Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

*PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. CREEPING PHLOX - (Phlox subulata). When this plant is in bloom, all want to know where it can be purchased; retail outlets can't keep it in stock! On the other hand, if it's not sold in bloom, it's usually leftover to go to the sale table. Creeping phlox provides an outstanding carpet of red, purple, and white flowers in the early spring and is beginning to bloom in central Ohio. The plant only gets around 3-6" tall and makes an excellent border plant or accent to a rock garden. The best thing to do to creeping phlox after it finishes blooming is to sheer it about halfway back. This rejuvenates the foliage and the plant looks pretty decent in the garden the rest of the season. It's extremely hardy but does not like wet soils. It takes full sun and hot dry areas during the summer season. However, get it now because retail stores won't have it very much longer!

*WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK. PAWPAW - (Asimina triloba). This native Ohio plant found in many woodland patches across the state is in full bloom in central Ohio and will likely be missed by all but those who are fans! The bloom is really quite incredible starting from the bud swelling stage through the bloom stage. However, they are so well camouflaged by the stems that most people rarely notice them. As flower buds begin to swell, before the leaves emerge, the bud is a fabulous velvety emerald green. When the flower opens, it is a burgundy-purplish colored rosette, held closely to the bottom side of the stem. Therefore, look up when walking through a pawpaw grove!

This short tree grows to around 15-20' tall and has large droopy green leaves. It grows best in a woodland area or along the edge of woods. The greenish-yellow fruits ripen to a brownish-black and are tasty to some; many liken the taste and texture to overripe bananas. There must be at least 2 trees in order for pollination to occur. Note that pawpaws grow in groups or colonies and one plant that has sent up sprouts from the roots, can appear as many trees. Therefore, if fruit is desired, make sure that there are at least 2 different genetic strains in order for pollination to occur.

For more information, see:

• Forestry Pawpaw
• PawPaw

* WEED OF THE WEEK. Ketchup with Garlic Mustard. GARLIC MUSTARD, Alliaria petiolata is blooming now in Central Ohio. Although somewhat pretty with small, white, cross-shaped flowers on stalks above dark green, serrated, heart-shaped leaves, this invasive weed is on the "Most Wanted" list with the USDA APHIS. It quickly becomes established in waste areas, along roads and fields, and along trails in natural areas, out-competing native plants for space and nutrients.

The mustard flowers mature into seeds within a long, cylindrical bean-like pod called a silique. These seed pods can contain a thousand seeds and be spread several meters from the mother plant. Flowers can be self-pollinated or pollinated by insects. By June, the leaves have disintegrated, so that they are not noticeable. However, the seedpods remain the entire summer, gradually emptying their contents of viable seeds.

To control this truly stinky weed (foul odor when leaves are crushed), either pull the weeds before they flower or cut the plant and flower stalks off at ground level. Bagging the seed heads is another option. For large scale infestations, spray the weeds prior to flowering with an herbicide containing glyphosate, on a cool morning or evening, when no wind is present. Be careful not to let the product drift or volatilize to desirable plants nearby. Preferentially, spray in late fall or early spring when other perennials have either not emerged or have finished development in the fall.

For more information, see:

• Invasive Plants
• Garlic Mustard