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| Countryside Corner Neighborly Garden News Issue 134 June 2023 Dear readers; please visit our website: www.countrysidelandscape.net for the safety measures we have in place during this pandemic. Grow Your Own: BlueberriesBlueberries are a garden gift that keeps on giving back, all summer long. Growing your own backyard fruit is a fun and rewarding way to add more flavor and healthy eating into your diet. Blueberries are one of the easiest types of fruits for the home gardener to grow. Blueberries can be eaten fresh, baked into pies and cakes, preserved into jam, or easily frozen for later use. They can keep for months in your freezer. Blueberries do equally well growing in raised beds, containers, or the ground. Their main requirement is acidic soil, with a pH level of 4.8-5.2. You should test your soil to determine its pH. Home testing kits are inexpensive, and straight-forward to use. If your soil pH level is close to 6.0 or higher, it may be better to start off planting your blueberries in containers. It’s easier to achieve the correct pH by using a planting mix formulated for acid plants, like Rhododendrons and Azaleas. It can be time-consuming and challenging to try and correct the pH of in-ground planting beds if you are keen to plant right away. If you do want to create in-ground planting beds, and need to correct the soil pH, best to start this project in the fall, and plan to plant the following spring.  Blueberries attract pollinators Blueberries are native to North America and can be found growing wild in moist meadows and stream banks. I’ve seen large stands of wild blueberries, and their cousins the huckleberry, throughout Cape Cod, and the Catskills (where I grew up). They are members of the Ericaceae family, which includes Rhododendrons, Azalea, Mountain Laurel, Heather, and Bearberry to name just a few. Blueberries are hardy to Zone 3, (we are in zone 5) so they’re very cold tolerant. For best fruit production, site them in a full sun location (more than 6 hours per day) Many cultivars are available, characterized by varying heights (dwarf varieties suitable for containers to full sized: 6-10 feet tall) and fruit harvest times: early, mid, and late season ripening. It’s possible to have 3 blueberry bushes that can provide fruit over the course of the whole summer by selecting early, mid, and late bearing cultivars.  Ripe Blueberries ready for picking! Blueberries prefer consistently moist growing conditions; they don’t like to dry out. It’s recommended to put down a 2–3-inch layer of organic mulch on your planting bed to conserve soil moisture. This will also contribute to microbial activity and help to maintain the correct pH. Newly planted blueberries should be fertilized about a month after planting. Established blueberry bushes benefit from twice per season fertilizing; once at the beginning of the growing season, and a second time mid-season. Container grown blueberries should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks, to compensate for nutrient leaching due to frequent watering. Use a fertilizer specifically formulated for acid-loving plants. Blueberries are considered a self-pollinating plant, but you will achieve a bigger crop if you plant different varieties to promote cross-pollination.  Blueberries under protective netting Birds, and other creatures love blueberries too, and making a frame to drape protective netting over your bushes will go a long way to keeping the fruit safe from unwanted nibbling. Wait until the flowering period is over, and the fruit is beginning to form, before putting on your netting. June’s to-do listI was looking at photos taken on May 14th 2017, looking out from my deck towards the tree line, and it was a completely barren view, not a leaf on any of the trees. This year the hillside is fully leafed out, and the crabapples have finished blooming already. What can account for this wide swing of phenology? As I begin to write this, we had heavy frost and temps below 32 last night: several days past the zone 5 average last frost date. Certainly not unheard of in this area, but not desirable. It is a tried-and-true practice to hold off planting warm weather plants until after Memorial Day. Unfortunately, our local orchards have reported extensive damage to newly formed fruit, and blueberry growers have almost complete crop loss due to the unusual late season freeze. A dry winter, with unseasonably long periods of warmth, followed by record lows, has damaged many ornamental plants in our landscape. Predictions call for another unusually hot summer, and the possibility of an El Nino weather pattern beginning. Our gardens require a minimum of one inch of water per week (best to invest in a rain gauge to check), whether it’s from Mother Nature or your hose. Last year’s drought will continue to play havoc in our gardens. Damage from drought stress will often show up 1-2 seasons after the stress occurred. Woody plants installed during the last season should be given supplemental water, and all trees and shrubs will benefit from watering during times of extreme heat and drought. The latest bulletin from the Umass Extension service warns about the above average tick population this season. According to the CDC, May and June are the peak months for Lyme disease infections. Countryside uses the product ‘Tick Free’, which is 100% organic and very effective for eradicating