South Dakota Home Garden 2020

CONTENTS BARE ROOT PLANTS

VEGETABLES FLOWERING PLANTS HANGING BASKETS SHADE PLANTS & TREES

LAWN CARE, GRASSES, LANDSCAPING VINES HYDRANGEAS & ROSES

Q&A WITH ERIK HELLAND

DAYLILIES SMALL FRUITS WATERING SMALL CONIFERS

DIGITAL EDITION 2020 SEASON

SUMMER PERENNIALS HOUSE PLANTS

FALL POP

SDPB.org

WINTERIZING

BARE ROOT PLANTS Bare root plants are one to three-year-old nursery stock that are dug up, stored, and shipped without soil or potting mix surrounding their roots. Bare root plants are inexpensive, easy to plant, and offer field-grown hardiness. In the video below, Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center explains some of the benefits of planting bare root plants and gives examples of the different types available.

The method for planting trees does not change, whether they are bare root, container-grown, or balled/burlapped. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center has the following instructions for planting trees: Locate the graft union The graft union is the swollen area at the base of the stem. The graft union is a scar or healed wound that results when a small shoot (scion) is grafted to specially selected root stock. It is important that the graft union be at or slightly above the soil level. You will want to make sure that none of the trees main stem is buried. If the stem is exposed to excessive moisture, the result could be rotting or a disease that may kill the tree.

Digging the hole After finding the graft union, the depth of the hole can be easily determined by measuring from the graft union to the bottom of the root system, pot, or root ball. The width of the hole can vary.

With bare root trees, dig the hole just wide enough to accommodate the roots when spread out. With containerized (potted) or balled and burlapped (B&B) trees, it is good to have at least a foot of

space all the way around the root ball. It also helps to have the hole wider at the top. In cases where the soils are compacted, heavy clay or both, it is a good practice to dig the holes especially wide and also plant the tree slightly higher.

Planting the tree Place the tree in the hole, then double check that it is at the correct height. This is also the time to make sure the tree is facing the right way. Due to injuries and pruning, a tree may have one side that looks better than the other. It may be preferable to have the tree’s best side facing a particular direction. Next, you can start to backfill with soil, making sure that large clumps of soil are broken up.

As you fill in the hole, you want to firmly pack the soil with the heel of your foot. A shovel handle also works well. This is to provide support for the tree and also to remove air pockets that would cause settling.

Typically, the native soil on-site is the best backfill material. However, depending on past construction practices and the site’s soil conditions, amendments may be necessary. Be careful. By backfilling the hole with a different type of material you can actually discourage or restrict root growth into the surrounding native soil. This is why it is important to mix the amendment material with the native soil as you backfill around the tree.

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VIDEO: TOUR A ROOT CELLAR Return to Menu

BARE ROOT CONTINUED

VEGETABLES

Watering berm / saucer Once the hole has been filled in, the excess soil can be used to make a small berm around the tree, forming a saucer or basin to aid in watering. Some people do not care for the aesthetics of the water basin. In such cases it is also acceptable to grade the soil smooth with the surrounding yard.

Mulch There are many different types of mulches on the market. Some examples are: shredded wood, wood chips, pine needles, peat moss, and also colored synthetic (plastic /rubber) chips. The purpose for mulch is to control weeds, moderate soil temperature, control water loss, aid in water absorption, limit competition from turf, and prevent lawn mower damage. These are some of the reasons why mulch is strongly recommended, especially an organic mulch such as a shredded hardwood mulch.

Watering When watering, you want to soak the soil through to the base of the root system. This should be done right after the tree is planted. Then water again in the same manner every week for the next two weeks. Water as needed for the rest of the first year during periods without rain.

VIDEO: START A VEGETABLE GARDEN

Growing your own vegetables has become a popular pastime in the last few years and the home gardening trend is growing even more during the coronavirus pandemic. Starting a vegetable garden can help lower your weekly grocery bill, help you eat healthier, and it is a fun and rewarding activity.

Plus, home-grown vegetables just seem to taste better. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center shows us plants you can select for your home garden, no matter how green your thumb.

Erik Helland says it is important to remember to plant all vegetables in a spot that gets full sun for at least 6 hours a day. The more sun, the more fruit your plants will produce. Because plants are not full grown when you buy them, make sure to check the size chart on the label. Plant the taller plants like corn or pole beans to the north or west side of your garden so they do not shade the smaller plants.

