In the Garden

spring in the step

With spring in the air and warm weather here, March is the time to plan and execute your garden plans for the year, perhaps including new plants like Tractor Seat.

BY BETTY MORRELL

I smell spring in the air, and so, my friends, now is the time for some serious gardening. I am sure you have visited the local nurseries and were greeted by the colorful annuals and perennials that can be planted now. Be sure you have your beds planned before you do that. Transplanting can put your tender annuals and perennials in shock.

An under-utilized plant previously known as Ligularia has a new name, Farfugium Japonicum, also known as the Tractor Seat plant. Th is evergreen clump-forming perennial is now being sought widely for use in landscapes and in containers.

The Tractor Seat plant adds rich texture and deep glossy foliage to shady woodland gardens, boggy areas, sand banks, perennial borders, and container gardens. In small beds and containers, they make a great back to low border plants, and in large beds they can be massed as a ground cover in front of ornamental shrubs and under canopy trees. (This plant will spread to a handsome clump).

A member of the sunflower family, an added attraction of this plant is the flower spike that rises up to 3 feet above the foliage with small, bright yellow daisy like flowers that bloom in fall and winter. Th e bees and butterflies love them.

The Tractor Seat plant prefers moist, rich soil, but it’s not fussy about the PH. It grows best in shade with filtered sun, as too much sun can wilt and burn the leaves. Insect and disease problems are rare. I have admired this plant in person and was really taken back by its beauty. It is a plant any gardener would be happy to add to their landscape.

A stunning new Shasta Daisy with long-lasting, large, bright sunshine yellow blooms is being introduced. It is a Leucanthemum called “Real Goldcup,” an exclusive to the Southern Living and Sunset Plant Collections. Th is hardy PP plant is an excellent garden performer. With its sturdy stems, it is ideal for longlasting cut flowers.

Real Goldcup has a tight clumping habit that grows 36 in. in height and 18 in. in width. Plant it in well-drained garden soil in full sun to part-shade. Th is improved, disease-resistant, easy care plant, when established, becomes drought-tolerant.

Th is eye-popping plant is great in pots and containers, makes an awesome garden border or clumps within the landscaping. I really love this plant and anxiously await its debut. It should be soon. And don’t forget that pots of colorful flowers or plants of textured foliage make great additions to your beds; they can be moved to any spot that you need color or visual beauty. I love potted plants!

Christy Hickey and I are now doing virtual and onsite consultations. Email me at bamorrell@aol.com for information or with questions. In the meantime, Happy Gardening!

TIP OF THE MONTH

If you haven’t cleaned your beds of winter debris, do it before preparing your beds for planting. If the soil is tired, add some good garden soil and Milorganite, which won’t burn the roots. Check plants for winter damage using the nail test, and hopefully you’ll fi nd green on the stems. Prune down to the green.