Spring Cleanup

Hi--
We have a new part year home in northern IL. My gardening has been very limited and in FL. Now I have a huge, gorgeous garden and I intend to keep it growing. Trouble is I am only here from May to Labor Day for the first two years. So, here I am with a huge cleanup to do as I look out at a bunch of brown stuff. The previous owner left a planting guide, but, I did not get a lot in the way of specifics on maintenance. SO, the first question is how much to cut back my Russian Sage--I want to cut it to the ground based on how it grew last summer, but not sure if that is the right thing to do. Second, my large Blue Baptisia is all brown. I know it is very cold tolerant, so I am hoping I just cut it back. And I understand I can save the seed pods...so I plan on getting some of those if the birds didn't get them all! All suggestions welcome.

Russian Sage: Prune hard to clean out all the left overs from last year, like a crew cut to about 6" high.

Baptisia: If it did not get cut back last fall, do it now. Similar to the Russian Sage: Take off all of last years growth to about 6" high.

I can only imagine how you feel about the lovely garden you took over, my thoughts go out to the previous owners who must have taken such pride in there patch while they owned it, BUT like all of life, it appears nothing stays the same and you need to make your own mark on the landscape. My darling old Grandmother always said, "No one will care for your things as well as you do yourself" so never be too disappointed.

My thoughts for your situation would be, for the 2 years till you can take over the full care of the new garden, can you afford a gardener who could keep the grass mowed, weed and feed the plants and just do a general care for them, especially over the growing season, perhaps in winter it could be just the bare minimum time spent as the garden goes to sleep for winter.

IF that's not possible then maybe you need to allow for some travel time over to the garden say every 2 months and spend a good few days regaining the garden that you have.

I know here in UK, an empty house sticks out like a sore thumb and the first tell tail sign is an un-kept garden, unlit windows and a general state on neglect. I am not being critical in any way because it is very difficult run 2 homes when they are so far apart BUT, I dont think anyone can divide your time for you without knowing what you can actually do to relieve the situation you find yourself in without either paying for help, doing the job to the best you can yourself or maybe a part time houskeeper / gardener who can live in for free would help BUT not knowing the full story I can only throw ideas your way in the hope it will help you out till you can fix the problems in 2 years time.
I wish you all the best of Luck.
Kindest regards. WeeNel.

Thanks Diana--Spent today cutting back two big stands of Giant Mycanthris and Carlsbad grasses...and I have the slices to show it. Also raked the front lawn and got most of the elm tree leaves raked up. Just doing that it looks terrific. Tomorrow I will get most of the sage and the Baptasia done along with the lilies, the remains of the smaller grasses, coneflowers and some lavender. With some luck that will be the front yard finished.
WeeNel--Thanks for the ideas! As I am here most of the growing season, I can do the work. My brother and my niece do the mowing and such while I am gone. My main trouble is that I have to do all of the Fall work in the Spring during a five day period. My two week trip had to be shortened...dang it! Some things I would normally do--the grasses for instance should be done before the snow blower comes out, but, I like leaving the birds the seeds from all the flowers for the winter months. Yes, I am so thankful for the previous owners "vision"...and while I love it just the way it is...things will change to fit our lifestyle in time. It is so ripe with opportunity...who knows, I may just end up with a green thumb!

Try to read as many gardening books as you can, IF you get the chance, visit gardens open to the public as there are normally staff around to answer any questions visitors need answers to.
I would also look in your local Library and book store for books on Gardening in your area / zone, I know that gardening books are expensive so dont buy any till you know they are right for you, they are for beginners, written in plane speak English and NOT in a technical descriptive way as this is unhelpful to people starting out.
There are many paperback gardening books that take you through making new gardens, plant selections, how to lay out beds and how to do landscape projects, all in easy to follow instructions, I am not suggesting you buy them all BUT go look through them and take paper / pen with you, write down any details you will find helpful like, plants that sit nice together, look at the pictures too as thiy normally give the names of the plants, this will help you get to know the names of plants you like and you begin to learn more about gardening that way too.

Just take your time as a garden was never built in a day, we make changes to our layout as we gain more knowledge, all from books, friends, neighbours, parks and other gardens too, everyone here wants new gardeners to enjoy their new found hobby so, always asks as many questions as you like.
Hope this helps you out,
Kindest regards.
WeeNel.

Cut the baptisia back to close to the ground. (It will sprout up again from the roots.)

Only perennials that are shrubby or sub-shrubs (i.e. with stems that remain alive over the winter) will not die to the ground. If you come across any in this yard as you're cutting down stems, you may notice that the stems are green and white and wet inside, rather than dry and brown. So, these are the ones that may not necessarily need to be cut down to near the ground each spring. You'll figure out which these are (if any) with time. Even if you do cut them down, for most, it won't matter anyway... they'll grow up again, just like the ones that are coming back solely from the roots with nothing left alive above ground. Basically, don"
mt sweat it. :-)

This message was edited Apr 17, 2015 7:28 PM