Helland also recommends planting in well-drained soil, making sure to water consistently about I inch per week, including natural rain. A 3-inch layer of mulch can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

“This is the easiest, least expensive way of actually growing your own vegetables and then getting fresh vegetables. Who doesn’t like a nice fresh tomato on their BLT or hamburger?”

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VEGETABLES CONTINUED Erik Helland says it is important to remember to plant all vegetables in a spot that gets full sun for at least 6 hours a day. The more sun, the more fruit your plants will produce. Because plants are not full grown when you buy them, make sure to check the size chart on the label. Plant the taller plants like corn or pole beans to the north or west side of your garden so they do not shade the smaller plants.

Helland also recommends planting in well-drained soil, making sure to water consistently about I inch per week, including natural rain. A 3-inch layer of mulch can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

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VIDEO: FLOWERING PLANTS

FLOWERING PLANTS Containers and pots can enhance your deck, patio or outdoor living areas. They also work great to brighten up your front entrance and bring color to your home’s curb appeal. There are many different varieties of container plants, so be creative and have fun. Remember to mix in some plants with a pleasing scent - these can be herbs that also work great for cooking. Some excellent herbs for containers in your outdoor living space are lemongrass, rosemary and lavender.

Planting a container can be a bit of a challenge but if you follow the simple rule of planting, it can be quite easy. The rule goes: A thriller, a filler and a spiller.

The thriller plant is your main accent plant for the middle or back of the pot or container this plant needs to be taller than the rest of the plants and it needs to grab attention and have the wow factor. The filler plant is not just “filler.” It will be the main body of your pot. It needs color and

greenery and should complement the thriller plant. The spiller plant is the final step, but it is as important as the rest. It also needs to have greenery and colors that match or complement the thriller and filler. The spiller should cascade down the side of the container, completing the top-to-bottom effect of your masterpiece.

Depending on the size of your container, you may need more than one filler plant and more than one spiller plant. Read the label instruction for spacing and height of the plants. You want the container or pot to look full but not overcrowded. Take label instructions for plant distancing and divide by two.

This will give plants the space they need to grow but also fill the container. A good rule of (green) thumb is one thriller plant in the center or back for a focal point. Place filler plants around the thriller - two for smaller containers. For larger containers, use three, then alternate the spiller plants with fillers.

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HANGING BASKETS Hanging pots or baskets can bloom all year and give color to your outdoor living space. The trick is to keep the plants blooming all summer. Erik Helland has some tips on how to care for and maintain your hanging pots.

He says the first step is pot size. “The bigger the hanging basket, the better,” said Helland. “Why is that? Well, the hanging basket dries out faster than anything that’s going to be sitting on the floor or that’s in a larger container.

The bigger the pot, the more volume that you can have to hold more moisture. So, if you’re gone for a weekend, your plant can make it throughout the weekend and you don’t have to come back to something that’s shriveled up.”

Helland also says to water your hanging plants until water comes out of the bottom of the pot. That way, there is water everywhere in the pot and when the plant needs it, the roots can find the water. Helland recommends paper mache pots, which do not dry out as quickly as plastic hanging pots. No matter what kind of pot you use, you will want to water twice a week.

Hellad also has some advice on trimming plants in hanging pots.

“If you must trim them because they’re getting kind of crazy, that’s fine,” Helland said. “Remember, whenever you cut anything, it will initiate more growth. So, if you have to trim it back, just expect more growth. Growth means more food, more water, add more fertilizer, add more water.”

VIDEO: INSTALL AND ENJOY HANGING BASKETS

Finally, Helland says, make sure your hook can hold the weight of the plant.

Test the strength of your hook and making sure it is secure. The plant will also weigh more when watered so take that into account - and remember the effects of wind on the location of your hanging pot so it doesn’t become damaged. If you are going to be gone for a few days, take your pots down from the hook. This will help to avoid damage to the plant from sudden storms or strong winds.

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SHADE TREES & PLANTS When creating a space in your yard that is shaded from the sun, trees set up a structure for your oasis.

“The main part of anything is the soil. Make sure you have good, well-drained soil. Plant your tree high enough so you see the root crown or the root flare. And when you plant that, make sure that it’s in well-drained soil, the tree has been compacted enough so the soil is firm enough to where it’s not going to get smushed. Plant the tree in an area where there’s great drainage, making sure that the root flare is visible. Make sure to mulch around the base of the tree, and I am a big believer in putting mulch around a tree rather than having turf grass or anything else underneath a tree. Why is that?

When you put turf grass right directly underneath a tree, the turf grass is in competition with the tree.”

