Certification and Education

George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide

Text: © George Brenn

George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery, created this study guide to help teach the material covered in the IAH Manual. His intentionw as to assist those trying to master the subjects within the manual.

Chapter 4 – Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Herbaceous Plants = plants having stems that do not thicken with age or become woody. They generally die to the ground each winter but may remain alive underground

Annual = plant completes entire life cycle (from seed to flower producing seed) in 1 growing season. Many landscape annuals bloom continuously from late Spring until frost. Ageratum, Begonias, Coleus, Impatiens, Marigold, Petunia, Verbena, annual Geranium (=Pellargonium)

Biennial = plant requires 2 growing seasons to complete life cycle: grows leaves & stems 1st year, goes dormant 1st winter, the produces flowers & seeds in 2nd year, then dies. Generally have limited period of bloom, usually 1 to 3 weeks. Lunaria, Dianthus barbatus, some Hollyhocks & Foxgloves

Perennial = plants that live for more than 2 growing seasons. Blooming period varies greatly from 1 – 10 or more weeks. Life span varies from 2 – 3 years to indefinite. Asters, Bergenia, Coreopsis, Dicentra, Echinacea, Filipendula, Geranium, Hosta, Daylilies, Black-Eyed Susan (= Rudbeckia)

Hardy Bulbs = perennials that form underground parts to store food and buds for next year’s growth. Allium, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyancinth, Tulips, Muscari, Scilla, Narcissus

Ornamental Grasses = usually perennial, but may be annual. Not turf-forming, but have grasslike habit.

Function of Herbaceous Plants:

• Annual flowers & foliage add maximum COLOR and make good “filler plants”

• Perennials add color, texture and form

• Bulbs add unique early spring color before annuals can be planted outdoors: some bloom in summer

• Orn. Grasses add Form, Texture and Seasonal Interest (especially winter), make focal points, screening

Culture for Annuals

• Site Selection – most annuals need full sun and well-drained soil. Soil preparation is of critical importance.

• Annuals are heavy feeders because they grow so rapidly; Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF’s) provide season-long nutrition

• Containers – nicely suited for annuals, but MUST have drain holes: use soil-less planting mix.

• Plant annuals after danger of frost is past (mid-May): Pansies are exception and will tolerate frost

• Pinch your plants when planting to cause them to develop lateral branching (chapter 1)

• Mulch minimizes weeds, conserves moisture, keeps soils cooler, looks better than bare soil

• Deadheading = removal of spent flower heads, helps appearance and prolongs bloom

• Weed control: start clean and use Preen (Treflan 1.47G pre-emergent herbicide: broad label)

Culture for Perennials

• Site Selection - select plants with similar site requirements to be planted together; note that some perennials tolerate shade while others require shade; there is a difference! Soil drainage, aeration & moisture retention are basic considerations; worst enemy is “Winter Wet”

• Hardiness – microclimates and extra mulching for winter may enable less hardy species to survive. Heat hardiness: Lupines and Delphiniums tolerate our winters, but are better-suited to cooler summers

• Pruning – some perennials benefit from mid-season pruning (cutting back) to control floppiness

• Site preparation – start clean (Glyphosate) and prepare soil to 12” depth or more; IF soil is very heavy, add peat or compost, rototill & berm slightly, or consider raised beds or mounds

• Fertilizer – add to soil during preparation, especially P (phosphorous); after established, feed with 5-10-5 @ 1 lb / 100 sq.ft. in early spring and again 6-8 weeks later@ 1 lb / 100 sq.ft. in early spring and again 6-8 weeks later Planting depth – crown of perennial plant should be at or just below soil surface for most species. Be aware of planting too deeply.

• Staking or Support: Peonies, Baptisia & others may need staking or other supports to avoid flopping

• Dividing:: almost all perennials require division eventually (except some like Peonies, Baptisia, Poppies). Dividing is best done when plants are not in bloom. IF done in summer, best to cut back tops.

