May 16, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

Late blooming perennials and gardening tidbits

Do you walk around your garden each day to see which plants have come up? Is there a favorite plant in your garden that is slow to emerge? The hardy hibiscus in my border is always one of the last to show its fresh green leaves. That’s because the hardy hibiscus is one of a group of perennials that is perpetually tardy to show signs of life in the spring.

We needn’t worry if some of our perennials seem slow. These perennials require warm soil and air temperatures to get started. Sometimes they do not emerge from the soil until June. With our cool wet weather this spring it may seem as if our gardens won’t bloom until the Fourth of July.

Gardeners must be patient with some of flowers. Don’t remove or plant other perennials on top of the belated beauties. They will likely poke up their heads when you least expect them. It is a good idea to mark their locations and wait. Your patience will be rewarded with beautiful blooms later in the summer.

Here are the names of some perennials that traditionally emerge late in the spring. If you know additional names to add to this list I’d like to hear from you.

Hardy Hibiscus ( Hibiscus hybrids), Russian Sage ( Perovskia atriplicifolia) Butterfly Weed ( Asclepias tuberosa), Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), Maiden Grass ( Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.), Joe Pye Weed (Weed Eupatorium sp.).

Gardening tidbits
Pine needles as mulch
We have many pine trees in our neighborhood. We have loads of pine needles on the ground around our homes and gardens. People have asked about using pine needles as mulch. Deb Brown, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulturist, says, “In the South, they call it ‘pine straw.’ Pine needles are wonderful, clean mulch. Your soils will actually benefit from the bit of acidity they add as they eventually break down. They are great around perennials, but can be used around bulbs and other flowers or vegetables also.”

Frost Date may be past
May 16 is the stated frost date for our area. We know this may or may not be true each year. I’m going to risk it today and plant cool-weather pansies in containers. Colorful blooms are welcome after our snowy winter and rainy spring.

Suggestions for filling containers
Here is a helpful tip. A Master Gardener suggested: “I fill all my containers on a plank that spans one of my compost bins. This allows me to spill and be messy without making a mess of the site. All the spilled soil mix falls into the compost bin.”

The Yard & Garden Line is a great resource for gardeners. If you have a question about garden or landscape plants, insects, wildlife, plant disease, soil testing call the yard& Garden Line at 612.624.4771 in the metro area or 888. 624. 4771 in greater Minnesota.

For timely gardening new visit the Yard & Garden Line News at www.extension.umn.edu. Topics in the current issue include Special Trips for Moms who Garden, Spring Means Home Fruit Questions, April Showers Bring May Pathogens, Plotting to Infiltrate? Try Rain Gardens, Soluble Salts, Birch Leafminers.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net