ticks in your yard, and garden; yet completely safe for people, pets, and beneficial non-target insects. Please contact our spray program manager, Scott Higley, for details: scott@countrysidelandscape.net Stake tall perennials now, to support their bountiful blooms later. Double flowered peonies especially benefit from a sturdy support system; a quick summer thunder squall can flatten the plants you’ve been pampering all spring in a few minutes. There’s nothing like pulling weeds to settle your mind. A little weeding on a regular basis is easier and more effective than trying to do the whole yard just once a month. Finding a well-balanced weeding tool can be a real time saver. Some folks really like using a sharp hand tool to cut the weeds off at their roots. I like a combination hoe/cultivator with a long handle. That way I can both cut weeds and cultivate the soil, by flipping it side to side. Common household white vinegar (not salad or table vinegar) is very effective for killing annual weeds. This product is typically 6-20% acidity compared to table vinegar which is about 5% acidity. It is particularly useful for those problem areas between paving stones, and gravel walkways. Just be careful about spraying onto any favored plants; it will not discriminate between ‘good plants’ and weeds. Apply it on a hot sunny day, and the weeds will die in 24hrs. Perennial weeds, because of their substantial roots, might take a few more applications to rid them from the garden. If you’ve planted a bed of garlic, plan on harvesting the scapes or developing flower stalks before they bloom. By clipping off the immature flowers, you send vital energy back down to the developing bulb. Garlic scapes are a much sought-after delicacy; delicious stir-fried, steamed, or added to stews. Growing your own tomatoes this season? Now is a good time to clip off the suckers that develop, so the plant can devote more energy into fruit production. Tomato suckers usually form in the juncture between the stem and a leaf. If left unchecked your plant can grow into a rangy behemoth, with many stems all trying to flower and fruit. It is more productive to prune the plant periodically, removing any yellowing leaves, and any low-lying leaves that come in contact with the ground. Need an extra hand with weeding, and garden chores? Countryside can do the ‘heavy lifting’ so you don’t have to. Please call our office: (413) 458-5586 or email: info@countrysidelandscape.net Save those banana peels: make your own organic fertilizer! It has been said that plants are the new ‘pets’ of this generation. Plant ‘parents’ are keen to seek out new ways to care for their plants; methods to help them grow healthier, whether indoor or outdoor plants. In years past there have been trends extolling the benefits of using common household ingredients like coffee grounds and ground eggshells to supplement plant nutrition. The problem with utilizing those items is that for plants to utilize any of the organic compounds in eggshells or coffee grounds, they would need to be decomposed or composted to release any of the good stuff for plants. The method I will describe now is a version of an old one I learned years ago. I learned to make compost tea, that was recommended as a cure-all and tonic for all outdoor garden plants. It basically was a way of leaching all the goodness from compost into a liquid form that allowed the organic components of compost to be readily available to plants. You would apply the compost tea to the root zone and use it to water the leaves as plants will absorb nutrients through their leaves as well as the roots. Using banana peels to make banana water or banana peel tea will give your plants the benefits of the humble banana. Bananas are rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Potassium especially is an essential macro-nutrient that boosts plant growth, promotes fruiting, strengthens stems, and helps plants better resist drought and pests. It also will aid in preventing blossom end rot that can plague tomatoes and peppers. To make a batch of banana water tea, begin by saving your banana peels. If you have a strictly organic garden, use only organic bananas. Put your banana peels in a container with a lid and cover two-thirds of the peels with water. Keep adding peel and water, until you fill the container. To help the peels break down faster, you can cut them into one-inch pieces or pulverize them in a food processor before adding them to your container. Keep the container in a cool dark place for two to three weeks. The peels will have turned black, and the water will be dark in color. It may have a slight odor, but it won’t linger as you use the banana water to fertilize your plants. To use the banana water, strain the solids and pour the liquid into a watering can. Any leftover solids can go on your compost pile. You can use the banana water as part of your regular watering schedule on houseplants, bedding, and container plants. Banana water is meant as a supplement to boost your plants’ overall health and vitality. It isn’t meant to be the sole source of nutrition for plants, you may want to use a balanced organic fertilizer such as hydrolyzed fish and seaweed fertilizer, which will contain all of the major and minor nutrients plants require. Thinking ahead…When I think of the month of June, I dream of roses. Roses hold a special place in my heart; it was my late Mother’s favorite flower, and