Table of contents for July/August 2021 in Garden Gate

Cosmos makes a great cut flower. Here’s how to get the most from the blooms you bring indoors. • Cut cosmos as the flower just opens and the center is still tight. • Use sharp scissors to cut the slender stems at a leaf node — that’s the spot where the leaf joins the stem. The plant will branch from there and form even more flowering stems. • Strip off the leaves that will sit below the water before putting your stem in a vase. Otherwise it will rot and shorten the life of the bloom. Do leave some of the frilly foliage at the top of the stem near the flower — its fine texture will be a nice contrast to larger leaves in your bouquet.…

Walnut trees produce juglone, a chemical that can be toxic to some plants, especially tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, so it is best not to plant a vegetable garden near a living walnut tree. The good news is that in a compost pile, juglone in leaves breaks down in 30 to 40 days, and the juglone in bark chips breaks down in 6 months. So you can compost parts of a walnut tree; just make sure the compost matures and ages before you use it on susceptible crops. Answer is FALSE. Other poisonous plants, such as rhubarb leaves, or irritants, such as stinging nettles, will also break down easily in the compost pile. Just be careful handling them while tossing them in and make sure the pile heats up enough to…

We love having a nonstop supply of crisp cucumbers from midsummer until frost. We enjoy them in sandwiches, salads and tzatziki, and pickled. I also love to stir together my mother-in-law’s Lebanese cucumber yogurt salad, which is a cooling summer treat. Here is the simple recipe: Lebanese cucumber yogurt salad • 1 cup finely chopped cucumbers • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt • 1 finely minced garlic clove • ½ tsp. salt • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint (or 1 to 2 tsp. dried mint)…

We live a half block from the beach. What perennials do you suggest for sandy soils? Sandy McHugh, NJ Q Any tips for successfully overwintering oregano? Kate Jenkins, IL A Perennial herbs, such as oregano (Origanum vulgare), chives (Allium schoenoprasum), lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) and thyme (Thymus spp. and hybrids), overwinter well in the ground. In most areas simply wait until after a few hard freezes and then cut back tall herbs to within 4 to 6 inches of the ground. In cold winter areas (USDA zones 3 to 5), add a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of shredded bark mulch on top of the herbs for additional protection. The bark will help prevent the ground from freezing and thawing in winter, making it less likely the herb roots will…

Every garden has its own special challenges. If shade is one of those challenges for you, here are three hard-working shade-tolerant combos that will transform a less-than-light spot into a colorful, long-lasting display. Whether your entire yard is under a tree, or you just need some contrast for a shady patio, these annual combos can brighten even the darkest corner. (Many of the plants featured are tender perennials that we typically grow as annuals.) And since annuals grow, bloom and fade in a single season, you can change your planting plan every year to keep it fresh. All of these combos will thrive in part to full shade. An area is considered part shade if it receives 4 to 6 hours of light per day or all day dappled light.…

If you’re already in love with daylilies, you might be in “double trouble” after reading this article. In my travels over two decades as a daylily enthusiast and former president of the American Daylily Society, I have become especially fond of the swirling, twirling, unpredictable doubles. A beautifully unfolded double daylily reminds me of a fierce flamenco skirt or a decadent bowlful of whipped cream. A double daylily has more than one petal whorl or a stamen whorl that contains petaloids (petal-like) stamens. The complex structure of the double is a wonderful counterpoint to the traditional star-shaped single, but the dependable foliage and growth habits are the same. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Flower size in doubles ranges from 2 to 10 inches, and growing height, from 12 to 30 inches…

NEED TO KNOW Cucumber Cucumis sativus When to plant In late spring when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees F Light Full sun When to harvest Once fruits are the size recommended on the seed packet, about two months after planting How much to plant 2 to 3 plants for a family of four for fresh eating 5 to 6 plants for making pickles Problems Striped and spotted cucumber beetles (see below) Cucumbers are so easy to grow: Give them sun, consistent water and decent soil, and they’ll produce a large crop of crisp fruits starting in midsummer. There are two ways to plant cucumbers: Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings. In my zone 5 garden, I do both to maximize production. Once the risk of frost has passed in…

