Welcome Home Week 2- Flowering and Herbaceous Plants

Big Ideas

Creating landscapes that fit the needs of homeowners and are well-suited to our unique environment
An introduction to Tennessee Native Plants, TN Smartyards, etc.

Discussion Points

What does it mean for an outdoor space to be “functional”?
What are the most important things to you when planning a landscape?
What factors make a plant well-suited for its intended environment?
How important is it to you to have native plants in your landscape?

Facilitator Notes

Remind participants to submit their soil samples as soon as possible to make week 4 more beneficial for them. Encourage them to use at least 1 turf crop code.
Make sure to let participants know that this activity satisfies several of the action steps listed under Module 1 of the TN Smart Yard Certification.
- Module 1: Right Plant Right Place
- Action Steps Addressed: 8 inches
  - 2” Assess Site Conditions
  - 2” Determine Landscape Needs
  - 2” Sketch Area
  - 2” Group Plants according to conditions

Overview

Leveraging Your Landscape
We will utilize the publication W869, Leveraging Your Landscape, to guide participants through thoughtful and intentional mapping and planning of their own landscape.

Instructor Materials:

W869, Leveraging Your Landscape
Computer and screen for demonstrating how to use Google Earth for aerial views and property mapping.

Participant Handouts and Materials:

Copies of W869, Leveraging Your Landscape
Graph Paper
Pencils
Colored Pencils
Rulers

Activity Goal

One goal of a sustainable residential landscape is to have thriving plants in a functional setting. By planning ahead and becoming more aware of site specific growing conditions in our landscape we can avoid plant failure and disappointments with out landscape design and installation.

Agent Prep Videos- not for use during class

These videos will help you prepare to facilitate this activity.

Leveraging Your Landscape

Engage

Discuss the local climate and soil and how it differs from other parts of Tennessee. Ask the participants what unique features they have noticed about the local area. This can be about the soil or climate itself or about the plants that grow there as a result of the climate and soil Start a discussion. Excellent conversation starters are located on page 1 of the publication. They will help the group get discussion started on what types of things are most important to them when it comes to landscape needs, aesthetics, and functionality.

Explore

Answer the checklists. Use pages 3 & 4, and have the class complete the checklists individually. This will help students solidify their actual needs and preferences for their landscape.

Explain

Create a Base Map. The purpose of a Base Map is to help homeowners get to know their property and its unique characteristics. Page 5 has great tips for getting them started. Provide grid paper and color pencils for this portion of the exercise.

Demonstrate how they can use Google Maps to help with visualizing the space and to help with measurements.

Include existing structures and plantings
Identify aspect (N, S, E, W), as well as Shade/Sun areas
Identify general soil characteristics. For example, low lying areas that stay wet, high dry ground , or rock.
Identify sloping areas and how water moves off the property.

Then, create a Bubble Map. The purpose of the bubble map is not necessarily to design the garden, but to create a conceptual visual guide of how you would like to use the space relying on the Base Map to keep your realistic expectations in check. For example: If you want a summer vegetable garden, you should take care NOT to place it in shady areas that are indicated on the base map, as warm season vegetables perform best in full sun.

Elaborate

Use these plant selection resources. Direct students to UThort.com for more resources on plant selection for TN Landscapes. Introduce the plant charts and explain how to read them, making sure to point out the sun/shade requirements, zones, and comments sections.

Evaluate

Close by having the participants share their maps and plans for their landscapes. Utilize the discussion points mentioned earlier as needed.

