Sensational and soothing, shade gardens are like a cool cocktail on a hot summer day. From woodland to formal to this contemporary take from Los Angeles-based designer Billy Goodnick, great shade gardens rely less on flowers and more on tones of green and other leaf colors, finishes and forms. His mash-up of the wand-like fronds of foxtail fern and rosette-formed Aeonium canariensis with round-leafed leopard plant and diminutive creeping Jenny is a steal-me composition of bold and delicate textures. Unified by a lemon-lime color palette, this is a shady stunner.
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PLANT SAVVY August 2015 |
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What to plant now
Don’t live with bare spots until fall planting–these heat-lovers can go in the ground right now. Tuck Bronze Carpet stonecrop (water-wise!) into cracks and crannies. Clad walls and fences with hummingbird-magnet Balboa Sunset® Trumpet Creeper; once established, it blooms profusely with near neglect. Try Purple Queen® Bougainvillea for a tumbling, blooming groundcover.
Dry shade
You’ve told us finding plants that tolerate dry shade’s triple trouble of parched soil, root competition and lack of sunlight is a challenge. Happily, gorgeous plants such as the hosta and lamium here and many others including Lenten rose, Pink Tip Podocarpus and sweetbox thrive in these conditions. Find more in “Planting the Dry Shade Garden” by Graham Rice. Photo: Judy White and Graham Rice
Sweet rewards
Everbearing and day-neutral straw-berries are still fruiting; help them thrive in the heat. Water regularly (one-inch per week in most soil types, more often in pots); mulch to keep soil cooler which can encourage fruiting; feed in late summer with a balanced fertilizer; and, pick all ripe berries. “Fruit left on the plant becomes overripe, which promotes disease and insect problems,” advises a Monrovia craftsman.
Making arrangements
Filling your home with flowers cut from your own garden is a rite of August. If you need inspiration (and awesome how-to) for sumputous, painterly homegrown bouquets stroll on over to farmer-florist Erin Benzakein’s addictive blog on Floret. Made your own arrangement? Post to Instagram, tagged #mymonroviabloom.
Deal with it
Tis the season for rambunctious weeds. You probably have a trowel; here are four speciality tools recommended by our craftsmen: blackberry hoe (gnarly brambles), dandelion digger (broadleaf weeds), hula-ho (cuts a wide swath), Grandpa’s weeder (no bending over!).
Wrangling wisteria
Summer pruning wisteria’s long vigorous shoots encourages the development of short-flowering spurs that will carry the long racemes of bloom in spring. How-to here. Tip: Use sharp pruners as crushing or tearing stems can lead to die-back. New to this spectacular vine? Here are two to plant right now: Amethyst Falls (good for large containers) and Blue Moon (super hardy, reliable re-bloomer).
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Home Free on Fox
Been watching this fun show (airs Wednesdays 9pm EST) and drooling over gardens featuring Monrovia’s best plants? Here’s a complete plant list for each episode.
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Slug stoppers
Guess who else likes it cool and dim? Slugs and snails! Control them with these non-toxic solutions.
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Having a moment
Time seems to stop during summer evenings in the garden. A glass a wine, friends, music. Instagram these moments and tag #mysummergarden. We’ll repost our favorites!
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The buzz on bees
August 15th is National Honey Bee Day. Let’s herald these hard-working pollinators and support local beekeepers.
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Firescaping
Drought conditions have left parts of the west especially vulnerable to wildfires this year. While no plant is “fire-proof,” here’s a list of options and do-it-now tips to prepare.
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