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June Garden Report
More Of What’s Happening In My Garden
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| Proof that there is hope for the Sweetgum tree |
I learned that I can’t judge a winter’s toll until June, and even then it remains to be seen what a tough summer may inflict on the garden in general and shrubs and trees in particular.
Here is what I have observed about my Central Ohio garden so far.
> I thought two of the Sweet Gum trees were goners when I checked them last month. I was ready to mourn them and have my husband get out his chainsaw. However, it appears that they had only been grievously delayed by the winter blasts of this past spring. I was so happy to see small tufts of new leaves indicating they may not have been doomed after all.
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| A bit messy, but I like it |
Many of the lavender shrubs sprouted from the base. Severely cut back and in need of an infusion of new plants to fill it, it has spelled renovation for the feature. Plans had been made to just tear out everything and do something else to line the walk. Right now I am in the process of cutting back both dead lavender and half dead rue to the ground- even though it is a little late in the season. I only have so much energy and physical resources to cover a multitude of tasks around here.
> Both the thyme and the sage had to be pruned to stubs, as well, although some of the thyme was altogether lost, a tiny bit survived. such things make me happy all out of proportion to what they are.
> I allowed the mugo pines to go unpruned this year, and I am wondering whether to just trim the new growth? I would permanently head back those branches if I cut them off at this point.
> The paths of the raised vegetable garden beds are being covered with cardboard, and look messy. However a few more cut up boxes and I might cover them with mulch. I am thinking of cypress, although that is awful for bare feet.
> The spring is dry this year, but I noticed some of my seedlings sprouting. The hoses need to get in place already.
> Tomato plants look miserable here.
> The new rose I put in last year looks healthy; I’ll have to look up the name- it went through this winter without protection.
>> Even though I love the rose that I think is a Scotch rose or R. spinosissima (AKA Pimpinellifolia), due to its apple fragrance all summer, it savagely tore at me through my leather gloves and long sleeved shirt as I removed its dead and overgrown canes. I had neglected that side of the house and poison ivy had taken hold. So it was slow work, but I am two thirds through with a very onerous job.
I am the designated poison ivy remover around the place.
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| Bowl of Beauty Peony |
More Observations
My Ash trees are completely dead.
-The Emerald Ash Borer got them, this time there is no doubt.
Not sure what happened to the ornamental grasses, but the Miscanthus is barely sprouting around one edge (on all the plants). Wondering if they are marginally hardy here, or whether the heavy snows created wetness and rot???
Dog ticks were still pretty bad despite the cold winter.
A deer was observed in my front yard. Rabbits have made themselves at home here. I really need a dog.
The Days Have Been Glorious
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| Sorry, can’t remember the name of this one |
German iris bloomed gorgeously.
Clematis delight me every year, including this one.
Perfectly lovely weather, so that even the nagging concern about rain is pushed to the back of my mind.
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© 2014 written for Ilona’s Garden Journal by Ilona E. An excellent blog.
Your personal observations are the same as those noted in local newspapers. Sweet gum was on the list of those that were taken aback by the tough winter. The article said that many “southern” plants were those hardest hit. I assume they meant marginals. I never thought of ornamental grasses as marginal, but I’ve noticed all over town that many grasses were weak to return, with lots of dead growth in the center. One of my Morning Light miscanthus came back with only one tiny spring. I pampered it, but finally gave in and replaced it with a full plant.