First frost

Just found this thread. Of course, that's me - late to the party. As an aside to Indigo .... we NEVER stay on topic!!! That's part of our NE charm.

We have had a couple of frosts that have been heavy on the windshield, but not too bad on the plants. Heck. Our tall phlox look a bit droopy in the early morning, but then look great by lunch time.

The tall white one, Candyce? Most people seem to call that one 'David'.

I have 2 tall phlox with pinkish to lavendar blooms ... still a few blooms on them. I love them, but they always seem to flop over and cover up my lobelia and chelone. Any suggestions for an attractive way to hold them up so they don't fall over?

I have two tall phlox that bloomed well this year ~ 'Becky Towe' and 'Natural Feelings'. We ordered, and have planted for next year's glory a 'David', along with a few others. The names escape me at the moment.

Michael ~ feel free to check out my journal and see if either the 'Becky Towe' or the 'Natural Feelings' are the same phlox as the one you own.

Nice list of plants and pictures ... looks more like the 'Natural Feelings' - not verigated. Mine are about 4' tall.

How tall are the phlox you want to keep from flopping, Michael? I'll go out and take a photo of something I bought that keeps tall plants in place.

'David' is very nice at the back of a border or bed and it just keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny.


Edited to say: thanks for the height, Michael. Four feet is around the height of 'David' so I guess you'll have to put in a few stakes next year to keep them upright.


This message was edited Nov 3, 2007 7:56 AM

I tried bamboo pole and garden twine this year ... I probably didn't do it correctly. I play around with other staking options next year.

There's a thread on dahlia staking that might help since they average 4 and 5' for the tall ones though there are many smaller and many taller.

Rebar!!! Why didn't I think of that ... Pirl, thanks directing me to the dahlia thread. I think I found a new favorite flower. Any suggestions on which ones I should start with?

Be careful, Michael. Dahlias are addictive!!!

Oh, Michael! So many dahlias and so little time. Just look for bigcityAl's photo threads and you'll be buying stock in rebar!

I loved Aloha this year!

One word, pirl.

Gorgeous!

My Phlox 'David' stand up well on their own. If it can't stand up on its own, it's not for my garden.

Thanks, Candyce. I haven't had a bad photo of them regardless of where they were planted this year.

Mine stand up, too, Victor, though today they'll be waving a bit.

I'm willing to stake dahlias because of their beauty. They're still flowering and it's November 3rd.

Starting to cut down the dahlias here now. We've had a few light frosts, but a FREEZE is coming Monday night.

It's a shame to see them go but I guess the time is coming. We're due for cold weather Thursday night and it seems that will be our first frost.

We've had the frosts. I'm NOT looking forward to the freezes!!

57 and sunny today. Looks like frost Wednesday and Thursday ... low 28 and 31.

Love the dahlias pirl and bigcityal -- they'll be in my garden next spring.

I cut my phlox down to the ground every year, is that the right thing to do? Not sure why they don't stand well on their own.

Michael:

Not fair! But, I suppose if I want a morning temperature such as yours, I'd have to be your neighbor.

Just a bit frosty here this morning.

Michael - don't forget about the Weather thread we have!

I cut back my phlox yesterday, helenium and asters too. October Skies and the laevis are still flowering.

Sorry to hear you cut your aster. Why the Helenium? Do they get mushy? Do you leave anything up until Spring?

Sorry victor, lost track of which thread I was in ... following several NE Gardening threads. Only had one cup of coffee this morning.

You'll have to do better Michael! Multi-tasking (threading) is a must here!

I'm working on it. Cut the new a break ... this is my first week on DG. I promise I'll do better.

Helenium are cool Victor, they already have put out next years leaves(rosette) you could leave them up I guess - not really winter interest though. I leave up all my coneflowers,milkweed, probably a few more. I try not to leave hiding spots for those rabbits - I need to put up my hardware cloth already because they are chewing on my hydrangea's bark already.

Just playing Mike!

Al - good to know about the Helenium since I just planted some this Fall. I've been lucky with rabbits & Hydrangea so far.

I know that victor ... that's what I like most about the NE Garden forum.

The rabbits have never bothered my hydrangeas. I'd rather feed them than have them do damage but I'm not about to worry about it now, not that worrying helps anything anyhow.

Michael - I have no idea why your phlox still flop but you might want to try cutting off every other stem as they start to grow in spring. That would help with air circulation but I have no idea if it would help strengthen the stems.

Thanks pirl, I'll give it a try.

Good advice, pirl.
I'll try to remember that one, too, for next year.

I just had a thought .....
Next year I won't be a Freshman Gardener!!! I might actually be able to impart some sound advice ~ LOL!!! I like the idea of graduating into a more knowledgeable gardener ~ but I never want to get too knowledgeable. I don't ever want to stop asking questions, or discovering new things.

That's right - we're not done hazing you this year yet!

Oh, Al. Is THAT what you call it? Hazing?
I've never felt so loved in all of my life ~ LOL!!!

That's right, Victor, make the newbies feel bad.
Michael, we're glad you're here; WELCOME! Don't let Victor make you feel bad. Here on the NE Forum, we presume you're voting right, since we're not allowed to talk about it, so we just give you a hard time about what thread you're on!

xxx, Carrie

I think Mike knew I was joking and I couldn't care less about how he or anyone else on the Forum or on DG votes.

I knew you were joking ... I don't talk politics.

I cut my phlox down every year. About the only things I leave up are coneflowers and sedum.

Love the snow on the Sedum, Sue. And the birds eat at the seed heads for quite some time.

We have left the foxglove up this year ... oh, and the interesting kale.