


3. >> Lupins


THis stuff is very aggressive and I have to pull it otherwise it chokes out others, as is the clover like stuff in the top right (I yank that stuff wherever I see it):

4. >> Lungwort


Stuff on the right also seems to spread easily

5. Aster or Dianthus + Lady's Mantle


6. >> Hollyhock Mallow // cranesbill geranium??


sorry for calling it 'stuff'.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Raf

[Blue Lk]

3rd pic is Lupins,they like to spread,I have lots in the back yard

[Loonietoon]

Id like to know what pic #6 is because that stuff is nice in my barrels

[Beavertail]

1st pic - can't remember name

2nd - Blue False Indigo

3rd - Lupine

4th - Lungwort

5th - Lady's Mantle + Asters

6th - Hollyhock Mallow

 

Don't overthink it, gardening doesn't have to be complicated. Water, weed, mulch and maybe divide/remove plants when they they too big or aggressive. For the most part they take care of themselves.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Beavertail

[Bluegill]

1st pic - can't remember name

2nd - Blue False Indigo

3rd - Lupine

4th - Lungwort

5th - Lady's Mantle + Asters

6th - Hollyhock Mallow

 

Don't overthink it, gardening doesn't have to be complicated. Water, weed, mulch and maybe divide/remove plants when they they too big or aggressive. For the most part they take care of themselves.

 

1 Yellow Loosestrife

5 I think it's not an Aster, it's a Dianthus "Sweet Williams"

Edited June 12, 2015 by Bluegill

[Raf]

I am blown away by the knowledge and quick response. Thanks all, that's a great start. There is plenty more I will post that's currently blooming and if I recall when those are done others take their place.

[kitch]

Isn't #1 evening primrose? Spreads nicely. I think #5 is dianthus. I would have thought #6 is one of the hardy geraniums? Most of my info is based on root divisions given to me by others who have said "Here, do you want some of ....." and I take them at their word it is actually what they call it! \

Nice stuff you have there!

[Dara]

Along with the weeding , working in a bit of bone meal in the spring and a couple doses of miracle grow through the summer.

 

There are some good books on Perenials that help you identify what you have.

 

I built my garden from a bare lot and have about 40 plants now, plus the vegetables

[Kawartha Kev]

Number 1 is not evening primrose but not sure about yellow loosetrife. \number 6 \i believe is a perennial geranium also known as a cranesbill geranium I believe others are correct I believe.

 

Kawartha Kev

[Dara]

Along with the weeding , working in a bit of bone meal in the spring and a couple doses of miracle grow through the summer.

 

There are some good books on Perenials that help you identify what you have.

 

I built my garden from a bare lot and have about 40 plants now, plus the vegetables

 

And yes, the pink/purple flowes in pic 5 is dianthus

[Bluegill]

 

 

2. >> Blue False Indigo

 

 

 

After seeing your pics couldn't stop my wife from rushing to the garden center and they even had a "Blue False Indigo".

I lost again space for more garlic

[Raf]

LOL. It is kinda pretty, even I think so. Perennial of the Year in 2010 I found out LOL!! Put a block on this thread as I have more pics to post once it stops raining.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Raf