“Any tree can be actually a shade tree. It’s not just a locust or a maple or an oak. In fact, there’s some ornamental trees that get big enough to provide

enough shade. So, a lot of it is just where you plant it and where you place it within your landscape, within your yard, to provide the shade.”

When you choose a location, be sure to look up and look down. Look up for things that could obstruct the tree in the future and look down by calling 811 to identify things in the ground before you dig. Power lines, gas lines and cable and internet lines can be buried anywhere in your yard

Helland says there are many choices for other shade plants;

Coral Bell adds color to shade plant beds.

Shade plants can be a great option for your yard or garden in areas that don’t get enough sunlight to grow even grass. Shade plants can grow with less than three hours of sunlight per day. Erik Helland has tips for selecting the right shade plants. “ So there’s lots of different kinds of hostas.

They’re going to be the ones that have the green with the white margin. They’re going to be just ones with solid green. There’s going to be ones that have a blue hue to them. There’s ones that have a dark green on the outside and more of a yellow in the middle. But there’s so many different varieties”

VIDEO: SHADE TREES

VIDEO: SHADE PLANTS

Hostas keeps spreading every year, so each spring you have more plants that you can transplant. It is also a great plant to share with neighbors and family members. Erik says also remember hosta do not re-leaf so if they are damaged by pets, kids or hail they will not generate new leaves.

“ Ferns are great. Now the thing with ferns is remember is ferns, shoot off with a rhizome. So a rhizome it’ll be a runner that goes underground and another one’s going to pop up. All of a sudden you’re going to have a bunch and then pretty soon It will become completely filled..

“Astilbe is a really interesting plant. It’s kind of particular about the soil, It likes to have loose soil to where the soil can drain. Not full sun, so like I always say, east side, morning sun. Those are all great for the shade plant material. Another one is a huechera or a huechera (Coral Bells). It’s basically all in the purple family. In the purple is this absolutely amazing.”

Shade is not really about the flowers. Yes, a lot of shade plants have flowers, but shade plants are about colors and textures in the foliage. The last thing to remember is to check the label on any plants you purchase, especially with hostas. Hostas all look about the same size in pots at a greenhouse, but can vary in spread and size from a few inches high and a spread of 18 inches, to the larger hostas that can have a spread of five to six feet.

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no place to go and it’s not going to do any work for you. So, make those root systems search out water and penetrate, go down deeper. That’ll give you a good base. So then, that way, if water must be turned off for a long period of time, your grass will be able to survive through those stressful periods of time.”

LAWN CARE, GRASSES, LANDSCAPING Lawn

We all want our lawns to look like a golf course but the battle with our turf can be a bit overwhelming. Erik Helland with Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls has a few tips on how to make your lawn look great. Erik says your lawn is no different than any other plant in your yard or garden. It needs water, sun, fertilizer and a bit of maintenance.

According to Erik, mower height is the first step to having a healthy lawn.

“Right now, everybody should be mowing their lawn at about four inches or even higher, if you can,” Helland said. “If you have an irrigation system, you might be able to drop it down maybe by half an inch to three and a half, but I would really stress to you that that four-inch, or even four and a half inches will save your lawn. Because if we do go into a drought or a long period without rain, what that will do is, the taller grass helps shade itself. What I mean by that is when grass is growing, it’s shading the plants right next to it, which keeps the root

VIDEO: LAWN CARE

system cooler. Bluegrass, which predominantly is what everybody has in their lawn, doesn’t like to have soil temps of over 72 degrees. If it has that for a long period of time, you will notice that it’ll go into dormancy. So that is why we say mow it long because that will help (prevent) distress.”

Erik also says watering is important, but it depends on what type of soil you have.

“If you have heavy, heavy soil then you’re going to want to water for long periods of time and just let it sit and soak,” said Helland. “If you are on that same type of turf or that same soil structure, where it’s a heavy soil and you’re on a slope, what you’re going to want to do is kind of... we call it a cycle soak where you water it for maybe 10, 15 minutes and let it all soak in and then water it again for another 10, 15 minutes and cycle soak. That way you’re not having all the water run down to the bottom where it’ll be greener than anything that’s up higher. That works the best. If you have sandy soil, you’re going to want to be watering again for more frequent periods of time, maybe up to two or three times a week, whereas watering for something with really heavy soil, I would water for an hour on each spot once a week, because that way that water will soak down to the bottom of the root structure and that makes the root system search out water. If you keep on watering every single day, the root system has

Summertime is maintenance time for lawns and any larger projects like de-thatching. Aerating or seeding should be done in the spring or fall.