Bee balm Monarda hybrid Black walnut Juglans nigra Clematis Clematis spp. and hybrids Delphinium Delphinium elatum Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius Panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata Smokebush Cotinus coggygria Asiatic lily Lilium hybrid Barberry Berberis thunbergii Bee balm Monarda hybrid Bugleweed Ajuga spp. and hybrids Daylily Hemerocallis spp. and hybrids Delphinium Delphinium elatum Elephant ear Colocasia gigantea Giant scabious Cephalaria gigantea Korean burnet Sanguisorba hakusanensis Sedum Sedum spp. and hybrids Blue spruce Picea pungens Coral bells Heuchera spp. and hybrids Creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum Dwarf ginkgo Gino biloba Japanese larch Larix kaempferi Scotch moss Sagina subulata Sea thrift Armeria maritima Weeping spruce Picea abies Weeping willow Salix babylonica White spruce Picea glauca Clematis Clematis spp. and hybrids Daylily  Hemerocallis spp. and hybrids Garden phlox  Phlox paniculata Turtlehead  Chelone lyonii…

Black swallowwort Vincetoxicum nigrum (formerly Cynanchum louiseae) What it looks like Black swallowwort is an herbaceous perennial in the milkweed family. It is a vine with twining stems up to 6 feet long with dark green, glossy foliage. The lance-shaped leaves are opposite with smooth edges. Flowers emerge in early summer, are ¹/8 inch, purple with a yellow center, star shaped, and borne in clusters at leaf axils. They are followed by a typical milkweedlike pod that persists through fall. Where to find it Native to Europe, it thrives in both shade and sun and is found in disturbed areas along roadsides, pastures, old fields and gardens. It was first cultivated in greenhouses in the mid-1800s at the Harvard Botanical Garden in Massachusetts, where it escaped. How to get…

‘Sonora’ gloriosa daisy Rudbeckia hirta Perennial Blooms Bright yellow daisy flowers with a red-brown eye and dark brown center button bloom from midsummer to frost Light Full sun to part shade Soil Average to dry Pests Powdery mildew can be a problem Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide Cold hardy USDA zones 5 to 9 No prairie planting is complete without a gloriosa daisy. But this cheerful summer perennial is more than just a meadow garden staple. ‘Sonora’ is at home everywhere from cutting gardens to annual beds like the one in the photo at right. ‘Sonora’ gloriosa daisy’s bright yellow flowers accented by striking mahogany centers contrast spectacularly with black or burgundy foliage. Plant it in a container next to black varnish plant, or with dark-colored…

Dual-use duster Chloe Deike, IA Large-leaved houseplants, such as schefflera (Schefflera actinophylla), can collect a lot of dust. When Chloe purchased a three-pronged microfiber duster to clean her blinds, she found it looked similar to some more expensive houseplant dusting accessories while being only half the cost. The flexible prongs are covered in removable microfiber cloth. Run the leaf of a houseplant between the prongs and gently squeeze to dust both the top and bottom without tearing the leaf. A convenient vase Bea Strozina, ME Bea shared her idea for adding an extra touch of beauty to the garden with little effort and no extra materials. It starts with a decorative rain gauge—one without a funnel on top like this. After a good rain, Bea strolls through the garden looking…

A summer evening sitting on the patio is even more enjoyable with the soft glow of a lantern nearby. Rather than buying one, I gave a 32-ounce pickle jar a new look using spray paint, a stencil and outdoor craft paint. Battery-operated firefly lights provide the illumination, but a tea light candle works, too. If you use the firefly lights, make sure the battery housing fits through the opening of the jar and ideally lies flat on the bottom. MATERIALS & TOOLS • 2-in.-wide painter’s tape• 2 cans of spray paint; I used Krylon Matte Rain Drop (color 1) and Satin Cactus Green (color 2)• 32 oz. pickle jar• Craft stencil (6×8 inch)• Outdoor craft paint; I used Apple Barrel® Gloss White• Stencil brush• 2 6-in. strands of beads• LED firefly…

