Beginner needs some tips and has questions - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

cjhasen · 03-12-2008, 11:19 AM

As you'll see if you read my introduction I'm fairly new to gardening and have been thrown into it by purchasing a home where the yard was not well tended for.
After doing so large labor (cutting down over-grown and dead trees) I'm looking forward to getting to do gardening this spring. I already had a small taste this past fall when I planted 150 bulbs and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it!
I do have a question about bulb tending though. I am looking forward to my bulbs pushing through and rewarding me for my hard work with a beautiful show but what do I do once they are done? I was under the impression that I would leave the greens on until they turned brown and then cut them down to about 1 inch. However, I waited to do this with Iris's that had bloomed before we moved in and their leaves are STILL green, they never turned brown so all this winter I've left them on-now I think I've goofed and may have greatly altered their "schedule". Should I cut the Iris's down now? Leave it on? What is the general rule for after blooming if you want the bulbs to re-grow the next spring?
My second question has to do with perenial mums. I've only had the annuals at my apartments but the woman who lived here before us had perenials. They bloomed this past fall and again I left all the brown on-should I cut it down?
My final question for today is-I noticed my hosta's turned basically to mush once fall/winter came. I would love to move them as they used to live under a large River Birch which died the year before the previous owners sold-they knew it was dead so they left it for us to deal with (lovely). Well what had once been shade due to the RiverBirch became sun once it came down and the hosta's were very much burned this past summer. With recently clearing out the "woods" behind us I now have a perfect place to move them to where they will be able to get some sun but not enough to burn. When should I move them? To help with the time table we are in zone 6 and my crocusses have JUST started to bloom (I have 2 up and should see at least 13 more). I'm nervous to move the Hosta's now as it may be too early, we could get more frost, yet I don't think I should move them when they begin to grow because they may be too delicate.
As you can see I am very clueless when it comes to gardening. I really want to get out there and play in the dirt

but I don't want to kill my plants due to my lack of knowledge. Any help you can offer would be very much appreciated! Also, if you have any "tips" or things you wish you would have known when you started gardening I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks and have a great day!
-Joy

gbronner · 03-12-2008, 06:38 PM

Generally spring flowering bulbs should be allowed to die back naturally after bloom so they can store food for the next year.

Iris should be pruned down to 2 or 3 inches after the bloom. This leaves some green for the continue production of food also it makes the leaves appear spikey instead of drooping and hanging over..

Hostas are herbaceous that is why they almost seem like they melt away. Believe me they are quite hardy. I would dig the clumps of hosta as soon as you see the new shoots starting to emerge in the spring.Dig out from the plants 6 inches or so all the way around and be sure to go down deep 12 inches or more and you will be fine. When the plants get too large early fall is the time to dig them break the clumps apart and the replanting the clumps.

The best garden education that you can get is by doing. Always ask questions. Don't be afraid to experiment.Learn from your mistakes and take great joy in all your successes big and small!

03-12-2008, 11:19 AM	#1
cjhasen Green Gardener Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Springboro, OH Posts: 2	Beginner needs some tips and has questions As you'll see if you read my introduction I'm fairly new to gardening and have been thrown into it by purchasing a home where the yard was not well tended for. After doing so large labor (cutting down over-grown and dead trees) I'm looking forward to getting to do gardening this spring. I already had a small taste this past fall when I planted 150 bulbs and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it! I do have a question about bulb tending though. I am looking forward to my bulbs pushing through and rewarding me for my hard work with a beautiful show but what do I do once they are done? I was under the impression that I would leave the greens on until they turned brown and then cut them down to about 1 inch. However, I waited to do this with Iris's that had bloomed before we moved in and their leaves are STILL green, they never turned brown so all this winter I've left them on-now I think I've goofed and may have greatly altered their "schedule". Should I cut the Iris's down now? Leave it on? What is the general rule for after blooming if you want the bulbs to re-grow the next spring? My second question has to do with perenial mums. I've only had the annuals at my apartments but the woman who lived here before us had perenials. They bloomed this past fall and again I left all the brown on-should I cut it down? My final question for today is-I noticed my hosta's turned basically to mush once fall/winter came. I would love to move them as they used to live under a large River Birch which died the year before the previous owners sold-they knew it was dead so they left it for us to deal with (lovely). Well what had once been shade due to the RiverBirch became sun once it came down and the hosta's were very much burned this past summer. With recently clearing out the "woods" behind us I now have a perfect place to move them to where they will be able to get some sun but not enough to burn. When should I move them? To help with the time table we are in zone 6 and my crocusses have JUST started to bloom (I have 2 up and should see at least 13 more). I'm nervous to move the Hosta's now as it may be too early, we could get more frost, yet I don't think I should move them when they begin to grow because they may be too delicate. As you can see I am very clueless when it comes to gardening. I really want to get out there and play in the dirt but I don't want to kill my plants due to my lack of knowledge. Any help you can offer would be very much appreciated! Also, if you have any "tips" or things you wish you would have known when you started gardening I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks and have a great day! -Joy

03-12-2008, 06:38 PM	#2
gbronner Green Gardener Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Crest Hill, Illinois Posts: 19 Blog Entries: 5	Generally spring flowering bulbs should be allowed to die back naturally after bloom so they can store food for the next year. Iris should be pruned down to 2 or 3 inches after the bloom. This leaves some green for the continue production of food also it makes the leaves appear spikey instead of drooping and hanging over.. Hostas are herbaceous that is why they almost seem like they melt away. Believe me they are quite hardy. I would dig the clumps of hosta as soon as you see the new shoots starting to emerge in the spring.Dig out from the plants 6 inches or so all the way around and be sure to go down deep 12 inches or more and you will be fine. When the plants get too large early fall is the time to dig them break the clumps apart and the replanting the clumps. The best garden education that you can get is by doing. Always ask questions. Don't be afraid to experiment.Learn from your mistakes and take great joy in all your successes big and small! __________________ Please stop by and visit my home page for some of the greatest gardening links resources and articles! http://www.glenns-garden.com

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