Use perennials for low-water landscaping

KUSA - Most of the perennials planted in the 9NEWS Water Wise garden were no more than a few inches tall or wide when they were installed in 2011. In one year's time, they have doubled or tripled in size. These plants are thriving, they are showy and they will be back for years to come. These particular perennials, called Plant Select, were chosen for the 9NEWS garden because they do quite well in spite of Colorado's irritable growing conditions. Most need little water. They can grow at altitudes even higher than along the Front Range. And they can pretty much survive whatever Colorado's changing weather throws at them. That's the power of Plant Select perennials. As the availability of water is always a concern for residents of our state, our choices in plant materials become more critical. We need less thirsty plants for more sustainable landscapes. That is why water-wise perennials, in general, and Plant Select perennials, in particular, are a wise option. Plant Selects have been developed through a partnership that includes Colorado State University, the Denver Botanic Gardens and the landscape industry. The goal of this effort is to give Colorado gardeners plants that are both showy and sustainable. Here are some of the sustainable benefits you can enjoy by planting more perennials: • You purchase and plant them once, and they come back in your garden year after year. • While all plants need extra water to get established in their first growing season, water needs fall off dramatically in the following seasons. • After growing two or three years, most will need to be divided from one plant into two or more plants. That's an ongoing return on your initial investment. • They attract pollinators that will be good for the veggie garden. • Their seeds provide food for birds. Perennials add changing interest because most plants have a limited bloom time - unlike annuals which bloom the duration of the growing season. This is both the beauty and the challenge of perennial gardening. Having a selection of plants with staged bloom times is critical for ongoing color. To be successful, one group of plants needs to start blooming when the previous group is declining. Consulting with a landscape designer who knows the timing of all the blooms will help you create a garden that's lush with changing, but non-stop color. Information courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado-sponsors of the 9News Kitchen Garden and the 9News Water Wise Garden. For help with your landscape needs, go to www.alcc.com and click on Find a Pro. http://www.9news.com/news/article/277488/188/Use-perennials-for-low-water-landscaping

Lake County gardeners workshop offers landscaping, planting advice

KIRTLAND, Ohio -- Got gardening questions or concerns that you'd like answered before spring planting?
If so, then attend the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Lake County 11th annual Home Gardeners Workshop on Saturday, March 10. The workshop, at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, begins with 8:15 a.m. registration. Workshops end at 3:45 p.m.
Sabrena Schweyer of Salsbury-Schweyer Inc., a landscape design firm in Akron, kicks off the one-day workshop at 9 a.m. with her talk, "Matching House and Garden." Not sure which plant colors and textures best coordinate with a red-brick exterior? Should your garden get a makeover after you paint your house a new shade? Schweyer will be there to offer advice.
Other horticultural experts will be on hand for workshops that include "Vegetable Gardening 101"; "Top Performing, Low Maintenance Annuals for Your Landscape"; "Small Trees for the Home Landscape," and more.
The $45 registration fee includes the program, lunch, refreshments and handouts. There will be colorful gardening displays, door prizes and a book sale.
For more information, call 440-350-2582 or go to lake.osu.edu for a link to the Home Gardeners Workshop information and registration form.

http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2012/02/lake_county_gardeners_workshop.html