It's nearly December, and I'm still puttering in the garden. I went to Home Depot yesterday to get lawn bags, as the last leaf pickup is this week. I swear, that's all I intended to get. The garden center is filled with Christmas trees and holiday greenery, but in one sad little corner was a pile of shrubs at super markdown prices. And for two dollars, I picked up an Amethyst coral berry.
It has white flowers at midsummer, and pretty hot pink fruit in late summer.
At least the ground's not frozen yet, and I was able to get it planted. But that's it, I promise. No more plant purchases for the year. I even disconnected the garden hoses today, too, to prove it.
6 comments:
I've never tried planting anything this late before. I've always thought plants had to have 4-6 weeks to establish roots before the ground froze. I can't wait to see if this works for you because this would add another 1 1/2 to 2 months to my planting season, since I always seem to wait til the last minute, lol.
I always heard that, too, but somehow they manage to survive just fine, for the most part. I'm zone five, and the latest I planted last year was the third week in November, mostly shrubs and a few perennials. We get freezing temperatures this time of year, but the ground doesn't freeze hard for a while. All the shrubs survived, and I'd say 95% of the clearance perennials did, too. I pick shrubs that have green branches, even if they look dead and dormant on the exterior. (A scratch test of the bark reveals a bit o' green.) This time of year, the stores are practically giving away their expensive stock, so it's worth the risk. I just look like the crazy woman digging and planting and watering in while others are putting up their Christmas lights.
Joanne, I've heard that before.
"No, mom, really, the very last one!" If I know you I will find you, in the yard, with a pick ax, to plant in the frozen ground!! love ya
mom
Our Lowe's has had zero plants for awhile. If they had a clearing out sale, I missed it. Home Depot is quote a drive away.
I did plant a climbing Cécile Brünner rose (small double pink) a couple of weeks ago here in zone 6. I had held off while some repair work was being done on the deck it will hopefully be growing against.
But it seems like a tough rose. A couple of times, what can I say, when it was hanging out in its nursery planter in a corner waiting for the deck work to get done, I forgot to water it and it came back from its last gasp when I remembered.
I had one out in California, and am looking forward to this one climbing and blooming over the side of the deck, I hope.
I've discovered in the last few years that plants are a lot hardier--and more forgiving--than I ever gave them credit for. As I expanded the flower beds this year, I would actually dig up shrubs that had been in place for a year or more and rearrange them. As long as they weren't in a vigorous growth spurt, they bounced back just fine.
I just looked up Cécile Brünner roses--quite pretty. And it appears it grows in zone 5. Nice! I may have to find room in the yard.
Thanks for all the helpful info. Now I'm kicking myself that I didn't try to move the hostas from my next door neighbor a month or so ago because I thought it was too late in the year. BUT, now that I know this, I will definitely be putting it to good use for many years to come.
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