she had some wonderful roses in her tiny New York City garden. Roses have an undeserved reputation for being fussy, they are very resilient and hardy to the extreme. It is possible to grow roses in containers or in beds; I have been growing a Chrysler Imperial red rose in a pot for several years (just too busy to plant it) and it blooms all summer, and again mid-winter in my unheated sunporch-a real treat. Here are a few of the exciting new roses for 2023. Heavenly Scented Rose-This fragrant, salmon colored hybrid tea has old-fashioned, cupped and very double, large blooms that are pointed and ovoid. Blooms are on long stems with medium, glossy green foliage. Very good disease resistance. I was given this rose for my birthday and can’t wait to see it bloom! Heavenly Scented has an upright habit, and will grow into a tall bush, to 4 feet tall. All roses benefit from full sun (6 hours +) and consistent soil moisture.  Heavenly Scented Rose Buttercream Drift Rose– Drift Roses are groundcover type roses, great for planting swaths of beds and edging. Buttercream Drift has light yellow flowers with cuplike petals. Compact bushes will grow only 1.5 feet tall X 2 feet wide. These hybrids are bred to be very low maintenance, no deadheading required, and very pest resistant.  Buttercream Drift Rose Reminiscent Rose- Each big, full bloom boasts a very high petal count and a delightful fragrance on a disease resistant habit. Clean, vigorous growth and foliage, with no deadheading required for continuous bloom. Dark green foliage accents the flowers and stays clean and healthy through the season. There are 3 color varieties Crema, creamy buttermilk colored, Coral, deep pinkish-coral with coppery colored center, and Pink. Grows 2-4 feet tall X 2 feet wide on a semi-upright shrub.  Reminiscent Rose-Coral True Courage Rose-Starts blooming early with eye-catching bright color on dark glossy foliage. Good disease resistance. Carefree low growing shrub rose. A good choice for containers, patios, edgings, and borders. Very cold hardy, with a light fragrance. This upright shrub rose will grow 2.5 feet tall X 2.5 feet wide.  True Courage Rose Rise Up Lilac Days Rose-is one of the most unique roses to hit the North American market in years. Features unique lilac-blue flowers with a powerful, true-rose fragrance, with a versatile habit that allows it to be grown as a climber or a shrub. Grows 5-8 feet tall X 2-4 feet wide.  Rise Up Lilac Days Rose |
June 2021 Newsletter
Countryside Corner
Neighborly Garden News
Issue 110
June 2021
Dear readers; please visit our website: www.countrysidelandscape.net for the safety measures we have in place during this pandemic.
Massachusetts has pollinators aplenty, but they need your help!
When we think about pollinators, bees and butterflies immediately come to mind. You may not know that other animals and insects have a hand in pollinating, and many are represented here in MA.
Honeybees are not native to the US, but still play a huge role in commercial pollination. Our most familiar native bee is the bumble bee (family Bombus). A bumble bee likes to feed on clover, and you can help them by planting a patch of it. Both red and white clover will grow in our region. Other types of MA bees are carpenter bees, (family Xylocopa) sweat bees (family Halictidae) and mining bees (family Andrenidae). Most of the lesser known bees are not at all aggressive, and rarely ever sting. Wasps are also considered pollinators, not as efficient as the bee, but they will transport pollen as they visit flowers to feed on nectar. A wasp’s larger benefit is their constant hunting for insect prey, which helps keep insect populations in check.
Sweat Bee pollinating a Coreopsis
Bumblebee pollinating a Sea Holly
A butterfly is considered second only to the bee in its pollinating efficiency, but did you know that moths also pollinate plants, but mainly at night. A moth’s hairy body contributes to its pollinating ability Moths out-number the population of butterflies, and are also further divided into their own sub-order, Frenatae. Planting a ‘moon garden’ of white and light colored fragrant flowers will help attract moths. Moths particularly favor tubular flowers, like Nicotiana, Petunia, Calibrachoa, Moonflower, Phlox, and Hosta.
Moths pollinate at night
Hummingbirds are the primary bird species for pollination in the US. In our area the native hummingbird is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. These busy, tiny birds, transfer pollen as it sticks to their face-feathers and beak. They are attracted to brightly colored, nodding, tubular flowers. They love Lantanas, Salvias, Phlox, Columbine, Honeysuckles, and Cardinal flower, to name a few. If you plant groups of these flowers, they will visit your garden frequently, and you need not bother with a fancy feeder.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)
Certain animals and insects have perfected the art of mimicry as a survival tactic, and I would challenge the casual observer to tell them apart from their ‘real’ counterparts. Two flies native to MA have that mastered. The Flower fly mimics a wasp (family Syrphidae) so it will look scary and not get eaten. The Bee fly (family Bombyliidae) looks just like a bumble bee, and probably fools its predators most of the time. Both mimics are fuzzy enough insects to do a decent job transferring pollen, even without the pollen carrying leg baskets that real bees have.