What is a good approach to amending soil for herbaceous (annual and perennial) planting areas?
- This is an excellent question- and one that has a bit of a gray zone answer. Often the areas where we are incorporating perennials and annuals are those that have experienced disturbance to the native soil either through construction or daily use. Amending soil in an effort to change its existing characteristics can be an uphill battle. We do not want to assume that we can amend enough to get every plant to be successful in a site. So, we want to focus on selecting plants that are best able to withstand the challenges of the site. However, there is a difference between picking a plant that will thrive in a native soil and selecting plants for highly disturbed soils that are common in urban and residential areas. It may actually be subsoil rather than topsoil that a gardener may be trying to manage. So, some amendment with the addition of organic materials like compost and quality topsoil may be needed in those cases. In the case of annuals, their root systems are generally more shallow and tender than perennials. They only have one season to send down roots and put on a show. Most will establish more quickly if planted into loose friable soil. Amendment and tillage are common for designated planting zones where annuals for seasonal color display will be installed. Another important thing to keep in mind is that soil amendment can be an asset for more than plants- it can improve infiltration, water holding capacity and other beneficial roles in water and soil interaction.
Can you tell me more about herbaceous plants with medicinal or edible properties?
- We have many folks who are interested in medicinal plants and foraging topics. However, these topics are outside the realm of UT Extension education, due to the lack of unbiased research-based information in those areas. We do offer education that focuses on edible crops, such as fruits, vegetables, culinary herbs and how to incorporate them into your home landscape. For more information on foraging and medicinal plants we suggest that you find a local interest group to further your knowledge in those area.
- Landscaping with Fruit & Nut Crops SP307-J
What are some options for herbaceous plants that deer won’t eat?
- With deer-resistant plants, we are looking for reduction in damage rather than eliminating the risk. Feeding pressure from wildlife often has more to do with availability of preferred foods for their diet. Even plants categorized as ‘resistant’ to deer can suffer damage if other more desirable food sources are not available.
- Here is a useful publication from NC State University
When should we plant perennial plants in Tennessee?
- Spring is an ideal time to install perennials in TN. The mild temperatures and higher rainfall of the spring season can lessen the burden of watering during establishment. Summer planting is also acceptable. But, hot, dry conditions, are stressful to young plants and careful attention to watering will be required. Fall can also be a good time to plant many perennials across TN, but it is harder to find high quality perennial plant material in most nurseries at this time of year. Fall in TN can tend towards hot and dry as well, so watering will be the determining factor in plant success. Fall planting isn’t ideal for perennials that are considered ‘tender’. Warm season ornamental grasses also prefer planting during the warmer parts of the year to ensure good root establishment before winter. Planting perennials during the winter months is not recommended.
When should we plant Annuals in TN?
- Warm season annual transplants should be planted in the landscape after all danger of frost has passed (ex: sweetpotato vine). Direct seeding of select warm season annuals into the garden can be done 2-3 weeks prior to the final frost date because the danger of frost should have passed by the time the plants are germinated and up (ex: zinnia). Also be aware that some annuals prefer warm soil temperatures and will simply lay dormant until soil conditions warm (ex: sunflower, cosmos). If planting annuals in mixed containers that will be in a protected area or under cover of a porch, you may push the envelope and plant a few weeks before the last frost date as long as you are willing to provide added protection on nights with temperature drops and frost/freeze threats (ex: macho, kimberly, and boston ferns). Cool season hardy annuals can be directly seeded in the garden in mid-fall through early winter and then again in very early spring. Transplants of cool season hardy annuals can be planted into the garden in fall for establishment. Many can tolerate temperatures as low as 0F and will overwinter with no added protection. If this fall planting window is missed, they can also be transplanted in early spring.
When should we plant Bulbs in TN?
- Different bulbs require different timing, so here are two quick rules of thumb. 1. Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall and into early winter (ex:tulip, daffodil). This ensures that they will accumulate that chilling that is necessary for flower initiation the following spring. 2. Summer flowering bulbs should be planted in the spring (ex: lily). If planted in the spring, you will enjoy their summer blooms. If you miss the spring planting window, you can continue to plant them into the summer but they will likely not produce blooms until the following year. Plants that grow from rhizomes (ex: bearded iris), tubers (ex:dahlia), and corms (ex:gladiolus) loosely follow these same guidelines, but in some cases may require digging or added precautions in the garden for winter protection (ex:dahlia, caladium).
- Bulbs for the TN Garden
- Flowering Bulbs for TN
I’m often confused about clean up in my landscape beds. Everyone is saying to “leave the leaves!” and “Don’t cut back!”
- When it comes to fall clean-up, we need to weigh the options. If there were issues with leaf disease, certainly clean up any leaves that have fallen from plants. These leaves can serve as an inoculum for the disease in the following year. They also should NOT be included in compost piles. Many herbaceous plants begin to look tired and tattered towards the end of the summer and into fall. It is common for peony, hosta, and many of our early spring flowering perennials to suffer from drought or disease. Removing that foliage from an aesthetic point of view is certainly also acceptable. However, consider the plants whose parts could be especially supportive to wildlife. Hollow stems, dried seed heads, and even fading/fallen foliage can be vitally important to the winter survival and life cycle completion of native birds and insects! Using fallen leaves as mulch is beneficial to the soil and helps to increase organic content, but it also contributes to the cover of voles which can feed heavily on both herbaceous and woody ornamentals throughout the winter months. In short, there are times when clean-up is recommended and circumstances where leaving things in place (or repurposing them) can be beneficial.
- Nesting and Overwintering Habitat
Can we grow herbaceous plants by planting seeds directly in the ground in TN?
- Yes we can! Many warm and cool season annuals as well as perennials can be successfully direct seeded into the garden. Once they are established, some have the potential to self-seed ensuring that they persist in your garden from year to year.
- Seed Grown Flowers for the TN Garden
Do perennials in the landscape need fertilization?
- Many of our native perennials can survive and thrive in harsh conditions which could include heavy soil, poor drainage, and even lean (low fertility) soils. So no, not all perennials need additional fertilization if it is paired with its complementary growing condition. In these unique situations, fertilization could even be detrimental to the over health of the plant. However, in most residential settings, maintenance levels of a complete fertilizer applied in the spring can provide benefit. Make sure to take cues from your plants that could signal they are suffering from a nutrient deficiency like purpling of leaves, chlorosis (yellowing) of entire leaf, or chlorosis between the veins. Routine soil sampling can help guide you on fertility needs and frequency of application.
- Success with Herbaceous Perennials
Should I be watering herbaceous plants in my landscape as often as I water my flowers in pots?
- The short answer is no. The media in a container/pot is vastly different from growing in the ground. Soil holds moisture longer than the porous media in a container and require less frequent watering. By watering deeply but infrequently we can encourage annuals and perennials planted in the ground to root deeply (search for water). This will be an excellent attribute when rainfall becomes sparse.