Grasses

Ornamental grasses like Karl Forester grass can give your landscape appeal all winter long. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls has some tips on planting grasses in your landscape, “Grasses have become a really important element in landscapes. They provide height, they provide interest. The greatest thing about grasses is that they proved year-round interest. If you leave them up through the wintertime and through the spring, you’ll get frost on them (as they are developing.

They’ll develop seed heads and they just become a cool plant to use.”

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LAWN, GRASSES CONTINUED. Helland continued, “They’ll also turn different colors in the fall, which provides even more interest. Now, the most important thing about grasses is that they tend to get bigger.”

Grasses grow and spread in one of two ways.

“Some grasses are going to be spreading and those are the ones where you want to be looking at the tag. Some of them are going to send out rhizomes and they’ll just keep on growing wider and wider and wider. Others are clump-forming, where their clump just gets a little bit bigger each time. The most popular one that everybody sees is probably the Karl Forester grass, which is very clumpforming and columnar, very upright, very cleanlooking, stays within itself. Doesn’t get crazy out there. Some of the fescues will get a little bit wider and they’ll keep on growing and spreading. So make sure to look at the tag carefully to see which one works for your area.”

Ornamental grasses can be a great tool to use within your landscape.

“Grasses are only going to want to be in full sun.

They’re going to want well-drained soil. Some of them, like big bluestem and little bluestem, are native to this area so they can handle drought conditions too. So if you have an area that just does not get a lot of water or rain, then that would be something to consider,” Helland said.

Grasses don’t flower but can add interesting texture and color to your landscape.

“The grasses’ flower is basically their bloom, or their flume. That comes up on the top of the seed, which is the seed head, and the seed head will look different on different grasses. Some of them are going to look like wheat. Some of them will dangle off to the edge, like a side-oats grama. There’s just a lot of different types of plants that are out there in grasses to use in a landscape.”

Landscaping

Landscape in your yard can be split into two categories the softscape which are the plants and hardscape which are the walls, rocks, fountains and accent lights that give character to your backyard.

Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers, Sioux Falls says balancing the two is the key.

Hardscaping has become a very, very important element of landscaping. Hardscaping and balancing it with a soft scaping, that’s where it’s very, very important to try to balance because you don’t want to be overwhelmed by one or the other, and you want to be able to consistently put something together that blooms through out the summer so you have things to enjoy while you sit on your bench and listen to your water feature which is a popular form of hardscape.

Erik there are so many options for hardscape so let your personnel preference guide you.

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VIDEO: Ornamental Grasses Return to Menu

LANDSCAPING CONTINUED. Hardscaping is one of those things that has become extremely popular, and there’s so many different products that are out there. It’s by your tastes. There’s really no wrong ones, there’s not right ones, but there’s so many different things that are out there, but the most important thing to realize is that you really can’t have good hardscaping unless you have good soft scaping or good plant material, the trees, the shade trees that help shade the patio, ornamental trees, the things that really help give you the backdrop, the grasses, the hydrangeas, all of those things now come all together into a beautiful landscape, which is the combination of both the hardscape and softscape.

VIDEO: LANDSCAPING

VINES Vines can be classified in various ways. Vines, in a lot of cases, are planted to cover things up.

Retaining walls, rock walls or any harsh surface that you would like to soften is a great place for a vine.

Vines can also help give texture to pergolas and other landscaping structures.

Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls categorizes vines into two types: the twiners variety and the little suction cup variety.

“The twiners are going to be ones that will, when they get their paws on something, just kind of curl themselves around it,” Helland said. “And what they’re going to do is they’re going to hold tight and then continue to grow and keep on searching for the next spot to fill in. The leaves are being used for moving food and creating food for the plant.

Then the vines grow extremely, extremely fast when you have good moisture and the right sunlight.

Another vine, I call these the little suction cups.

They’re almost like an octopus. They’ll put little suction cups onto whatever surface. So these are vines that you can use on concrete walls, boulder walls, even wood structures. They’ll also have cool fall color. And these types of vines, you are not going to be messing around with. You’re going to let them go. And then when they die back, you might have to trim out a little bit of the dead the following spring or once they get going.”

