BYGL Hort Shorts May 1, 2008 PLANTS OF THE WEEK - May 1, 2008
| PLANTS OF THE WEEK - May 1, 2008 |
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 Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the ONLA publications "Perennial Plants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio." The descriptions and photographs of plants were provided for these publications by the OSU ENLT Team along with other industry plant lovers. These full-color publications are available at [ http://Buckeyegardening.com ] for $5.00. Click on "garden store" and then "ONLA plant guides." ONLA members can purchase these in quantities at a reduced price at [ http://onla.org ]. *WOODY PLANT OF THE WEEK: COMMON LILAC (Syringa vulgaris). Common lilacs are in full bloom in Central Ohio. It is a flowering shrub that grows best in full sun. It can grow up to 10' tall and 15' wide. While common lilac flowers are often darker‑colored when not fully expanded, the mature flowers may be white, lavender, violet, magenta, pink, purple or blue, and may also be single or double flowered. The old fashioned lilac is not as common in the landscape as it used to be due to its susceptibility to powdery mildew disease. Since the flowers of common lilac are very fragrant, many gardeners still like these lilacs despite this disease problem.For *PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. BLEEDING HEART - (Dicentra spectabilis). This is the time of the year when the eye-catching flowers of this wonderful plant can light up your perennial garden. This hardy perennial grows best in a well drained soil in partially shaded areas. It prefers adequate moisture during the summer and grows to 2-3'. Plants produce feathery foliage and arching stems covered with heart-shaped flowers in the late spring. If rainfall is light or the soil dries out, the foliage yellows and disappears by mid-June and the plants go dormant for the summer. A filler plant should be used to cover the bare spot left behind. *WEED OF THE WEEK. HENBIT (Lamium amplexicaule) prefers moist fertile soils but can be found in many landscapes and thin turf areas. This winter annual is in the mint family so it has square stems. Leaves are green, scalloped with rounded ends and rounded teeth on the edges. Flowers are located in upper leaf axis and can be pink to purple. This plant can grow to 16" and stems root where they touch the ground. Henbit can be confused with PURPLE DEADNETTLE (Lamium pupureum). Deadnettle, however, has a more pointed leaf, the lower leaves have long petioles and the upper leaves have short petioles. On henbit, the upper leaves have no petioles.Both weeds can be controlled by pulling or cultivating. Post-emergent broadleaf herbicides applied in early spring will control the blooming plant, but pre-emergents applied late summer will be needed to control germinating seeds of this winter annual. A thick healthy turf will prevent the development of henbit and many other weeds. For more information, see:
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 May 2008 18:04 ) | ||||
