The Goings-Ons At Allentuck Landscaping Company
We hope you will not need us after Hurricane Irene passes, but we are here to help if you do.
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Phone: 301-515-1900 (messages will be checked)
Summertime and the liv'in is easy. To make life even sweeter, how about adding some splashes of color to your garden. There are a lot of great plants to choose from this time of year. Here are the plants that made our HOT list for summer.
Tardiva Hydrangea - This large shrub has beautiful white blooms that last a long time. Even after they have faded, they look like "moths dancing around the tree".
Crape Myrtle - No plant says summer like the Crape Myrtle. With colors like pink, red, purple and white, and sizes ranging from small shrub to medium size tree, this versatile plant deserves a spot in your garden.
Caryopteris (Blue Mist Plant) - The low mounding habit of Caryopteris makes it perfect as a low border plant for massing purposes and works wonders in dry, sunny spots. Hundreds of blue foot long flower spikes cover this plant in late summer.
Sedum - So many to choose from. This family of plants have varieties that bloom in pink, yellow or red and grow as a clumping or spreading perennial. Sedums take bright sun and can tolerate low water. A perfect plant for our summers.
Echinacea (Cone Flower) - Cone Flowers have come a long way in recent years with interesting varieties such as Kim's Knee High and Magnus, this plant is sure to add some zip to any landscape. Not only is it attractive to us two legged animals, butterflies love it too.
BONUS PLANT: Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) - We can't leave Maryland's state flower off of this list. Its vibrant colors are sure to add energy to even the most dog day of August.
Trees and Shrubs - Newly planted trees and shrubs are the most sensitive to heat and drought damage. Special care should be taken to establish good root systems on plants one or two years old. Deep watering is best. Leave the hose running at a trickle for 5-10 minutes at the base of the plants to let it soak well into the soil. Avoid spraying the foliage with water on hot afternoons as this will lead to leaf scorch. A good mulch base helps insulate the roots but too little (less than an inch) does not help much and too much (over three inches) keeps water from soaking in.
Lawns - Lawns require 1-2 inches of water per week. It is best to water in the early morning so that the leaves can thoroughly dry and reduce the chance of foliar diseases. We typically have cool season grasses (fescue, ryegrass and bluegrass) in our area. These grasses naturally go dormant (turn brown) during periods of high temperatures. This keeps the grasses from extreme desiccation. They will naturally green up when cooler temperatures and moisture returns.
Vegetables - Vegetable plants require adequate water at all stages of development. Without it, blossoms will drop and yields will decline. These plants generally require 1-2 inches of water per week. Like other plants, avoid getting water on the foliage, target the root zone. A good compost base at planting will also help conserve moisture.