Helland also says that vines like to have cool feet, which means it’s important to keep their roots from drying out during the day. Morning sun is great - or even afternoon or evening sun - but remember to mulch around the vines’ base so the roots are kept cool. Mulch also helps to retain moisture. Vines such as clematis or other twiners may need to be trained the first year to follow a trellis, and you’ll want to keep the vine from bunching up. As the plant gets established, it will grow along the arbor or trellis. If you are growing the vine up a fence or hard surface, a bit of chicken wire will give the vine a path to follow as it grows.

HONEYSUCKLE

CLEMATIS VINE

VIDEO: VINES

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VIDEO: HYDRANGEAS

Annabelle Hydrangea

HYDRANGEAS & ROSES

Compact Pee Gee Hydrangea Hydrangeas

If you’re looking for an ornamental plant that doesn’t take a lot of work, consider hydrangeas.

Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls says planting and managing hydrangea requires only a few simple steps.

“One of the things about hydrangeas is they’re very, very easy,” Helland said. “There’s hardly any complexity to them. Some of them you are going to want to trim back every year because they only come up on new growth. Some of them, you can leave to where they will grow out and they will come on their second-year growth or their secondyear canes or branch. There are so many different types of hydrangea. Have fun them.”

Helland says the one limitation to planting hydrangea is soil drainage.

“Hydrangeas in general, really like well-drained soil. They do not want to be sitting in something

where water’s going. Where after a rainstorm, it’s going to be sitting there for 24 hours. They want to have enough sunlight but they also can be great plants for partial shade. And when I say partial shade, I’m saying about maybe around four hours.”

Helland has a few tips for planting any plant, not just hydrangeas.

“The best thing to do is follow along with the plant height - the depth that it’s already planted in the pot. Dig the hole the same size of the pot times about 30%, and then go ahead and plant it and make sure that the soil is firmly tamped around the root ball or the container where the root system is.

Then water it and you should be good to go.”

Hydrangeas come in many colors and some even change colors in the Fall. Due to their hardiness and easy maintenance Erik says to just have fun with them and plant what you like.

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HYDRANGEAS AND ROSES CONTINUED

Roses

We all want flowers that bloom all summer long and are easy to care for. Roses are a good choice.

Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls explains the advantages and disadvantages of two varieties, the hybrid tea roses and the shrub rose. Helland says roses do bloom all summer long but require some maintenance, depending on the variety.

“One of the things about them (hybrid tea roses) is that they get kind of finicky,” said Helland.

“Finicky as far as their foliage. You can’t water them on top of the foliage. You must make sure they’re in full sun. They can get different funguses and diseases, which becomes kind of a pain in the butt because then you must always be maintaining and

putting different chemicals on them. So, there’s just a lot more maintenance with them. Some people like them.”

Wintering hybrid tea roses can also be a bit tricky.

“What you need to do is, you need to put leaves and other organic material up against the base of the plant,” said Helland. “That’s the heartbeat of everything. Some people put rose cones on them.

We’ve found is that they (cones) can insulate them, but there might be too high of a consistent temperature and then when it gets really cold, they don’t withstand that. Then the next spring, they’ll most likely all come back from the base right below where you covered everything. That’s the part that gets to be kind of frustrating because the wind blew something off or you just can’t keep it protected throughout the whole winter.”

Erik Helland says shrub roses are a lot harder.

“They’ve been hybridized in order to have the strongest foliage to be able to withstand diseases and withstand water,” Helland said. “A lot of these will be used in a landscape and a landscape is always going to have an irrigation system. The

irrigation system will be spraying water and when they’re spraying water on top of the leaves, that’s how you get the diseases. Well these are a lot more resilient and resistant to a lot of the diseases. In the wintertime we say don’t do anything, because if you leave the branches and all the branches out and let it collect the leaves, that’s how mother nature works. You let it collect the leaves. It will actually build its own nest around the crown and that will help keep it warm or just keep the temperature consistent.”

Helland says prune your roses in the spring and prune out any dark or brittle branches back to the green. This will initiate growth. Remember to dip your pruning shears in a little bit of bleach solution so as not to pass disease between plants.

When replacing an old rose with a new one, you must remove all the soil with the old rose. Roses leave a toxin in the soil that prevents other roses from growing near them. Sometimes you may just need to find a different location for your new roses, and with roses, remember, the more sun, the more flowers.

Shrub Rose

Hybrid Tea Rose

VIDEO: ROSES

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Q & A WITH ERIK HELLAND Katy Beem: How did you enter the landscape/ gardening field?

