In the Garden: Even weeds can be appealing

4:31 AM, Aug. 13, 2013  |  Comments
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My favorite roadside weed is chicory. It is a two-foot tall blue-flowered weed that often grows in the berm strip of a road or highway. Park Avenue West in Ontario has many of them in unmowed areas. I like them because of the light blue flower color. It is the same color of blue as that of selected Colorado blue spruce needles, and blades of short blue fescue ornamental grass like Elijah blue. Those plants offer great color appeal because of the special blue color.

Chicory begins to bloom in July and is not only in the wildflower group. It also is listed in the weed category. It is not found in mowed areas or where herbicides have been applied. For me, chicory is a wildflower because of the special blue flowers.

Our 1-acre property has a variety of wildflowers. A few were planted, but others have been growing there for many years. Those planted are butterfly weed, Joe-Pye weed and ironweed. Note each has "weed" as part of the name. I consider these attractive wildflowers in spite of the name.

The world of wildflowers is confusing if you study these plants. The ultimate questions that arises: Is it a weed, wildflower or both? The most common example is the dandelion. Is it a weed or wildflower? The usual answer is weed. But it is listed in wildflower manuals.

If you like the golden yellow flowers of a dandelion, it might be identified as a wildflower. When growing in the common habitat of a lawn it is called a weed - one of the most common weeds. As a weed, I have removed hundreds of them over the years.

But sometimes I find a dandelion plant that is very attractive with its bright yellow flowers and I let it grow because of the flowers. I guess wildflower would fit such a plant. That is where wildflower-weed becomes murky. A lawn care specialist would identify a dandelion as a weed to be eradicated.

Whether a plant is called a weed or wildflower is in the eye of the beholder.

Growing wildflowers is no different from other plants in one respect. Grow the plant in an environment similar to its native habitat. Is it hardy for our region? This initial matchmaking is key to success.

Starting wildflowers from seeds sounds simple, but it isn't. It is a slow process and requires plenty of homework before starting. Site preparation should begin a year before seed sowing. The most serious problem with seed-started plants is weed control. Vigorous weeds will quickly crowd out wildflowers. I see evidence of this all the time with garlic mustard plants that crowd out most plants. Fragile delicate shade plants have no chance competing with garlic mustard.

Potted small perennial wildflowers are the best way to begin with a few wildflowers. Find a compatible site and watch them flourish. As with other plants, it may take several years before flowers appear. But they will bloom much faster than those from seeds. Seeds of spring flowering trillium may take seven years to develop and flower.

Recent July flooding

The key word for flooding is "prevention." If in the market for a home, do not buy or build close to river or stream that overflows during a heavy or extended rainfall.

Likewise, don't plant a garden in a low area that floods and has standing water after a heavy rain. Also, a low area is terrible for growing fruit trees, as cold air collects there with a much greater change for serious frost/freeze damage.

Plant survival, including turf grass, depends upon several factors:

? How long plants are covered with water - the longer, the less chance for survival.

? If there is no way for water removal, you are at the mercy of the flood.

? The main cause of plant death due to flooding is lack of oxygen to plant roots. Without ample oxygen, root hairs begin to die and plants begin to wilt.

A scenic river or stream is a positive during good weather, but it can become a giant negative during two weeks of rainy weather and subsequent flooding.

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