Peonies, such as Sarah Bernhardt, live for decades. Photo courtesy PerennialResource.com
Just like we examine our eating habits and level of exercise, the first of the year is a good time to evaluate the landscape.
For most of us, 2011’s excessive heat and drought created extreme challenges for gardening. Take that into consideration especially when evaluating the vegetable garden’s production. Add to the critique landscape plants that did not live up to our expectations or consumed more time than we had to give.
First, a few words of advice. Don’t beat yourself up for failures. I’m an experienced gardener and have killed or failed to grow more plants than you ever will.
Plants die. Some, like peonies, have decades-long life spans. The Shasta daisies, however, usually last only two or three years.
If containers didn’t flourish, determine how faithful you were with fertilizing and watering. Annuals, perennials, vegetables and small shrubs growing in ornamental pots need to be fertilized more regularly than plants growing in the ground. Read and follow the label directions of the product you use. Even if you use fertilizer pellets or beads when potting up the container, many experts recommend a periodic application of a water-soluble fertilizer, especially if plants start to look bad. Containers also need to be monitored for watering needs.
If a plant that you really like fails to thrive, consider moving it to a different location, such as one with more or less light, drier or wetter soil. Always make sure to allow for the mature height and width of a plant or it will be come maintenance problem.
Keep in mind that certain plants will struggle in the central Indiana garden. Azaleas and rhododendrons, pieris and hollies need acidic soil, but ours is alkaline. Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) that bloom on year-old growth tend not to do well because late spring freezes kill the flower buds.
Eventually, if you determine a plant is not going to work, pull it out and replace it with something new.