Erik Helland: “It all began in 1977 when my dad, Phil, moved the family and built Landscape Garden Centers (formerly Lakeland Nurseries) to where it is now. I helped pull weeds, plant geraniums, pick up nails, sweep and pick up garbage. Officially became part of the team in the 90’, and now it’s 2020.”

KB: Personally, I’ve been doing A LOT more flower gardening since the quarantine/pandemic.

How are you seeing the quarantining and socialdistancing affecting the landscape/gardening business?

EH: “Yes, we are seeing an amazing increase in interest and sales with anything gardenrelated. People are so anxious to be able to do something in their yard. People have had to work from home and stare out their windows for such a long period of time. When we opened, we were absolutely surprised and thrilled for the increase in excitement and interest in gardening. Our business has been very fortunate to stay healthy and provide gardening to the Sioux Falls market. Gardening is great for the body and soul.”

KB: What are three common mistakes even the most experienced flower growers in South Dakota make that you see and what should we do instead?

EH: “Mistakes that we see? 1: Overwatering trees. The soils in the Sioux Falls area are typically

very heavy and do not drain quickly. Trees usually drown. 2. Choosing the correct plant for the correct location. This is very important. 3. Leaving tree stakes on the tree and grass around the base of the tree. Remove tree stakes after 90 days and make sure there is no grass around the base of the tree, leave about a 3’ diameter of mulch or dirt without any grass. This helps the tree so it doesn’t compete with moisture and nutrients. People would be amazed by the difference in tree growth if they would not have any grass around the base of the tree…it also keeps the mowers and string trimmers away from the trunk of the tree.”

KB: How do I get rid of the MOLES in my yard and gardens in Vermillion? I am turning into Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler from Caddyshack!

EH: “Moles are always looking for a food source or shelter so there are different times of the year that you can minimize the chances that moles/voles are in your yard. Mow yard in the fall very short so their protection/shelter is minimized. They will move to another place where they feel more safe. Moles and voles eat insects and grubs which is good. Grubs aren’t good since they will eat the roots on grass. You can tell if you have grubs by pulling on the grass. If it easily comes up, you may have grubs You can use products to help reduce the insects which will then in turn reduce the moles/ voles. I have a cat that works the best! Dynamite may be a little extreme but necessary in some instances….”

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SOUTH DAKOTA HOME GARDEN VIDEO: DAYLILIES

DAYLILIES Daylilies are an almost indestructible, all-purpose decorative plant. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls says daylilies can be great for either a yard or a garden.

“The thing about them is that there’s so many different colors and so many different varieties - and when I say varieties, what I mean is there’s different traits to them,” said Helland. “Some of them will have a little wider grass blade or leaf blade. Some of them are going to have a narrower leaf blade. Some of them are going to be really tall and really big. And some of them, the flower itself might be small but very, very prolific (in terms of flowers.) Whereas other ones are going to be more of a singular flower but the flower is going to be massive. So, there’s so many different kinds and sizes and sometimes you’ll find the same colors, but in different sizes. Sometimes you’re also going to be able to find these daylilies that bloom longer than what they really say they’re going to bloom,

and that can just be based on how you take care of them.”

Helland has a simple tip for growing daylilies.

“With daylilies, in order to have them flower prolifically every single year, remove the seed pods after they’re done flowering. Remove the seed pods.

It’s going to be this little green piece of where the flower was. If you just remove those the plant will then put more energy into growing and putting it into the plants rather than into the seeds.”

Helland also says that right now is a great time to plant daylilies because you can see the color

and size of the flowers, unlike in the spring when the plants are not flowering. If you do plant in the summer months just remember to provide a little extra water until the plants become established.

Daylilies love full sun but can also grow in partial shade. The blooms will just not be as large.

Another thing that Helland likes about daylilies is that they are easy to divide once the plants are established after a few years. Similar to hostas. You can divide your daylilies, plant them in other areas of your yard or share them with family and friends.

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suggest in that is removing a lot of the dirt and then adding a lot of peat moss with it and making sure that it’s well-drained and never, ever sitting in a pool of water.”

SMALL FRUITS

“Remember, you’re going to need mostly sun for all of these. The more sun, the more fruit. The less sun, the less fruit. You might have a lot of foliage, but you may not get a lot of fruit. Make sure the soil is well-drained and make sure that you don’t have any grass or other plants in competition in the area you are growing your fruit.”

Small fruits like blueberries, grapes, raspberries and currants can be a great addition to South Dakota gardens, as they take up less space than fruit trees, and are easy to grow.

