Good Morning and Happy Tuesday, Everyone!
How was your weekend and Monday?
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Garden Work
My sweetheart and I took advantage of our warm Saturday to work outside. He fixed our mailbox while I did winter prep in the front garden. My biggest accomplishment was moving a Magic Carpet Spirea a couple of inches to center it. Yes, I was that bothered by asymmetry to move a plant a few inches.
To be fair, it's one of the first bushes seen coming up to our porch, and it was really close to the border before. The move was needed for aesthetic and future growth reasons... I see it may still be a little off-center... it's way better than before, though. Trust me.
I also made room for those peony bulbs I mentioned last post. There's a round bed at the top of our yard that's a mess of random weeds and flowers. We wanted to remove it to make mowing easier, but then thought we might as well use it since it's already there.
Peonies were on my list as potential suitors for the spot and my sweetheart thought they'd work well there too, but I turned it down. I thought they'd look better against the front porch.
I soon learned our Magnolia tree shades that area too much for peonies to thrive, so the round bed ended up winning for the sun-loving perennials. They'll get all the sun they want with no other flowers fighting for resources.
That shady porch spot isn't forgotten, though; I have two Bleeding Hearts out back that need transplanting next spring. Their current bed is a tangle of Spirea branches and chokecherry suckers. They'll be a nice pop of color in the shade once they're out front. I had to dig up a Clematis to make room for them, but my sister is willing to take it for her garden. Fingers crossed we can find a nice spot there and plant it soon! It's a really pretty plant, so I'd hate for it to go into compost. We'll see what's happens.
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Transplant Tips
Aside from spring, fall is one of the best times to transplant some perennials. I'd research your plants and zones to double-check, but if you've been meaning to do some placement swaps, now's the time. I recommend preparing the new spot first, then gently digging up your plant so you can get it replanted as soon as possible. This helps minimize shock from exposing the roots. I've killed a few by digging them up to start and then digging a new hole after.
I read online to mix fertilizer into the dirt of the new hole (I use a general pellet fertilizer), then water the transplant as soon as it's back in the ground and every day for a week after if there won't be any rain. It's worked for me since I started doing it in late spring with other transplants, so I think it's worth sharing with you.
If you're not sure what you have, Google Image Search (not sponsored or affiliated) has helped me identify pretty much all the flowers and shrubs here. I'd be clueless without it and general research on the internet. Make use of the resources around you, and don't be afraid to ask!
What fall gardening are you doing this year? Let me know!
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