A bee mimic-the Hoverfly
Beetles are some of our planets oldest known pollinators. Their remains have been found preserved with the flowers and pollen they lived on millions of years ago. It seems reasonable that beetles would prefer to pollinate the living descendents of ancient plant species. In Massachusetts beetles are responsible for pollinating native Magnolias, and the yellow-flowered water lily; they will also pollinate Sassafras, Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba), and Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus).
Creating a haven for pollinator’s means planning for a more diverse yard. Planting native flowers and trees and shrubs, in addition to your imported plants, will attract a wider group of pollinators. Try to leave a portion of your outdoor space a little wild; for the wildlife. Let us make this our new mantra- “Leave it wild, for the Wildlife”.
June’s ‘to-do’ list
This month would be a good time to sort through your accumulation of garden chemicals, and re-assess how necessary they really are. Can a pollinator friendly alternative be used? Are there any more effective cultural methods to achieve your end result? New ideas and methods are always being updated; the UMASS website has up-to-the-minute advice for the home gardener.
https://ag.umass.edu/resources/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/lawn?combine=weed+control
The latest bulletin from the Umass Extension service warns about the above average tick population this season. According to the CDC, May and June are the peak months for Lyme disease infections. Countryside uses the product ‘Tick Free’, which is 100% organic and very effective for eradicating ticks in your yard, and garden; yet completely safe for people, pets, and beneficial non-target insects. Please contact our spray program manager, Scott Higley, for details: scott@countrysidelandscape.net
Our gardens require a minimum of one inch of water per week (best to invest in a rain gauge), whether it’s from Nature or our hose. Woody plants installed during the last 2 growing seasons should be given supplemental water, and all trees and shrubs will benefit from watering during times of heat and drought. Plants do their best with consistent watering. According to the US Drought Monitor, MA is experiencing a moderate drought. Don’t wait for your plants to show signs of dehydration. Any recently planted trees and shrubs will be severely impacted without supplemental watering. If there has been scant rainfall, you should provide additional water to older or stressed plants too. Trees react slowly to their environment, and may not show symptoms of damage from drought stress for 1 or 2 seasons.
It’s not too late to start a veggie garden! Starter plants are available online or at your local nurseries usually through early July. Tomatoes and basil will thrive in pots set in a sunny location, if you just want to start small. Replace cool season plants such as; pansies, daffodils, spinach and early lettuce, with warm season annualsand veggies. Basil, beans, zinnias, marigolds and morning glory vines are all hot weather plants. Staggered sowing of lettuce throughout the season will give you continuous harvests. You can even grow your lettuce in a pot!
Stake tall perennials now, to support their bountiful blooms later. A quick summer thunder squall can flatten the plants you’ve been pampering all spring in a few minutes.
Cut back early spring perennials that have gone by, for a second flush of blooms. Perennial geraniums, Nepeta (catmint) and Salvia (ornamental sage) are but a few perennials that will bloom multiple times following a good ‘haircut’. They may look awkward at first, but soon will push out new leaves and shoots for their second coming. Bulb foliage should be allowed to fade naturally; allowing the bulb to benefit from the nutrition the leaves provide it. You can safely cut or mow the bulb foliageafter June 30th.
Now is the best time to prune and shape your spring flowering trees and shrubs;right after their bloom time. This allows them to form buds through the growing season for next year’s bloom. Examples to prune now are: Forsythia, Lilac, Azalea, and Magnolia. July 4th is considered the last safe date to prune Common Lilacs before they set flower buds for next season.
Insect, weed, and fungal pests will increase with the approach of summer. Monitor your plants by checking under the leaves and looking for signs of infestation: yellowing leaves, and leaf spots or holes, and flowers that fail to open fully are some recognizable symptoms of pests.
Need an extra hand with weeding, and garden chores? Countryside can do the ‘heavy lifting’ so you don’t have to. Please call our office: (413) 458-5586 or email: info@countrysidelandscape.net
Grow a ‘greener’ lawn!
Growing a lush green lawn is no longer a compromise between organic vs. traditional growing methods. The latest methods of turf management combine elements of both practices, to promote optimal growth for a healthy lawn.
We now know that there is a huge web of life beneath our feet that is critical for the health of organisms living in the soil. ‘Feeding the soil, and not just the plant’ is a basic tenet of organic lawn care. Maintaining a healthy lawn, by modifying cultural practices, allows you to transition to a less chemically dependent lawn.