July and August can be hot and dry in South Dakota and plants may need extra water during these months. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center of Sioux Falls has a few tips for keeping your plants green and healthy during the dog days of summer. He says newly planted plants need extra attention.

Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls says raspberries are a great plant to start with.

“Raspberries are one of those fun plants that it’s, there’s a lot of plant there and it doesn’t take much for it to just take over a whole site, but there’s red and black. I would suggest doing is growing different colors, different varieties. What that does is it gives you fruits that are going to be harvested at different times and maybe for a longer period.

Some plants are only going to be available for a month, and then you’re done. You’re empty. I would suggest using different varieties of the same species.”

“Blueberries are probably going to be the most difficult of any of them and the hardest to grow.

The reason being is that they are going to need a different mix of soil. They need to be very well drained and more acid types of soil. Now it doesn’t mean that you can’t grow them. It’s just going to have to be done a different way. And what I would

WATERING

VIDEO: SMALL FRUIT

“The main reason for watering is to make sure that the plant has enough water to survive,” Helland said. “Newly planted plants need extra additional water because they have not developed a root system yet to be able to search out water. With a newly planted plant that’s come out of a nursery pot, what you’re going to find out is that that pot or that hole that you’ve dug for that plant is going to be very, very small. And the root system around it has been used to being watered every single day in a nursery. So, you have to remember that the roots have not developed yet out into its home. What I would suggest doing is making sure you water continuously and basically you can wean the water off the plant. What I mean by that is, you start watering heavily at the beginning and gradually, CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. Return to Menu

WATERING CONTINUED. gradually reduce and make sure that you are watering not just right on that plant but around the perimeter of the plant. And keep on extending that out.”

that’s either going to screen or it’s going to attract your attention.

Helland says location and soil condition are important considerations when planting conifers.

Helland says vegetables and containers will need even more frequent watering.

“Make sure to consistently water your vegetables.

Don’t let them dry out over long periods of time.

Vegetables can stress more quickly so the best thing to do is water the vegetables on a consistent basis. And once again, it’s not one big, full blast of water. It’s going to be a nice trickle. Some of those sprinklers that kind of go on and make it appear like its fake rain, those work well because it gradually soaks into the ground and usually, there’s never a drop of that water that goes wasted.

So vegetables are one thing to consistently water.

Same with your flowering pots - your containers.

Make sure that those are being watered. Sometimes they can go on for a couple of days without being watered, but for the most part, don’t let those go too far in between waterings. Plants get stressed out.”

VIDEO: WATERING

SMALL CONIFERS Small conifer trees can be a great addition to your yard or landscape. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center of Sioux Falls has some tips on selecting, growing and maintaining these trees and shrubs. He says thinking about what plants look like in winter isn’t always top of mind when selecting a tree, but it’s a good idea when selecting a conifer.

“Small conifers are great to use because they provide a winter interest,” Helland said. “Right now, we haven’t been thinking about winter at all.

We’ve been enjoying so much of this sunshine and all of these growing days. But the wintertime, sadly enough, is when we see our landscape the most because we’re stuck inside and we are inside looking out of the windows. So conifers - evergreens, spruce, pine - they’re called many different things.

Conifers or evergreens are one of those trees that provide habitat for birds. It’s a great place for them to find shelter. You can put the bird feeder out there in the wintertime and that’s where they’re going to hang out. They’re great plants. Small conifers we call specimen trees because they’re going to be a focal point within your landscape

“Where to plant small conifers? You’re going to want to have a great soil. Make sure it’s not sitting in clay. Make sure that that soil has been really amended with a lot of good peat moss and that it’s well drained. Try to have that conifer in full sun. If you don’t have full sun what you’re going to notice is the backs of the tree or the one side of the tree may be a little bit thinner. That may happen. You’re not going to have a perfect situation because you’re going to have a lot of other things going on around in that landscape. So conifers are excellent plants to use within a landscape, especially a small landscape in the backyard or front yard, just to provide a focal point, a backdrop or even screening, they’re great plants to use.”

Small conifers are typically slow-growing, so they won’t overgrow a site within a few years. They take a long time to establish, but once they are established, they can become a major focal point of your landscape.

VIDEO: SMALL CONIFERS

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SUMMER PERENNIALS

Hibiscus

We all want our garden to flower all spring and summer, but keeping plants flowering during the dog days takes some planning. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers, Sioux Falls, has some tips about late summer perennials. Hibiscus is one of his favorites.”