The simple flowers of cosmos have been a staple in cottage gardens for generations, but this lovely heirloom annual is a first-rate addition to just about any casual garden. Easy-to-grow plants provide lots of color and texture in mixed borders or mass plantings. This classic bloom sits on long stems that gently nod in the breeze—a great addition to meadows and cutting gardens, too. While there are 25 species of cosmos, only a few are grown in the garden: The two most common are tall cosmos and sulphur cosmos. You’re probably most familiar with tall cosmos. This is the one you see in the grocery store seed rack every year. Plants grow 1 to 4 feet tall and have slender, ferny leaves. Tall cosmos has the most variety in flower…

Decomposition can start at just 50 degrees F, so compost can be forming even in cool temperatures. Even if the pile never gets hot, you’ll still get usable compost; it just depends on how you’d like to use the end product. Active managed, or hot, compost should reach temperatures of 130 to 150 degrees F so it will destroy weed seeds and diseases, will break down faster, be finer textured, and have more nutrient value as a fertilizer mixed in with soil or potting mix. If the pile gets as hot as 170 degrees F, it can harm helpful bacteria and microorganisms, so turn the pile to help cool it down. Passive, or inactive, compost does not heat up enough to kill pathogens or seeds, is usually chunkier and still…

Cucumbers are generally easy to grow, but they can fall prey to cucumber beetles. Striped and spotted cucumber beetle adults eat holes in the flowers and leaves while the larvae nibble on the roots. Plus, they can transmit bacterial wilt, a pathogen that quickly kills cucumber plants. There are a few things you can do to deter or reduce damage from cucumber beetles: • Plant resistant varieties like ‘Suyo Long’, ‘Muncher’, ‘English Telegraph’ and ‘Summer Dance.’ • Cover seedlings with a lightweight row cover or insect barrier netting at planting time. Remove when the plants begin to flower to allow for pollination. • Use yellow sticky cards to trap adult beetles. Hang cards just above the trellised plants or attach them to stakes for nontrellised ones.…

Brunnera Brunnera macrophylla Hakonechloa Hakonechloa macra Strawberry tree Arbutus spp. Sweetshrub Calycanthus spp. and hybrids Tassel fern Polystichum polyblepharum Coleus Plectranthus scutellarioides Mandevilla Mandevilla hybrids Tropical hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Wing begonia Begonia hybrid Yew Taxus spp. Boxwood Buxus hybrid Dahlia Dahlia spp. and hybrids Geranium Pelargonium hybrids Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis Japanese maple Acer palmatum…

• FIND THE RIGHT SPOT Clematis vines bloom best with 6 hours of sun each day but will bloom and thrive in part shade. When you plant, look for the first set of buds at the base of the plant, and plant these buds below soil level. Add a layer of mulch around the base to keep the roots cool and moist. • HELP IT CLIMB Clematis climbs a structure by twisting petioles, or leaf stems. The vine itself does not twine. Anything over ¾ in. in diameter is too large for a clematis leaf to grasp. Monofilament fishing line is a great way to train a clematis to climb a light pole or arbor post. • PRUNE IT PROPERLY All of the small-flowered summer-blooming clematis you see here bloom on new shoots.…

Arguably the most essential tool a gardener can have, a pair of hand pruners performs a wide range of tasks, from spring garden cleanup and pruning shrubs to deadheading spent flowers and even cutting twine. If all the different kinds of pruners and features make your head spin when you’re looking for a pair, let me show you some of the features that really matter. First Impressions You’ll know good hand pruners when you put them in your hand. They will fit your grip just right, cut smoothly and feel comfortable when you use them for a long period of time. Form-fitted, rubber- or plastic-coated handles provide your hands some cushion and grip. The Mechanics BLADES The sharper the blades, the better they will cut. Therefore, type of metal used…

People have always loved the sun. In ancient Greece and ancient Egypt, the sun was associated with powerful gods. Today, the sun is revered for its ability to power homes and grow pretty gardens. The sun is essential to all gardens, whether shady or sunny. That’s because plants live by the process of photosynthesis — a chemical reaction, driven by the sunlight, that provides nutrients to the plants. But some plants need more light to thrive than others, and these sun lovers are what we’re focused on here. LOVING THE LIGHT There’s a lot to love about gardening in the sun: the colors, the fragrances, the many, many options! Here’s how to make the most of your sunny spot. Winged visitors One of the best things that sun gardens offer…