The most important change you can make to encourage a greener, healthier lawn is to raise the mower blade height to 4″. This additional height will encourage the grass to make deeper root growth, a very important advantage during periods of drought. Making a higher cut allows the grass to grow tall enough to shade any thin or bare patches, discouraging weeds and crabgrass from sneaking in. Leaving the grass clippings to decompose naturally will add beneficial nutrients back into the soil, as well as boosting organic material within the soil structure. The organic material provides a food source, and will nourish the beneficial microbes that live in the soil.
Crabgrass
The predominant soil in our area has a base of clay or gravel, without containing much organic material. This type of soil has little if any water holding capacity, and will harden to a cement-like texture during prolonged dry spells. To help with this problem, it is recommended to aerate the lawn and then apply compost as a top-dressing. These practices will help reduce soil compaction, and increase the water holding capacity of the soil. This would also be the prime time to over-seed a thin lawn. The aeration and compost topdressing promotes new root growth.
The thin soils in our area make frequent watering of lawns through dry periods a necessity. Problems with the lawn’s ‘biosphere’ occur when the grass plant becomes stressed. Lack of water, low fertility, incorrect pH, are all conditions considered stressful to the grass plant. Plant pathogens; insects, fungi and viruses take advantage of this and invade when the grass becomes weakened and thus susceptible.
Burdock plant
Weeds are always the last word in any lawn discussion. As you transition to a reduced chemical lawn you may have a few weeds, until the grass fills in. Weeds are often indicator plants of adverse soil conditions. Certain weed species prefer to grow in low fertility, dry or compacted types of soil. For example, crabgrass will grow and thrive in soils depleted of nutrients; dandelions and burdocks use their substantial taproots to seek out water in highly compacted soil. But, fortunately that large taproot also helps to break up the hardened soil as it grows. As your soil becomes more enriched and the grass invigorated, the weeds will naturally be pushed out.
Need help growing a greener lawn? Give our lawn specialists a call (413) 458-5586 or drop them an email: scott@countrysidelandscape.net
Thinking ahead…
June is the month of the Rose. In years gone by, roses had only one bloom cycle and did not repeat or stay in bloom consistently. We could only savor their fragrance and beauty for a few short weeks. Modern breeding has given us thousands of variations, yet a rose is a rose is a rose. The last few years have been awful for my rose collection. Insect pests and voracious rodents have made caring for them a real challenge. My favorite kinds of roses are the ones that will live through our New England winters. Here are a few recommended new roses for 2021:
Rose ‘Sunset Horizon’– The attractive blooms that start bright yellow and fade to deep pink/cherry red. Its flower size is quite large when fully open with a very slight fragrance. Has a bushy, upright habit and is extremely disease resistant. Growing on its own roots makes this a very hardy rose. Grows 3-4ft tall X 3ft wide.
Rose ‘Sunset Horizon’
Rose ‘Perfume Factory’– Just like the name implies, Perfume Factory has a very strong fragrance of spice & fruit. The blooms are a lovely magenta with lavender coloring. Growing one blossom to a stem makes them perfect cut flowers for any arrangement. Has an upright, bushy habit with stunning green foliage and is disease resistant. Grows 5ft tall X 3-4ft wide.
Rose ‘Perfume Factory’
Rose ‘Knockout Petite’– The Petite Knock Out Rose is the first miniature Knock Out Rose available! It has the same flower power and easy care as others in the family, but in an adorable, petite size. Plant in decorative containers for your porch or patio, or in mass for a dramatic pop of color! Knockout Petite has a beautiful bright red color, a very slight fragrance and is extremely disease resistant. Grows 18in tall X 18in wide.
Rose ‘Knockout Petite’
Rose ‘Fun in the Sun’– The colors of this rose are inspired by everything that a day having fun in the sun should be. This rose produces beautiful full double blooms on its upright, bushy habit next to its rich green foliage. Has a strong fruity/spicy fragrance and is extremely disease resistant. Also considered an English type rose, with its large, full, old-fashioned blooms and very strong fragrance. Grows 5ft tall X 3ft wide.
Rose ‘Fun in the Sun’
Rose ‘Enchanted Peace’– A compact, disease resistant, bi-colored rose. It has a delicious fragrance and works well in containers or beds. Its bloom color contrasts beautifully against its dark green, very glossy foliage. Has a moderate to strong fragrance and is extremely disease resistant. Grows 5 ft tall X 3ft wide.
Rose ‘Enchanted Peace’