TWIG Horticultural Consulting

Hello Gardeners!

It has been a tough Spring in New Hampshire! Plants are struggling due to lack of water. Yesterday was a pleasant rain and well needed.

The first ‘Ready Set Grow’ talk at Moody Pond Marketplace was a success! Thanks to Debbie Brown for hosting a great start to a wonderful gardening series.

The second presentation in the  Moody Pond Marketplace Series will be a talk about Herb and Vegetable Gardening, and a hands-on workshop on May 18th at 6:00 pm. There is a $5.00 charge. Come and learn to install your own vegetable and herb garden and grow them organically. Plants will be available for purchase!

Thank you to the Weare Garden Club for inviting TWIG to their meeting. We talked about invasive plants and the impact they are having on our environment.

Just a reminder that TWIG loves to teach! We can come and teach you and your family any gardening skills you may want to learn. Just give us a call. Again, were giving a shout out to anyone who creates garden art. TWIG would love to feature your products on our ever-evolving online Garden Shop.

Happy Planting!

Paula

Ornamental Grasses

Using ornamental grasses in your landscape can give contrast to other plants by adding a vertical accent. Thetexture of grasses contrasts with broad leaf plants and gives height were needed. Most grasses need full sun, and some can be quite difficult to move after established, so make sure you put them somewhere you want them to be for many years!

Some of TWIG’s favorite grasses are the following.  N indicates Native.

• Carex Silver Septre
• Carex appalachica N
• Carex Blue Zinger
• Carex pensylvanica N
• Chamanthium latifolium
• Deschampsia cespitosa
• Festuca glauca Elijah Blue
• Hakonechloa macra Aureola
• Helictrotrichon Sapphire
• Juncus effuses N
• Miscanthus Morning Light
• Miscanthus Mysterious Maiden
• Miscanthus Purpuracens
• Panicum Prairie Fire
• Panicum Shenandoah
• Schizachyrium scoparium
• Little Blue Stem N

I need to divide my perennials - which ones can I divide now?

• If it blooms in the spring, divide in the fall. 
• If it blooms in the fall divide in the spring. 
• If it blooms in the summer divide in the spring or fall. 

That is just a rule of thumb.  Perennials can be divided anytime but remember to do it on a cool day and keep the roots moist.  Keeping the clumps in a bucket of water is best until they are transplanted.  Cutting back the foliage on newly planted perennials redirects the energy back into the roots so the perennial get better established.

If your neighbor comes with extras, beware. She/he may be giving you something you might not want.  There is a reason they are being given away.  Know your plant!  Ask her what the Latin name is and look it up before you kick yourself for putting it in your flower bed!

Did you know there are three groups of Clematis?

Before purchasing, know if it belongs to Group A, B, or C. Rule of Thumb:

• Group A: Prune after bloom
• Group B: Prune before bloom
• Group C: Cut back hard to ground in early spring.

Remember, there are always exceptions, so know the type of clematis you are purchasing.

What plant is this fruit from?

What was that fruit Laszlo was holding? No one seemed to guess it right!  It was a Black Walnut, Juglans nigra. We found it walking on a trail in Concord, which is definitely a rare find. Butternut looks similar but is more egg shaped.

May Name That Plant

So, let's see if you know what this is!

NOFA Standards for Organic Lawncare

Practices for the Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes.  NOFA Organic Land Care Program - 5th Edition.

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