Growing Rose of Sharon and Overwintering Tips

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), for many, is an easy to grow shrub that they would consider more of a weed than a plant!

For others however, they can have some problems, so let's go over Rose of Sharon's needs and how to best overwinter them if you're in a very cold northern climate.

Rose of Sharon Basic Growing Needs:

Do well in Zones 10 to 5 which means they can tolerate winter cold from 40° F (4.4 ° C) down to -20° F (-29° C)

Prefers full sun and heat, and tolerates some drought. If in a very hot area, afternoon shade may be a benefit

Likes moist, well-drained soil with regular water but not too much. They don't like soggy or wet soil, and can have yellowing leaves and leaf drop if soil is a heavy clay or doesn't drain well. In that case, allow plants to dry out a bit in between waterings

Try not to fertilize after July. You don't want to encourage lots of soft growth that will be harmed by frost in the fall

Where winters drop to -10° F (-23° C) or colder, protect plants with winter mulch

Growth Habit:

A deciduous shrub (but can be an evergreen in warmer climates)

Grows to 12 feet (3.5 m) tall with a spread of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 1.8 m)

Flowers all summer long into early fall (until frost) in shades of white, pink, soft red, mauve, and violet blue

Flowers attract hummingbirds

Leafs out in the spring much later than most other deciduous shrubs which can cause a false alarm for gardeners who think their plants may have died. Patience in this case is the best remedy

Foliage drops in the fall without coloring

Prune to shape in the first two years of growth, trimming lightly thereafter to maintain a compact form. If the plant needs a heavy pruning, the best time to do so is in late winter, early spring. Light shaping or pruning can be done at any time

Overwintering Rose of Sharon:

Rose of Sharon will do better if left in the ground to overwinter

One of the biggest tips is placement! Make sure your plants are out of direct heavy winds

Mulch heavily with leaves in fall and use burlap around the bush in the winter to help insulate it. You may not want to mulch until your ground is frozen so as not to attract voles or mice to the mulch. But if they have not been a problem, you can go ahead and mulch after the leaves have fallen from the trees.

Reliable snow cover all winter helps insulate them from the cold

Don't prune it until spring....that way you can cut off any winter die back that you might get. They also bloom better after a good pruning in the spring as they bloom on new wood

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - www.weekendgardener.net

Have good week!

What Lawn is Right For You?

Choosing a successful turf grass for your landscape is much easier now than ten years ago. Why? Research.

Every year, a lot of money is put into researching turf grass, and research helps creates hardier, better-looking, and disease resistant turf varieties, which in turn become available to the consumer.

So which one is right for you?

Well grass varieties come in two general categories: cool season and warm season grasses.

Cool season grasses:
Grow actively in cool weather spring and fall and then growth slows down in summer. These types of lawns will remain green in summer with ample water. Cool season grasses for home lawns include:

Bent Grass
Kentucky Blue Grass
Rough Blue Grass
Tall Fescue
Creeping Fescue
Annual Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass

Warm season grasses:
Grow vigorously in warm conditions and go dormant and brown out in the winter and then resume growth as the weather warms up. Warm season grasses are generally not as hardy as cool season grasses. Warm season grasses for home lawns include:

Bermuda Grass
Hybrid Bermuda Grass
St. Augustine
Zoysia Grass

These grasses are generally the best varieties for residential use although varieties will vary as to your city and state.

In choosing a turf grass for your lawn make the following considerations:

1. Geography: What is the climate of your area? Do you have cold winters, hot summers, or snow?
   
2. What is your soil type?
   
3. What is the microclimate where the turf will be located? Shady, windy, percentage of daily sun.
4. What will the turf area be used for? Children's play, sports, animals, looks.

If you are thinking about putting in a lawn, a good tip is to call your local sod farm or seed distributor for information on grasses that are suitable for your area. They can give you the latest information and save you a lot of time.

More about grass types and lawn care:

How to choose the best grass variety for your area
An in depth look at each type of grass

How to patch, overseed or start a new lawn
An in depth look at solving exisiting lawn problems

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - www.weekendgardener.net

Have good week!

The Best Time To Harvest Herbs

There is one time of day that is better than all others to harvest herbs, and that is first thing in the morning.

Why?

Because the plants have rested overnight and their oils and moisture are concentrated in their leaves.

During the day, or when temperatures start to warm up, the plants are busy growing and transpiring and their oils and moisture are moving all through the plant.

So if you want strong herb flavor and aroma, harvest herbs first thing in the morning before they start actively growing for the day.

More about herbs:

Learn how to make your own kelp spray
Get a list of the best herbs to grow indoors
Read: Kelp Helps Indoor Grown Herbs Stay Healthy

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - www.weekendgardener.net

Have good week!