Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wait for new growth to appear before declaring plant's demise
John Arbogast
Landscape consultant John Arbogast answers your questions every Thursday. Send questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to:
Dear John
5102 Greenfield St. SW
Roanoke, Va. 24018
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Q: Last year towards the end of summer, I purchased two Carol Mackie Daphne whose roots were never exposed. There was a heavy ball of what looked like almost clay wrapped in burlap for each. I removed the burlap and planted them in well amended loamed soil. It’s May and there’s no sign of growth in either yet. I live in Chicago; temperatures have been 50-60’s during the day and high 40-50 at night. When I scratch or break a tiny branch, it doesn’t appear terribly brittle. I can’t tell if it’s dead or dormant. Should I wait or pronounce it dead? I’ve read online that they die for no apparent reason? What’s odd is that they both have no growth. Any information would be appreciated.
A: I’d wait for new growth to appear. I have no information about the sudden death syndrome that I too have read about that affects Daphne, so I can’t give any clues or information about that situation.
Do you have more than two inches thickness of organic mulch over the soil around each Carol Mackie Daphne? It is possible that a greater mulch depth has kept the soil cooler by impeding solar heat penetration. Delayed growth will occur in this situation.
I’ve read praises about the Carol Mackie Daphne as being one of the most beautiful and unusual clones of the well-known Burkwood Daphne hybrid. The literature stated that the Burkwood Daphne hybrid should be hardy in Zone 4, which I believe includes Chicago. However, it is possible that your two Carol Mackie Daphne plants died from colder temperatures during this past winter than they were acclimated to.
Consider also the possible lethal problem of too much water. In Roanoke,, root rot occurs if plants are watered more frequently than once per week or if there is poor drainage in the location. This occurs even in amended soil.
Q: I need some planting suggestions for the planters on my patio. I have several cedar planters and would appreciate any ideas you have. I was in a garden center recently. There were just too many choices and I came home without purchasing any flowers for the planters.
A: First, your selection of appropriate plants must be based on the sun exposure. Are the planters in sun or shade? Also, what size are the planters? Annual flowers that provide splashes of color have been bred for years, so it is important to read the tags that should come in bedding plant containers to get the proper sun adaptability, mature heights and sizes that you want, as well as colors and growth habit such as cascading, bushy, or erect, plus the proper spacing when planting.
If your containers are big enough, usually meaning at least 12-inch diameter round containers or 10-inch wide rectangular boxes, it looks nice to have erect, taller-growing annuals planted in the middle with lower or cascading annuals planted near the edges. The flower colors in such mixed planters must be coordinated.
Ask garden center staff for help or more information. I’ll mention some popular annuals to try in your planters. Most need full sun, although I’ll mention the need for shade for a few.
Ageratum is a low, fairly small, 6 to 12 inch tall popular edging plant, usually with blue blooms. Amaranthus is a bold, 3 to 5 feet tall plant, suited for large containers. Its striking features are its leaves, which are bright red, yellow and green. Wax begonias are lovely, easy-going rounded 6 to 12 inch tall plants with either bronze or green leaves and either white, pink, or red blooms. They can be grown in sun or shade if they have ample water. Celosias are great 15 to 24 inch tall annuals useful for contrast they provide from either plumed flowers each like a pointed feather or crested blooms each like a rooster comb available in reds, yellows, oranges, or pinks.
Cleomes are 3 to 6 feet tall, slender annuals whose round white, pink, or lavender flower heads truly earn their second name which is spider flower. There are many varieties of coleus that make bushy 1 foot tall colorful foliage plants in the shade. Note that there are now sun loving coleus varieties available. Dusty Miller works well for its silvery-white foliage on 10 to 15 inches tall slender plants. Geraniums reach 18 to 24 inches tall, make clusters of colorful flowers, and grow well in sun with some varieties adapted to shade. Impatiens are probably the most famous shade loving annuals, growing in mounds reaching 1 to 2 feet tall and available in many pastel colors. The New Guinea Impatiens can tolerate sun better than standard Impatiens. There are many Marigolds, standard, running, and cascading Petunias, and upright-growing1 foot tall Salvias.
