I stopped by Bowood Farms recently to get some guidance from Horticulture Manager Ellen Barredo on how to perk up the garden after this brutally hot, dry summer. In spite of the existence of our "do-it-yourself" watering system, some of the plantings really took it on the chin. I had been clipping burnt leaves off a Japanese Maple to try to make it look better, the hostas are limping to the finish, and the heuchera leaves are full of holes.
In Bowood's yard Ellen showed me a maple with crisp leaves (above) and explained that
any green plant tissue that remains on a leaf is still photosynthesizing
and producing food. "Do not cut those leaves off," Ellen said. They're still making hay, so to speak. They also offer a
natural umbrella for leaves growing underneath. Ellen also advised not to add fertilizer to any in-ground plants after August 1, because tender new growth might freeze at first frost.
I visited Bowood Farms before last weekend's rain, but even Hurricane Isaac couldn't get us out of the woods. Ellen's advice is to keep watering, especially on new plantings, until at least December, or until the ground is frozen. New plantings need to be watered diligently for at least three years until they establish a strong root system.
September is a great time to refresh the mulch and replenish the garden by adding or replacing plants. There are usually two months between Labor Day and the first frost in St. Louis (though what's normal any more?), so there's plenty of time to enjoy a spot of color here and there. Ellen also suggested taking home a free copy of September's Gateway Gardener which is devoted to rejuvenating the garden, i.e. "Bringing the Garden Back to Life," etc. for more advice.
Bowood has big, beefy 6" pots of fall-blooming petunias, $8.95, to fill in gaps in pots or in the ground. This new variety of petunia will withstand a light frost. According to Ellen, fall-blooming plants help bees and hummingbirds build strength before the cold weather sets in.
Bowood also has Celosia Intenza, Salvia, and annual Asters you might consider adding to the garden. Eucalyptus can be planted outside now, then cut and dried to add its signature fragrance to your home throughout the winter.
Spiky grasses like Carex Evergold (above), $6.95, are another good choice to add to the garden.
There are many blooming perennials at Bowood including lovely autumn-hued Coreopsis, above.
And why not plant edible filler–herbs, lettuces, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprout, $4.50—to hide those scorched leaves? Maybe you can enjoy a crop or two before the rabbits discover the bounty.
Ellen Barredo is most concerned about the effect the drought has had on street trees. She suggests that city dwellers adopt a tree and water it often so the tree can make it through until spring rains. Ellen said that the best way to water a street tree in these extremely dry conditions is to let a hose drip slowly for 10 to 15 minutes, stop watering for a bit, and then water again for 10-15 minutes. After that the ground at the base of the tree should be sufficiently wet so the hose can drip all night long (if possible), and the water will soak in.
Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive, (314) 454-6868.