Is winter over? We have had record lows, high temperatures that were record lows, and record snow fall this season. It has been a long one. Even with spring finally here, the yard is looking worn out, and even the harbingers of early color, crocus, tulips, and daffodils are taking their time poking their little heads up from the soil. Most of us are yearning for some fresh color.
Early spring can be unpredictable; we can have very warm days and chilly nights. It is too soon to do any serious gardening, especially if you want to spruce up your flower beds. There are options for you, though. You should be seeing cold-hardy annuals at the local garden centers soon.
While pansies are old favorites, and come in a nice variety of colors and blossoms, there is an alternative: dianthus. There are many perennial kinds of dianthus, and are generally called “pinks”. Even though dianthus do some in shades of pink, the name really comes from the old English “pynken” meaning pinking shears, referencing the notched edges of the flowers.
There are about 300 species of dianthus, and are in the Caryophyllaceae family. This derived from the Greek word for clove, because some dianthus have a clove scent to their leaves. The very popular cut flower, carnation, is a member of the same family. Strong resemblance can be seen in the foliage, and double blossoms of annual dianthus.
Dianthuses hybridize very easily, so there are many choices available. There are perennial, biennial, and hardy annual from which to choose. In our area, the most common types are sold as annuals, even though they are perennials in warmer zones. They are relatively cold tolerant like pansies. But, they range in height from six inches to two foot tall plants. Dianthus make a nice change as an early color options because they have strong upright stems, ranging in color from bright green to a greyish hue. You can find single colors of white to a velvety-red, two tone picotees, and others with dark centers and splashes of colors. Dianthus fill out better than pansies and can handle warmer full sun exposures better too.
Dianthus make excellent border or edge plants. If you like containers, they are well suited for that. Consider using them in a cutting garden. Look for plants that have a nice compact growth, ones that are not leggy. Avoid any with yellowed leaves; this may indicate malnourishment or root problems. Use some dianthus this spring, these clove scent hardy plants will spice up your garden.
For more information on dianthus, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 and request our free fact sheet on this annual.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Monday, March 24, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Limitless Gardening
Sooner or later, winter will be over. It has been a long one, but the weather will be better. Certainly you have already thought of getting outside and working on your garden or other parts of your yard. As the seasons change, so do your gardening practices and expectations. Your home landscape can easily be adapted to suit your budget, spare time, tastes, and trends.
There are other ways your garden can change, and it is often overlooked: accessibility. Have spent too much time bending over, only to find yourself sore and stiff? Maybe you have mobility issues which could be a hindrance from enjoying nature. The size and age of your family can have an impact on gardening. Consider making some changes to the way you garden and the type of gardening to keep pace with the changes in life.
Most often people turn to raised beds because of soil issues, like poor quality, bad drainage, or even space problems. Raised beds can be a way of opening the hobby of gardening to anyone with physical limitations. Kneeling, bending, and hoeing can be a barrier for some people. However, if designed with your needs in mind, raised beds can become an enabling garden.
There are all different kinds of raised beds, so if this interests you, think outside the box. You can use landscape blocks in a circular shape. Try using top blocks wide enough to serve as a seat, to make working in the area much more comfortable. Choosing securely-stacked fieldstone can tie the raised bed into the rest of your landscape. Utilizing a slope for a garden can help with accessibility too. A wide collection of pots spread around the yard integrate a raised bed into the landscape. Once your raised bed is complete, make sure you fill it with good quality soil and compost.
Raised beds offer a different way of gardening, and there is different kind of gardening you can pursuit, a sensory garden. Maybe you are at a point in your life where you don’t have the time to devote to a full-fledged vegetable garden. Or it could be age is a factor, the youngest ones in your life do not possess the dexterity to gently plant a garden. Do you think poor eyesight or joint pain will limit your gardening enjoyment? Adding plants and features that not only offer a crop to feed your body but also feed you mind can give new life to your yard.
Instead of just thinking a plant will offer a harvest, many choices can give you an experience. Think of using plants with texture, like lambs ear and moss and cockscomb. Children especially will like a fun-to-feel garden. Hearing a garden can enrich the experience nature offers you. You can add plants that rustle in the wind, like Chinese lantern and many ornamental grasses. Adding a water feature can give you a relaxing time as you are working around the yard. It’s been a long time since anyone in our area has cut their grass, but we all know how nice fresh-cut grass smells, and the memories it triggers. A big part of a garden can use the sense of smell, and this can be a very rewarding experience, regardless of your limitations. Chamomile or creeping thyme can be planted around walkways, and when crushed give off a wonderful scent. Scented geraniums are a carefree addition to any garden. Culinary herbs are low maintenance but useful plants making a good choice for a sensory garden. Wind chimes and birdfeeders will make your garden even better for all your senses.
As we wait for the nicer weather, think about a different way of gardening and a different way the garden can enhance your life. Raised beds and sensory gardens are ways the home landscape can be a limitless experience. For more information on this topic, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Lackawanna County
There are other ways your garden can change, and it is often overlooked: accessibility. Have spent too much time bending over, only to find yourself sore and stiff? Maybe you have mobility issues which could be a hindrance from enjoying nature. The size and age of your family can have an impact on gardening. Consider making some changes to the way you garden and the type of gardening to keep pace with the changes in life.
Most often people turn to raised beds because of soil issues, like poor quality, bad drainage, or even space problems. Raised beds can be a way of opening the hobby of gardening to anyone with physical limitations. Kneeling, bending, and hoeing can be a barrier for some people. However, if designed with your needs in mind, raised beds can become an enabling garden.
There are all different kinds of raised beds, so if this interests you, think outside the box. You can use landscape blocks in a circular shape. Try using top blocks wide enough to serve as a seat, to make working in the area much more comfortable. Choosing securely-stacked fieldstone can tie the raised bed into the rest of your landscape. Utilizing a slope for a garden can help with accessibility too. A wide collection of pots spread around the yard integrate a raised bed into the landscape. Once your raised bed is complete, make sure you fill it with good quality soil and compost.
Raised beds offer a different way of gardening, and there is different kind of gardening you can pursuit, a sensory garden. Maybe you are at a point in your life where you don’t have the time to devote to a full-fledged vegetable garden. Or it could be age is a factor, the youngest ones in your life do not possess the dexterity to gently plant a garden. Do you think poor eyesight or joint pain will limit your gardening enjoyment? Adding plants and features that not only offer a crop to feed your body but also feed you mind can give new life to your yard.
Instead of just thinking a plant will offer a harvest, many choices can give you an experience. Think of using plants with texture, like lambs ear and moss and cockscomb. Children especially will like a fun-to-feel garden. Hearing a garden can enrich the experience nature offers you. You can add plants that rustle in the wind, like Chinese lantern and many ornamental grasses. Adding a water feature can give you a relaxing time as you are working around the yard. It’s been a long time since anyone in our area has cut their grass, but we all know how nice fresh-cut grass smells, and the memories it triggers. A big part of a garden can use the sense of smell, and this can be a very rewarding experience, regardless of your limitations. Chamomile or creeping thyme can be planted around walkways, and when crushed give off a wonderful scent. Scented geraniums are a carefree addition to any garden. Culinary herbs are low maintenance but useful plants making a good choice for a sensory garden. Wind chimes and birdfeeders will make your garden even better for all your senses.
As we wait for the nicer weather, think about a different way of gardening and a different way the garden can enhance your life. Raised beds and sensory gardens are ways the home landscape can be a limitless experience. For more information on this topic, please contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Lackawanna County
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