“DIVIDED WE THRIVE” AND TWO OTHER GARDEN MOTTOS

Wow, it’s been one month since I’ve been able to even consider sitting down to create a blog post. This is the busiest time of my work season, and will continue as such for the next few weeks, but I thought I’d share these three useful mottos to garden by.

Motto #1 – “DIVIDED WE THRIVE” – This one is sung about every three to five years by many perennials.  The following images represent some telltale signs that it’s time to get out your shovel.

©Linda Nelson 2015
With irises and ornamental grasses, the center of the clump will begin to decline in growth, the irises
producing fewer blooms.
©Linda Nelson 2015

Hemerocallis (daylilies), on the other hand, may produce a larger mass of foliage, but send up less blooms.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) clumps will start to spread, forming a sparse, weedy looking mass.

©Linda Nelson 2015
Motto #2 – “I NEED MY SPACE” –  Really.  Are you guilty of instant gratification planting syndrome?  Do you see how much space there is between each plant in the flower pot pictured below?  That’s what yours should look like when initially planted.  Looks a little sparse, right?  Well, I’m going to update you on this gorgeous-to-be arrangement throughout the summer to prove to you that combination container plantings need their growing space.  Stuffing your flower pots for instant gratification is simply foolish.  Floral instant gratification is for magazine photo shoots or wedding decor.  When it comes to planting up your patio pots, do it right.  I’ll share a photo of this one’s progress in a few weeks.
©Linda Nelson 2015

Motto #3 – “DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING” – Folks, please!  Plants sold in plastic hanging baskets are meant to be removed from them, then potted up or planted into more suitable containers.  These baskets are for space saving purposes and shipping convenience at the nurseries and garden centers.  They’re not meant for hanging, as is, along the roof line of your front porch.  Good golly, stop doing that.  It looks cheap, tacky and just screams, “I don’t know what I’m doing .”

©Linda Nelson 2015

There you have it.

Three mottos.

Now, get in your garden.

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