Deb

Deb has been a seasonal staff member for 6 years.  She has experience with both shade and sun gardening at her own home, and has taken landscaping courses at Ivy Tech.  Previously she was a librarian at Allen County Public Library for 21 years.

Garden style:  Lawn-free, and easy care.  Plants are selected for ability to withstand wind and for their drought tolerance.  My current yard is in the middle of an open field near Churubusco.  Before moving there I gardened near Parkview hospital in nearly full shade.  I had a “rain garden” before they were popular, and was in the process of filling every foot of my yard with perennials.  In the following picture you can see Black Lace Elderberry, Juniper, Cotoneaster and Penstemon…all tough plants.

Tough plants for full sun

Favorite Tree:  Columnar European Hornbeam because the one that I own is nearly pest and disease free, takes no maintenance and is attractive in all seasons.  But…I love Hawthorns and Serviceberries too.

Columnar Hornbeam

Favorite Flower:  It’s difficult to pick a favorite because I have so many.  Baptisia is very high on the list.  The flowers are gorgeous, but the foliage is also beautiful with interesting seed pods later in the year.  It’s a tough, drought-tolerant plant that does well in my dry prairie garden.  I also love Sedums for their interesting textures and ability to survive in dry, hot sun.  I have my eye on a newer type called ‘Thundercloud.’

Sedum 'Thundercloud'

Plant Wish List:  We have a new color of Baptisia called “Solar Flare” that I might need to plant.  I’ve also been trying to find a place for Persian Ironwood.  The fall color looks spectacular.

Baptisia Solar Flare

Parrotia Persica--Persian Ironwood

This small to medium-sized tree has exfoliating bark on older branches that expose gray, green, white and brown in patches. Leaves are reddish when unfolding and change to a shiny medium to dark green during the summer. The fall color varies from yellow to orange to red. The flowers are not showy, but the crimson stamens are interesting.

• 20’-40’ tall by 15’-30’ wide with a medium to fast growth rate.
• Oval to rounded shape with wide-spreading branches.
• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but can also handle light shade. A very tolerant tree once it’s established. Very pest resistant.

Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica--Black Gum Tree

This native tree has a pyramidal shape when young, but older trees have a rounded crown.  Leaves are lustrous dark green in summer and change to a fluorescent yellow to orange to scarlet to purple in the fall. Fruit is bluish black and eaten by many species of birds and mammals.

• A slightly larger tree at 30’-50’ tall by 20’-30’ wide with a slow to medium growth rate.
• Likes moist, well drained soils and full sun to semi-shade with shelter from the wind.
• Great for naturalizing and very consistent in fall color.

Japanese Snowbell ‘Pink Chimes’

'Pink Chimes' Japanese Snowbell

The leaves on this small tree are medium to dark green in summer then change to yellowish or reddish in the fall.  Flowers are bell-shaped and hang from the branches in clusters. The ‘Pink Chimes’ cultivar has pale pink flowers.  Tends to have low branches with a round to broad crown with horizontal branching.

• 20’-30’ tall and wide.
• Full sun to part shade with some winter protection.
• Dainty and graceful.

Note:  Information from “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants” by Michael Dirr, Fifth Edition.

Coralburst Crabapple blossoms

Some spring-blooming trees are: ornamental pear, weeping cherry, crabapple, serviceberry and magnolia.

Herbert Azalea

There are many shrubs that bloom in early to late spring, including forsythia, lilac, azaleas, rhododendrons and viburnum.

Double Knockout

For summer blooms, you cannot beat roses for a sunny spot and hydrangeas for a shady area.

When deciding on perennials; creeping phlox, iris, catmint, salvia, dianthus and daylilies all bloom quite early and some can be deadheaded for reblooming.

Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan

Rudbekia is a long blooming summer favorite, as is garden phlox, which is available in a variety of colors.

Cone Flower

Echinacea, or coneflower is now available in many varieties and is one of the most versatile and long lasting of perennials.

If you browse nurseries often, you are able to see what is in bloom at any given time. Check labels to see if the plant needs dry or moist conditions, sun or shade. We have a knowlegeable staff who would be happy to help you with your selections.

Moisture, combined with cooler temperatures, creates conditions that are favorable for fungal diseases.

A fungicide applied early and, as needed, will help to control this problem. It is also wise to give plants a dose of all-purpose fertilizer, especially if leaves are turning yellow, a common sign of too much water.

Now is a good time to check for poor drainage in your landscape. If you have areas with standing water, those would not be good areas for plants that require well-drained soil, such as spruce, roses, fruit trees, etc. Instead look for trees, shrubs, or perennials that will tolerate or even prefer a little more moisture.

Bloomerang Lilac

A revolutionary new kind of lilac, the Bloomerang blooms in spring and again in midsummer. The fragrant, lavender flowers, which continue until frost, attract butterflies and are good for cutting. The bright green foliage is resistant to powdery mildew and deer!

Growing to approximately 48″-60″T x 48″-60″W, with a tidy mounding habit, this variety is a good fit for any garden and a classic addition to foundation plantings and mixed borders. Remove spent blooms and prune to shape promptly after flowering, to encourage reblooming.
The Bloomerang requires full sun and well-drained soil. Apply a controlled release fertilizer.

Trees growing in poorly drained sites or left exposed by felling are highly susceptible. Wood beneath frost crack is rarely damaged.

Avoiding the use of fertilizers late in the growing season can reduce the incidence of splits. Protect young trees with paper wrap or plastic trunk protectors.

Read more about frost crack…

Apple Scab

Most apple varieties are susceptible to this disease, including flowering crabapples. Apple scab is caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. Fallen leaves harbor the scab fungus and should be raked and destroyed before they become brittle and break up. Prune apple trees in late winter to maintain an open tree.

The most critical time to apply fungicides for scab control is spring. Apple trees should be sprayed on a regular schedule starting shortly after bud break.

To learn more about Apple Scab and its treatment…

Maple Bladder Gall

Maple Bladder Gall is caused by the larvae of a small gnat-like mite.

When these mites feed on the undersurface of leaf buds, it causes the formation of a blister. The mites enter the protective cavity and continue to feed. Homeowners are often alarmed when they discover that their maple tree leaves are infested with leaf bladder. They fear that the tree is going to die unless something is done quickly. This is not the case. Other than aesthetic damage, no significant damage is done to the health of the tree.

Use of dormant oil is recommended to control or eliminate the mites, but should be applied in EARLY spring before buds reach the 1/2″ stage.

It is always important to rake and dispose of leaf litter, in order to slow or eliminate the spread of disease.

Read more about Maple Bladder Gall….