Perennial Questions
A short list of perennials that will attract butterflies includes Yarrow, Coneflowers, Blazing Star, Asters, Milkweed, Butterfly weed, Black-eyed Susan and Bee balm aka Monarda. These are all hardy to Minnesota.
To take care of a butterfly bush during the fall put the plant in a pot and bring it inside (an unheated garage is fine) during winter. Deadhead as necessary. Water once a month.
A short list of perennials that do well in shade include Coral Bell, Astilbe, Aralia, Snakeroot, Hosta, Ferns, Bleeding Hearts and more.
Monarch butterflies are attracted to all types of native Milkweed. The female Monarch lays her eggs only on Milkweeds - plants in the Asclepias genus - where the caterpillars will hatch, feed and grow before forming a chrysalis. Adults also love Butterfly weed (a part of the Asclepias genus), Asters, Joe Pye weed and much of the same plants any other type of butterfly would enjoy.
A perennial that is less hardy to your hardiness zone can be brought indoors for winter in a pot appropriate for its size. You don’t want the plant roots to dry out for long periods, but don’t let the soil be soggy. Water about once a month and watch for signs of struggle.
Yes, an unheated garage should be just enough extra protection for zone 5 plants. Don’t let the plant dry out for long periods, water it about once a month.
Yes, bring the plant inside and put it in a sunny window. Cut the plant back as far as necessary to move into the house. Bring them indoors when temperatures drop below 60 degrees F. Don’t expect any blooms over the winter months.
The ideal time to spray fungicides would be mid-summer. Spray every 2-3 weeks.
Hummingbirds drink nectar through their long tongue and prefer to drink out of long tubular flowers. A Mandevilla plant is a great example. Cuphea is another. A pair of perennials include Honeysuckle vine and Cardinal flower.
Generally, Japanese beetles are not going after the perennials. They like trees, roses, vines. Grape vines are one of their favorites, as are roses. But they have been seen on milkweed flowers, green bean leaves and more. Japanese beetles don’t seem to bother strongly scented plants as much.
Once you get the plant home, dig a hole in the ground twice as wide as the pot it’s in. Loosen the soil, and then pat root stimulator on the roots. Plant in the hole at the same depth as it came in the pot, tamp the dirt, water well. While roots are establishing, give your perennials a little extra water if the weather is very dry. Generally speaking, plants need an inch of water a week, be that rain or watering.
A short list for both bees and butterflies includes: Yarrow, Coneflowers, Blazing Star, Asters, Milkweed, Butterfly weed, Black-eyed Susan and Bee balm aka Monarda.
Use ant repellents (Terro = Grease Ants, Revenge = Garden Ants).
Root stimulators provide a hormone to the root system to recover faster from any damage done during the transplant process. This will also help the roots grow faster and stronger.
Full sun is six or more hours of direct sunlight, part sun is four to six hours of sunlight including some afternoon sun, part shade is four to six hours of sun before midday, full shade is less than four hours of sun.
Gertens does carry an assortment of both perennials, as well as annual and perennial wildflower mixes. It is important to remember when growing perennials, that you will not get any flowers the first year of growth. It often takes a perennial 2-3 years...
A fungicide with copper in it will take care of black spot. You must start spraying the fungicide before you start seeing it. Most of the time black spot will not hurt the plant, it just doesn’t look the best.
Mulch helps stabilizes soil moisture and temperature. Gertens experts recommend Red Cedar mulch, from that fact that the cedar oil repels soft body insects. Place mulch 2 to 3 inches thick like a donut, not a volcano.