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RE: Erthfood
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RE: Erthfood - 3/28/2009 12:46:25 PM
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frankszone
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Well I too have to get in on the fertilizer/compost thing. I have a small pickup in which I purchase the following: From a company who empties your septic tank and composts it I get a cubic yard or two for $10/load; from our local feed store I get a yard of sea compost (lobster shells, kelp, etc.) and from a local city dump I get a yard or two of composted xmas trees, leaves and branches. All of this I turn into my veggie garden and top dress my flower beds. I don't have any odor problem with any of the above.
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RE: Erthfood - 3/30/2009 5:55:56 PM
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Timothygrass
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Sounds like you have a great mix working! I won't even tell you what I pay for fish emulsion here six hours from the East coast!
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RE: Erthfood - 5/18/2009 12:20:59 PM
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Midwest gardener
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Loved the hydrangea discussion. Learned a lot from all the comments. We just moved our "Kaleidescope" hydrangeas from the north and shady side of the house to the south side, hoping for more blooms this year.
But just to back up a little on the messages...Would someone please explain what species tulips are?
Thanks and always grateful for the knowledge shared here!
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 5/19/2009 5:13:16 AM
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mmcairns
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I was reading all the posts on the problems with the various hydrangeas. Here is northern Ohio I have planted two of the endless summer (bailmer and blushing bride) varieties along with an oak leaf hydrangea and my 5year old nikko blue that has never bloomed. They are all in newly made beds at our new house. They are in morning sun so I have high hopes for some blooms this year. I talk to them each day and I will let you know how they perform or don't perform!!!! It is May 19 and we had frost last night for the second night in a row.
Mary Margaret
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 5/19/2009 7:43:37 PM
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Timothygrass
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Hi there! First about the species tulips. They are originally from the Mediterannean region, and not like the typical Dutch tulips we know. They tend to naturalize like daffodils, and like more of a rock garden sort of setting. The big thing in the US is that they will tolerate the hot summers and milder winters of the South. Because our winters don't get cold enough in Atlanta, most of the traditional Dutch tulips are treated as (very expensive) annuals.
Miss Mary Margaret, it sounds like there might be something going on with the Nikko Blue if it's five years old and hasn't bloomed. There is an excellent article about the different types of hydrangeas in the June/July issue of Horticulture, page 72........LOL. Nikko Blue is a pretty tough cultivar. Are you pruning at the wrong time of year? Just a thought.....
T
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 5/29/2009 6:44:00 PM
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Midwest gardener
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]Thanks Timothy, for the info on species tulips. they do sound like a charming addition to a flower bed.
Ironically, I envy those who live in zones higher than the 4-5 of NE Wisconsin. It often seems that there are so many plants I'd like to grow that aren't hardy here. It seems the best ones live in the South! Never thought that it would be a problem for some plants to be in too warm a climate! So I can be thankful and feel special that we can have such a vast selection of tulips that grow so well here. Now if we could just solve the problem of the deer loving them so much
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RE: Hydrangeas - 5/30/2009 3:47:07 AM
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Timothygrass
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One great benefit of a wet spring has been the AMAZING hydrangea blooms we're getting, particularly on the macrophylla and serrata types. If you're in a zone where hydrangeas will grow, you really need to check out "Mme. Emile Mouillere," a pure white with a tiny blue center; "Preziosa," with it's lavender blooms mottled with pink, and "Pia," a tiny little dwarf that flowers in a hot pink, even in acidic soils!
Get outside and enjoy your gardens!
T
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RE: Hydrangeas - 5/30/2009 7:10:13 AM
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gardengirl
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Just when I had my zone envy under control, you go and talk about those amazing hydrangeas. By the way the lilacs smell incredible this year. My entire large yard is perfumed. Now if you would just send some of that rain up here...
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RE: Erthfood - 6/27/2009 9:44:14 AM
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mmcairns
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Tim,
Just a followup on the nikko blue hydrangea in northern Ohio. I know it won't bloom this year but it has made the adjustment to it's new home and so I have high hopes for next year. The endless summer varieties look great and are blooming profusely.Mary Margaret
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 8/16/2009 10:47:15 AM
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plant lover
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In reply to the hydrangea problem. I read once where most plants do not like cement foundations. I have hydrangeas, same kind (I didn't know there were so many kinds!). One planted in full sun by a foundation and two in partial shade, facing north out away from the house. One of the north group is 3 feet high, 5 feet wide and has gobs of immense blooms. The one in full sun took a long time growing and finally is doing ok. I'm in northern Ind. I think the cement is the problem.
