October is bulb planting month. As hard as it is to think ahead over the long winter to come, you’ll be glad you did in spring when you see the first shoots of the bulbs you plant now poking out of the soil. Bulbs should be planted 2 ½ times as deep as [Continue]
The appearance of peonies marks the transition from spring blooming perennials to those of early summer. The fragrant pink, white, and now yellow, blooms begin their show in early June and it continues into early July. The end of summer, however, is when peonies should be planted, divided or moved. The timing is [Continue]
Purple loosestrife is evil! This aggressive perennial which grows two to seven feet tall with purple flowers on its long spikes invades wetland areas, literally shading out most other vegetation. Besides threatening plants, loosestrife also reduces populations or leads to the displacement of muskrats and several species of waterfowl. In Wisconsin, it is illegal [Continue]
In Wisconsin, roses must be protected against not only low winter temperatures but also fluctuating temperatures and winter winds. Different types of insulators such as soil, cones, and mulch can provide the necessary protection. To protect roses using soil, mound soil 8-10 inches high around the base of the canes after the first [Continue]