eks6426
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2004
- Messages
- 2,011
Monarch--Roses in pots in our area don't work even if you cover them because the roots freeze and thaw too much. I have had some luck with Mara's suggestion of sinking them in the ground. Putting them in the garage unless it has some heat doesn't work because the roots still do the freeze/thaw thing. The real key is consistency in temperature which is what being in the ground provides. I have also brought my pot roses into the house for the winter but unless you have a greenhouse style windows, it doesn't really work....not enough light. Honestly, if you really want roses in pots you should either put the pots in the ground in October or think of the roses in the pots as annuals...and get new ones every year.
On roses in the ground, buy the ones that are good to zone 4 (we are zone 5) and then you don't need to cover them. I don't cover my in-ground roses at all other than throwing a few leaves on top of them. I couldn't bare to look at those styrofoam cones all winter. Also, own root roses are better but if you buy grafted plant the bud union (where they put the roots and top part together) several inches BELOW the soil. Buck and Explorer roses are both good for our area. The David Austin roses like Mara has are really fussy here. The gardenweb forum is great for getting answers on which roses...just specify how much babying you are willing to do.
Ok, on to your flower beds. Are you going to sell this year in early summer? If yes, you probably should buy larger perennial plants from a local nursery. If you're not going to sell until late summer or next year Bluestone will work great. Here's my plant suggestions--ones I have personally grown in northern Indiana and have been doing well for me:
Buddelia--butterfly bushes. I love these. They really attract butterflies and bloom for a really long time. I have Nano purple and black night but I really don't think it matters. They mostly all do great...although the yellow ones seem more fussy. They have a white one in their SALE section.
CARYOPTERIS--Bluebeard. This is actually a shrub that has blueish flowers on it. Flowers last a long time.
Monarda--Super easy, bright colors--lots of choices.
Echinacea--Purple cone flowers. These look great with your rudebekia. Lots of choices. Get whichever one is on sale. They even have white variety which is nice.
Perennial Salvias--these bloom earlier than the above flowers...usually mid June-very early July for me. I like May Night and East Frieseland best.
Scabiosa--Pin cushion flowers. These are small flowers that you put near the front. They're very informal looking but they bloom almost all summer for me.
Sedum--the taller ones such as autumn joy are good for late summer early fall colors. The short ones make good front ground cover.
Thyme--my personal favorite for the front of the border. The low growing ones creep around my other plants. I have all sorts of different types. It also tolerates being walked on so it's good for edges. I have had a tough time with this from Bluestone...I would buy locally if I were you.
CENTAUREA Montana Perennial bachelor button. This spreads like crazy for me. Bees love it.
GAILLARDIA Burgundy --this is really red not burgundy. Lots of flowers and spreads well.
Perennial Geranium--not the red kind you see in pots. Johnson's Blue is good. Blooms late spring early summer. Will rebloom if you cut it back to the ground.
Lavendar--smells wonderful. In our area I've had good luck with Lavendar Lady, Hidicote and Munstead
NEPETA Walker's Low --great blue/grey plant. Plant smells sort of like mint. Attracts butterflies and bees...and CATS.
PEROVSKIA Atriplicifolia --Russian Sage--no fail bloom...gets very large so put it in back
Phlox--the taller phlox looks great mid-summer. It can get mildew which is a pain. Phlox David--white-- seems to be the least mildewy one for me.
Veronicas--upright spires...sort of looks like Salvia but blooms a bit later--I like Sunny Border Blue and Red Fox but they all seem to do well.
Coreopsis--I have Sweet Dreams and it bloomed for over 8 weeks. The yellow ones are nice too. My front flower bed is all blue/pink/purple/white so that's why I have the Sweet Dreams Coreopsis.
I'd also look into doing some of the perennial tall grasses. You're a bit more prairie than I am so it would suit your area.
If you are anywhere close to Downer's Grove, there is a fantastic nursery in that area. If you are let me know and I'll check my garden notes to get the name for you. It is good enough that I sometimes drive 2 hours to get there.
Good luck!
On roses in the ground, buy the ones that are good to zone 4 (we are zone 5) and then you don't need to cover them. I don't cover my in-ground roses at all other than throwing a few leaves on top of them. I couldn't bare to look at those styrofoam cones all winter. Also, own root roses are better but if you buy grafted plant the bud union (where they put the roots and top part together) several inches BELOW the soil. Buck and Explorer roses are both good for our area. The David Austin roses like Mara has are really fussy here. The gardenweb forum is great for getting answers on which roses...just specify how much babying you are willing to do.
Ok, on to your flower beds. Are you going to sell this year in early summer? If yes, you probably should buy larger perennial plants from a local nursery. If you're not going to sell until late summer or next year Bluestone will work great. Here's my plant suggestions--ones I have personally grown in northern Indiana and have been doing well for me:
Buddelia--butterfly bushes. I love these. They really attract butterflies and bloom for a really long time. I have Nano purple and black night but I really don't think it matters. They mostly all do great...although the yellow ones seem more fussy. They have a white one in their SALE section.
CARYOPTERIS--Bluebeard. This is actually a shrub that has blueish flowers on it. Flowers last a long time.
Monarda--Super easy, bright colors--lots of choices.
Echinacea--Purple cone flowers. These look great with your rudebekia. Lots of choices. Get whichever one is on sale. They even have white variety which is nice.
Perennial Salvias--these bloom earlier than the above flowers...usually mid June-very early July for me. I like May Night and East Frieseland best.
Scabiosa--Pin cushion flowers. These are small flowers that you put near the front. They're very informal looking but they bloom almost all summer for me.
Sedum--the taller ones such as autumn joy are good for late summer early fall colors. The short ones make good front ground cover.
Thyme--my personal favorite for the front of the border. The low growing ones creep around my other plants. I have all sorts of different types. It also tolerates being walked on so it's good for edges. I have had a tough time with this from Bluestone...I would buy locally if I were you.
CENTAUREA Montana Perennial bachelor button. This spreads like crazy for me. Bees love it.
GAILLARDIA Burgundy --this is really red not burgundy. Lots of flowers and spreads well.
Perennial Geranium--not the red kind you see in pots. Johnson's Blue is good. Blooms late spring early summer. Will rebloom if you cut it back to the ground.
Lavendar--smells wonderful. In our area I've had good luck with Lavendar Lady, Hidicote and Munstead
NEPETA Walker's Low --great blue/grey plant. Plant smells sort of like mint. Attracts butterflies and bees...and CATS.
PEROVSKIA Atriplicifolia --Russian Sage--no fail bloom...gets very large so put it in back
Phlox--the taller phlox looks great mid-summer. It can get mildew which is a pain. Phlox David--white-- seems to be the least mildewy one for me.
Veronicas--upright spires...sort of looks like Salvia but blooms a bit later--I like Sunny Border Blue and Red Fox but they all seem to do well.
Coreopsis--I have Sweet Dreams and it bloomed for over 8 weeks. The yellow ones are nice too. My front flower bed is all blue/pink/purple/white so that's why I have the Sweet Dreams Coreopsis.
I'd also look into doing some of the perennial tall grasses. You're a bit more prairie than I am so it would suit your area.
If you are anywhere close to Downer's Grove, there is a fantastic nursery in that area. If you are let me know and I'll check my garden notes to get the name for you. It is good enough that I sometimes drive 2 hours to get there.
Good luck!
welcome to the club! and happy gardening. oh, and its ok to start slow and just get a few plants that make you feel good.......
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