Perennial Plant of the Year™ 2022
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium and cultivars ‘Jazz’, ‘The Blues’, Standing Ovation’, ‘Carousel’, ‘Blue Heaven’, ‘Prairie Blues’) Zones 3-9; height 24-48”, width 18-24”; full sun; native.
Boxwood (Buxus spp) – boxwood leafminer (Monarthropalpusi flavus), boxwood psyllid (Cacopsylla busi)
Close monitoring and proper insect/diseases identification.
Bioadvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed
Viburnum Leaf Beetle (VLB) (Pyrrhalta viburni)– highly susceptible species
V. dentatum (Arrowwood); V. nudum (possum-haw); V. opulus (European cranberrybush);
V. opulus var. Americana (American cranberrybush); V. propinquum (Chinese);
V. rafinesquianum (Rafinesque)
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/manage.html
To stake or not to stake – Is it the right thing to do? Why do it? How long?
Sanitation – Disinfect tools frequently, dip them for ten seconds into any of these and then allow the tool to dry.
This includes hands, gloves, shoes, clothing, etc.
Isopropyl alcohol 70-100%
Sodium hypochlorite 10% household bleach (1-part bleach to 9 parts clean water, made fresh daily)
Phenolics 0.4-5% (trade name Pheno-Cen)
Quaternary ammonium at 0.5-1.5% (trade names Greenshield, Consan Triple Action 20, Physan 20)
Why, to keep from spreading problems. Examples . . . Boxwood (Boxwood blight), Red-twig dogwood (twig blight (canker), lawn (dollar spot, rust), clematis (clematis wilt), etc.
Keeping records
Keep records and take pictures so you can . . . evaluate successes and failures. Replace a dead plant with an exact match, by keeping track of genus, species and cultivar (not common names). Where the plant/seed was purchased and when (cost!). Where it is planted in the garden. Where there was pest & disease problems, what treatment, product(s) was used & date(s) (IPM). Blooming dates for trees, shrubs and perennials. When specific plants were pruned and/or divided. When certain tasks were done such as fertilizing and with what. Mulch, what kind, how much, where was it purchased. Plant problems, floppy, plant health, something doesn’t look right. Climate data, temps, moisture, sunshine, cloudy. Changes to make for next year and why. Good/bad combinations. Harvest date(s).
Butterflies – Butterflies of Michigan Field Guide by Jaret C. Daniels
Keeping track of them!
Tools – Radius Garden™ O handle “Natural Radius Grip™”, stainless steel
Fall interest plants
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) 3-8’ tall, 3-6’ wide; Z6-10; blooms June to August; full sun to part shade
Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) Z3-7; 2-4’ tall, 1-2’ wide; full sun to light shade
Magazines
Fine Gardening and on-line Garden Photo of the Day (GPOD)
Horticulture and e-newsletter
A Way to Garden – Weekly on-line newsletter featuring horticultural how-to and “woo-woo” from Margaret Roach: garden tips, expert interviews, nature “aha’s,” garden-to-table recipes, and more. Offering A Virtual Garden Club and a recent book club. https://awaytogarden.com