• Maintenance – usually quite easy, best done in late fall by removing dead tops. Easiest time to mulch is late fall through very early spring before perennials emerge from dormancy.

Culture for Bulbs

• Site Selection – most bulbs need full sun. However, many spring bloomers complete growth before trees and shrubs leaf out, so areas shady in summer may be OK for bulbs. Avoid placement where soil retains excess moisture as most bulbs will ROT in wet soils.

• Vernalization – spring flowering bulbs require cold temps before they will bloom

• Planting depth – varies with species & size of bulbs. Spacing is also important: Daffodils expand

• Naturalizing – some bulbs spread enough to naturalize an area (Crocus, Muscari, Scilla)

• Tip: consider digging a pit to proper depth, placing bulbs, then backfilling over bulbs with prepared soil

• Post-Bloom Foliage is best left alone for 4 – 6 weeks after bloom (recharging via photosynthesis)

• IF lots of foliage, but fewer & fewer flowers, bulbs have become too crowded & need to be thinned

Culture for Ornamental Grasses

• Site Selection – most ornamental grasses require full sun, some will tolerate partial shade.and are remarkably tolerant of adverse soil conditions.

• Most ornamental grasses are “clump-forming”

• Spacing – clumps expand over time, so allow sufficient room for their spread. ALSO, some varieties are quite vertical (Calamagrostis, Panicum), while others are decidedly vase-shaped (Miscanthus).

• Fertilization – avoid excessive fertility: makes plants grow too fast, have weaker stems, & become floppy

• Maintenance – annual cut-back needs to occur prior to new growth emergence. Electric hedge shears are great for this; best done late winter / early spring, but can be done in fall (loses winter interest).

• Division – need varies greatly among species: Calamagrostis can stay for 7 – 8 years; some Miscanthus varieties require division after only 4 years. Best to dig up entire clump, make 4 to 8 divisions and replant one. Spading fork is excellent tool for digging up grasses; saw or ax for making divisions.

• Beware: the inflorescence (seed heads) of some species are notorious for reseeding into lawns, and when mown, ornamental grasses shred and are quite unsightly.

IAH Quiz

Each quiz will be worth a .5 (one-half) CEU!

The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee is pleased to provide you an opportunity to earn CEUs (continuing education units) in each issue of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape News.

The IAH quiz offered in each issue can be completed by anyone who is an “Active” (current) IAH (initial or masters).

Each quiz will be worth a .5 (onehalf) CEU (continuing education unit) for the completion of the bi-monthly quiz with a pass rate of 80%. Over a 2-year period, you could earn up to 6 CEUs if you take and pass every quiz!

The INLA office will grade the quiz. Questions and answers have been provided by the IAH committee. Thank you and good luck studying!

The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee Co-Chairs

- George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery

- Gabriel Gluesenkamp, Designscape Hort Services Committee Members

- Brian Bunge, Twixwood Nursery

- Wayne Gruber, Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply

- Jim Messmer

- Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape

- Jodie Overmyer, Marshall County Soil and Water

IAH QUIZ: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

Due: December 31, 2022

Complete the quiz and email or mail to INLA by the deadline above. Be sure to write your name, IAH number, and contact information on the bottom of the quiz when submitting.

1. The location of leaf attachment to a stem is called a __________.

2. The most basic “building blocks” of a plant are the __________.

3. Water vapor moves out of a leaf through the __________ and this process is known as _________.

4. Growth of lateral buds behind a shoot’s tip is controlled by an auxin and this phenomenon is called _________ ___________.

5. Roots serve several functions on a plant, including anchoring, ________ and ________ .

6. The primary function of leaves is to ___________ ______ by converting sunlight, Carbon Dioxide and water thru a process known as _____________.

7. Plant stems contain the vascular system, comprised of the ________ and ________.

8. Flowers are the _______ organs of the plant.

9. Root hairs absorb ________ , ___________ and ________ from the soil.

10. Cell division and expansion occur in the _________.

Name:

IAH No.:

Phone:

Email: Send answers to: info@inla1.org -or- mail to INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237

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