SO MANY CHOICES , BUT NOT REALLY

 When you saw the word choices, you didn't think I was talking   about candidates, did you? No, no, no. I told you the other day we are being bombarded by enough political propaganda without my two cents worth. No,  like any good gardener in early spring, I am referring to plant choices.

Last Saturday's key note speaker at Spring into Gardening, Ed Lyon, transplanted Madisonian, now director of Iowa's Reiman Gardens and author of the book "Growing the Midwest Garden," imparted some good gems no matter where you live.  It wouldn't be nice of me not to share, would it?

The garden industry's most overemphasized classification for plants by 'zone' can be very misleading. The problem is within a zone there are many variables that will affect a plant and these include: the region and its climate i.e. for us in Wisconsin we encompass zones 3-6 with varying temps, extreme cold in the winter, warmer spring days interspersed with cold, extreme amounts of rainfall,varying amounts of humidity, soil acidity with ph's of 6 to 8.5  different micro climates/geographical considerations between rural (plowed/fertilized land) and altered urban areas (amount of asphalt/cement).  'Climate change' where even if we have been able to get away with a different zone plant, a true winter, for example, will zap that plant. We never really know nowadays as weather conditions pingpong.

Seriously, Wisconsin is considered woodlands but when folks go to big box garden centers, their plant choices may be marked with the correct zone but not necessarily what's going to survive, and they aren't  just woodland plants. Planting natives helps but doesn't always ensure success. 

Gardening also has trends. 

 You've probably seen failed 'Prairie' attempts. Touted as low maintenance, prairie gardens are anything but low maintenance. Aggressive plants take over unless thinned besides the important fact, prairies  need a lot of space to thrive. Not many urban homes have that kind of space. 

Prairie upkeep also include burns.  Last week we had a couple of little /no wind days and it was a perfect time for planned burns to rejuvenate prairie gardens. What an endeavor to say the least! 

And the very popular butterfly gardening to attract butterflies where homeowners plant for example, milkweed. Big OOPS, as one plant reseeds itself many times over and everything else gets choked out unless the homeowner is diligent with constant thinning. 

When selecting plants, which are more sustainable? 

Overplanting of any tree species will result in one disease wiping them all out at once. Take for example our recent mass execution and removal of hundreds of  diseased Dutch Elm. Diversification is very important. 

Another consideration is where you plant. Is there shelter from the wind? Is it a plant that likes wet feet? How much sun does it receive? Some plants will just not survive/ last more than a couple years nor look the way they looked when you first planted them. So many variables of a plant that is marked with your 'zone.' 

What can help us in plant selections? Buying from local growers with tried varieties is going to guarantee better results in hardiness. Do talk to other gardeners to see what works best for them.  And if a plant is not thriving where you plant it, try it in a different locale in your landscaping. Remember to think of a plant as having wheels. And most important of all enjoy whatever you plant. 

Cone flowers  are very hardy.

We shouldnt be shocked' "Oh my, how did this grow here?

SORRY, I have no clue how that slipped in here!  Weeds are only weeds if we don't want them growing there... I personally have never liked yellow.