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RE: Hydrangeas and Cement - 9/9/2009 3:38:53 PM
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Timothygrass
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I would venture to guess that lime is the problem, not the cement itself. Hydrangeas are very sensitive to a soil's pH, and the concrete/cement is probably leaching lime into the soil. It's important to note that when I have mentioned growing hydrangeas with just a little morning sun, I'm in Zone 7, bordering on Zone 8 sometimes. My parents have hydrangeas growing in full sun and loving life on the coast of NH.
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 10/15/2009 6:19:46 PM
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anfair
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I have several annabelles one with about 75 blooms and use green chicken wire around them to keep them from flopping. Looks dumb until June then everyone is impressed with its form once the branches poke through and hide the wire! I must say they were very happy with the rainy weather of Massachusetts this year. My endless summer had one flower last year and 18 blooms this year. I did not do anyting different but the rain had to be a factor
Anne
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 10/18/2009 4:19:04 PM
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gardengirl
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Anne, I'm inclined to agree with you on the rain. Most years my Endless Summers have bloomed beautifully, this year we had very little rain during the growing season and I had only a few blooms. The other summers I was more diligent about watering when we didn't get sufficient moisture from Mother Nature. But on on our third summer of no rain I was just trying to keep things going.
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 10/20/2009 4:35:56 PM
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Timothygrass
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I would tend to agree with Gardengirl. Most of the macrophyllas are water hogs, and Endless Summer is probably not different. I was working in my garden this afternoon, and noticed that they are all covered with buds for next spring. It's been record-setting wet here for the past several weeks, and it's been a wetter than normal summer. I'm crossing my fingers for a banner hydrangea season next spring!
If anyone is into the really white hydrangeas, look at "Lanarth's White" or "Mme. Emile Mouilere". Both are really incredible, and almost "glow in the dark" white!
< Message edited by Timothygrass -- 10/20/2009 7:46:51 PM >
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 10/20/2009 6:26:48 PM
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gardengirl
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I found pics of Mme. Emile Mouilere but no zone info. I'm guessing they wouldn't be hardy up here in the frozen tundra. Trying to spike my zone envy are you?
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gardengirl zone 4 MN
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 11/19/2009 2:09:41 PM
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mjandras
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Hydrangeas are known to be difficult to cultivate, although the rewards for the work are great. The problem you are having getting the Hydrangeas to bloom is not unique, particularly in your region. The first question I have to ask is, what type of Hydrangea are you growing? The species of Hydrangea you have may be the problem, as well as your conditions.
Popular species, such a H. macrophylla, are difficult to flower in many parts of the country, particularly your area. H. macrophylla cultivars include 'Nikko Blue', 'Pia' and many of the variegated forms. I have expirience growing H. macrophylla in Missouri and Arkansas (zones 6-7) where I am from, and have had problems with flowering. The most common reasons for lack of flowers in H. macrophylla is bud freeze and improper trimming. H. macrophylla flowers on old wood, so if it is pruned in the fall or spring, flower buds are cut off. This species needs to be pruned immediately following flowering in spring/early summer. Bud freeze prevents flowering in the same way. The flower buds, which are less cold tolerant than the stems, can be frozen off in winter. This causes the plant to not flower, but continue to grow during the growing season. Assuming you are practicing proper pruning practices, given you live up North, the bud freeze is likely the issue.
The best solution for you would be to plant a different species of Hydrangea. More suitable choices include H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’ and H. paniculata. Both are very cold hardy and bloom on new growth. Annabelle Hydrangea had very nice mophead white flowers and has a long bloom time; the dried flowers are also attractive throughout the end of the growing season. There is one cultivar of H. macrophylla that is worth a try, the ‘Endless Summer’ series. It has the same blue or pink flowers as the species, but flowers on new and old growth; therefore, bud freeze and trimming times would not be issues. I am not sure about the cold tolerance, but zone 5 should be just fine.
Hydrangeas can be very rewarding plants to grow, if you use the right kind. Species selection is important for the region in which you live. There are many types to chose from and each has its own unique rewards.
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RE: Hydrangea no flowerosa...! - 11/20/2009 6:44:05 AM
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gardengirl
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Speaking of hydrangeas again, Bailey Nurseries in MN is introducing Hydrangea paniculata Vanilla Strawberry ('Renhy") as noted in the Dec. Jan issue of Horticulture mag. Looks like a very interesting introduction. Loved this issue of the mag by the way. I keep picking it up over and over. It's been a while since I've done that.
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