Q. As this year’s active growing season nears its end, I am assessing the state of my garden and taking note of perennials and shrubs that seem be in progressive decline. Several never seem to do well no matter how much I pamper them. Some look sickly or never bloom. Others manage to outpace my constant pruning to become territory-swallowing monsters. How do you arrive at decisions on dealing with such plants?
A. I cherish my garden as a source of fresh, nutritious food, flowers, and beauty. Equally important is the garden’s role as a sanity-saving realm of calming peace. Having an “awkward squad” of troublesome plants does nothing to maintain that soothing ambience. And as much as I love my garden, I am not at all “squishy” over perpetually disappointing or troublesome plants and I do not hesitate to remove them from the landscape.
Recent years have not been easy for many plants. I’m constantly taking note of specimens that are struggling in increasingly challenging conditions of rising heat levels and drought. I dig out a few each year and replace them with plants like attractive, drought-tolerant Mediterranean herbs, and perennials that continue to flourish even in difficult conditions.
In my garden, seed-grown hardy geraniums continue to grow and flower well, and self-sow for a stream of new plants, in less than ideal environments. Plant World Seeds is a good seed source.
Judicious removals can be deemed exercises in a corrective “editing” that creates space for more enduring and undemanding plantings.
Q. I’ve been planting a few containers of winter pansies to place on our patio, next to glass doors into the house. Is it a good idea to add a few small spring flower bulbs to the pansy plantings?
A. I often push a few small bulbs into the planting mix around pansies and violas that have been potted. Stick to the small plants like crocuses, glory of the snow (Chionodoxa), dwarf irises and miniature daffodils.
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