Shade Garden

Torenia is an annual, just so you know.

I don't think you need to separate your hosta, after 2-3 years, it may be just coming into it's own. You can divide it if you want, after the foliage emerges, but it may look lopsided for a while. I would just leave it and buy two more. :0)

It's pretty hard to go wrong with green and white (and gold or cream) LOL. Did you know that hostas bloom? Most have white flowers, some are pale purple, but don't worry, they're smallish and don't clash.

>>(do I need to put "edited to say:"?)

no, but when ever you edit the page, it puts the edit...... at the bottom
some of us just add why we edited.

Prairiegirl,
Yes, I did know the hostas bloom. I think mine is a pale purple. Unfortunately, last year my hosta become a salad bar for slugs, so it didn't do very well. This year I will try putting eggshells or something around it to cut their little butts up!

Tcs,
Thanks, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't committing a DG faux pa by not saying why I edited....thanks.

Kristie

Plantaginea(and its cultivars) Aphrodite etc. are white blooming and very frangrant in August. If you do divide your Hosta (and would not) divide them BEFORE they leaf out or in the fall when they are going dormant.

Do eggshells work? I have heard to use diatomaceous earth, but I don't know where to get it.

Yes...coarse sand or anything sharp. I know you have heard of the pan of beer...it is pretty gross but it does gettum. I use slug bait by Bonide and sprinkle it around underneath of them. If it is as dry a place as she says it should not be a problem. They are such disgusting things. Deer are the real problem with Hostas. (end of last summer from deer)

Coarse sand? Like to mix up mortar with? I think I know where to find some...door slamming.

yes Barberry may keep them at bay also.

prairiegirl--I bought diatomaceous earth at the garden center. It worked for keeping the slugs off my hostas. I used a little 3" pot (with drainage holes) to scoop the powder into and then I "sprinkled" it out the holes around the base of my plants. That seemed to work pretty good for me.

Thanks daltri~I need to look NOW for it! LOL

i didnt see hydrangeas listed. there's a million different kinds. www.hydrangeasplus.com

hydrangeas bloom from june or july to frost

I haven't had too much luck with hydrangeas growing under trees, the tree tends to take most of the moisture and then the hydrangeas wilt. Mine have done much better if I moved them out away from the trees a bit, still getting some of the benefit of the shade but not totally within the major part of the tree's root system.

Plantaholic2,

>>is Lamium Purple Dragon

is the lamium a fast spreader??

I love the purple, and I just found a plant card of "White Nancy"
Does it completely die back for winter and re-sprout in the spring, as there was no sign of it yet.

I want to find a fast spreading low growing (possible foot traffic too) ground cover.

TIA,

Terese

I actually have a hydrangea I need to plant...I was thinking about putting it in this garden. I have another one, endless summer, planted to the side of this bed, and it does ok. Unfortunately, I don't have aplace that gets morning sun, since my house sits right on the very east side of our property with rocks surrounding it. So, i had to put my hydrangea under these trees, and it does get some evening sun. It would start to wilt last year in the evening, but always perked right up. I've also always made sure to water it at least once a day if not more. If I put my other hydrangea in the flower bed I have, it really wouldn't get much sun at all. But, I don't have a better place to put, so I may try it....

Kristie