Growing Stuff: Native Plants Weathered This Summer’s Drought With Ease

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In early summer, I wrote about pollinators and the native plants they thrive on. I received a letter about it recently from Marie Walker and included a photo of her garden with this online column.

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I enjoyed your column on native plants in the Journal. I encourage people to grow native flowers whenever they can. I have sometimes come across the misconception that one is sacrificing beauty to save a section of the bed for the natives. I am sending you photos of my own garden to show the beauty that is available in these plants. Even this year, with the drought we had, my native plants haven’t suffered as much as my non-native plants. I have watered them very little and they are still blooming.

A local garden of native plants thrived during this summer's drought.
A local garden of native plants thrived during this summer’s drought. Photo by Marie Walker /Postmedia

Soften the soil

Q Our garden plot is 38 years old. Every year we put all of our grass clippings and the oldest of the five compost bins in it. The soil becomes so compacted that I can’t stick a fork in it, so I have to use a shovel. It’s not just the garden paths that get tough, the carrot rows are pretty tough too. What, if anything, can we add to loosen the earth?

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TO Typically, placing compost and grass clippings on the surface of the soil and letting the organic matter sink into the existing soil is the way to go. However, in this case it appears that the soil is too hard and compacted for this technique to be effective. I’m not normally a big proponent of using a rototiller, but in his case digging the dirt and turning it would be backbreaking work. The cultivator, if not used correctly, can create a hardening condition where the ends of the tines hit the ground.

To prevent the cultivator from creating the hard layer, set the cultivator at its lowest depth and make a slow pass over the bed. Then set the tiller to a depth of 20 cm, increase speed and go over the bed again. At this point you can add your organic matter to a depth of 15-20 cm. Now you can turn this into dirt with a fork or shovel. Do this in the fall. Once you’ve tilled for the first time, you should be able to add your organic matter without tilling every year.

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Some other tips for garden beds:

  • Consider adding pavers or steps to your garden paths. While the stones will compact the ground slightly, they also distribute your weight more than just walking directly on the ground. They also provide a place for earthworms to hang out under rocks.
  • Try to keep your garden beds no more than two arms long. With a walking path between two beds, you can easily reach each one.

Transplants will not bloom

Q Before we moved in two years ago, we gave our daughter and others some of our purple irises. We also removed and planted some in the garden at our new location. Plants given to others have adapted well and are flourishing. The plants in our new home have been disappointing. Although the leaves of the plant are between 25 and 35 centimeters tall, only one of the 12 plants flourished. They get full sun for half the day and are watered every day. Could you advise me on what to do?

TO While lilies can tolerate half a day of sunshine, it is not ideal. This could be the reason for the lack of flowering. It is also possible that the irises have been planted too deeply. Check to see if you can see the top of the rhizome in the ground. If you can’t see it, it’s too deep. I also wonder about the rhizomes themselves. If you didn’t take enough rhizome, you may need to grow for a few seasons before blooming.

Learn more by emailing your questions to [email protected], reading previous columns, or my book Ask jerry. You can also follow me on twitter @ justaskjerry01.

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Reference-edmontonjournal.com

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