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plants heaving, also plant recommendations

Posted by dianepmt z5MI (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 13, 07 at 22:39

I wasn't sure what forum to put this in - I'm a newbie gardner in zone 5 SE Michigan. I planted some new perennials and sedum groundcovers last Fall (and will likely have to move some of them anyway, since I think things will be too crowded). I thought I planted them deep enough, but we have had some very back and forth weather changes - freezing a week ago and 70 today, and I noticed a few days ago that some of them have heaved out of the ground. I need to get new mulch, it's nowhere near thick enough, and I had so many weeds last year. I assume the freeze/thaw thing is responsible for the heaving, but should I get more dirt and pile around ASAP with mulch, or should I dig them up now and re-plant deeper so early in the season?

Also, if anyone can recommend some low maintenence, maybe native plants for this area that blend nicely together, that would be much appreciated. I am pretty lost about what to put in. The previous owners planted two maiden grass against the house (beautiful but probably too big, floppy, and would now need a back hoe to get out of there, so they will probably stay until they look really bad - I heard the new growth is all on the outer perimeter), 3 lavendar plants, sedums, blue fescue, cone flower, and... oh, that stuff with the tallish, stiff purple stocks - salvia, I think. We also have a small Japanese maple that probably needs to be moved to the back. I have a lot of feathery stuff, but I feel like it needs some other textures and ideally different blooming times. There is nothing on either side of the front walk by the porch, I pulled out some overgrown spreading low junipers, and I think I need something with a little height there. I'm finding I love the idea of spending a lot of time creating a beautiful garden, but the reality of it is entirely different - just not enough time, so I'm aiming for fairly low maintenance.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: plants heaving, also plant recommendations

When you find a frost-heaved plant, immediately push it back in the soil. To prevent frost heaving, mulch around the plant with evergreen boughs, pine needles, or shredded leaves. Do not plant the heaved plant at a deeper level.
As for your second question, I'll have to assume that the garden is in sun (Miscanthus, sedums, lavender). A big easy native is Baptisia, 2-3 feet tall and wide. Great flowers, great foliage, not feathery, blooms late Spring/early Summer. A nice Spring bloomer is Phlox pilosa "Eco Happy Traveler." (Do not get the straight species, it's a conquering traveler.) P. "Eco Happy Traveler" blooms bright pink, with narrow leaves that turn burgundy in the Fall. It is semi-evergreen and only about a foot tall. Nice at the feet of conflowers and tall asters... which brings me to the best(IMHO) native aster (symphotriwhatever) laevis "Bluebird." Clean, large foliage, nice size lavender blooms over a long period, with foliage turning red in Fall. About 2-3 feet tall. For big fun, you can't go wrong with Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum and cultivars.) Major butterfly magnet, mauve flowers, very tall and imposing. Definitely not feathery.


 
 

 

 


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