“Hibiscus typically are a tropical plant and we bring those in from Florida and other Southern climates,” Helland said. “They will have a much smaller flower but, in some cases, the hardy hibiscus will have flowers the size of a dinner plate. So they’re really, really unique. They have awesome blooms but they’re just starting to get going right now. And most of these are going to come back from the base every year. So, where do you plant a hardy hibiscus?

The best place to be planting a hardy hibiscus would maybe be on the East side of a house or something that gets a little bit of shade in the afternoon.

Afternoon shade would be good just to kind of keep it a little bit cooler. But once again, anything that flowers needs to have full sun. It’s just the amount of sun. Make sure that the base of the plant or the root system is mulched.

Mulching any perennials, any plant, helps keep the roots cooler and allows for the plant to succeed much better.

Helland says when planting perennials, full sun is best. And pay attention to soil drainage.

“Just make sure that they’re in very well-drained soil. So, when you’re digging your hole, make sure that it’s not going to be holding water at all. Just make sure that when you water any of these plants they allow the water to drain away from them. You do not want them to be sitting in water because then they will rot away and you will not have a successful plant. Flowering perennials, late flowering perennials, that’s what you’re going to be seeing right now. Those are going to be the most interesting ones. Think about the perennial hibiscus, think about mums, think about asters because now’s the time to get those and get those planted and find that special place for them.”

VIDEO: SUMMER PERENNIALS

Mums

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HOUSE PLANTS House plants can be a challenge. How much do you water? Will the plant get enough sunlight?

These and other questions tend to keep people from trying to grow plants in their homes. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls says growing house plants can be simple and rewarding.

“Generally, people are going to say, ‘Well, I don’t know how to grow a houseplant. I don’t know what I should do with a house plant. I don’t think I can make it work,’” said Helland. “So typically, people get worried that, ‘Hey, I can’t grow a houseplant because if I put a plant outside, mother nature helps me take care of it. Plants on the inside, well, what do I do?’ Well, just remember there’s so many different types of houseplants. Houseplants,

either they’re low light, medium light, or high light, which just means how much sun - how much natural light. Is it at a west window or a south window or is it east or north? Just figure out where you want it within your house. Kind of look at the light, see how dark it is or how light it is. And then, when you’re picking out your house plant, choose the size - what size it’s going to become, what size you want it to become. If you want a plant that’s going to grow from the floor on up - something that’s going to be taller - that’s going to be low light or high light.”

Helland says knowing how much water to give houseplants can be a challenge.

“Now is a perfect time to get your plants inside the house to let them adapt. And then the main problem with houseplants is watering.

Most people will over-water their plants. They think they must treat it like an outdoor plant.

So if it’s hot outside, well, I’d better put water on the plant inside. Wrong. Turns out to be a mess.

Your plant will just wither up and it becomes really a big struggle. So under-water houseplants, maybe watering them once a week. You might even be able to stretch that out to 10 days or every two weeks.”

Helland says people who want to have green things living inside their house have a lot of choices.

“There are plants that you can hang along a wall that will just grow off the wall. There’s hanging plants that’ll just flow over the edge of the pot. There are even smaller plants, miniature plants. So use them for your office; use them for your home office. You’ve got the kids going to college? Get them a houseplant. That’s a great, great gift. It just helps the spirit. Everybody’s

attitude changes when you’re around something green and houseplants can provide that. There are also houseplants that bloom. Orchids are a great plant to use.”

VIDEO: CARE FOR HOUSEPLANTS

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WINTERIZING For yard and garden enthusiasts, Fall is the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers, Sioux Falls says there are few simple tasks you can do now to benefit your yard and landscaping next season.

FALL POP After a long hot summer your yard and landscape can be worn out. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers, Sioux Falls has some tips on bringing the POP back to your yard and landscape.

“Even though things are looking tired there’s a lot of little things you can do to make it pop that little bit of color. Mums are a great way of adding that extra color, because they’re going to last, they’re going to be able to tolerate the cooler weather. There’re even some other ornamental annuals that you can put in that tolerate that cold weather. Pansies are another one that actually - very interesting - they’re looking really tired. Now we’re going to get some cool weather. They’re going to snap out of that and start blooming again. Grasses are going to start to really start to show their color with this cooler weather.”

Helland says that decorating your yard for the change of season can also give it a boost.

“Some of the other things that people will do for decorating, or trying to give your landscape a little bit of a pop, is to add straw bales, pumpkins, gourds, things like that. So, we’re really close to that period where we can keep on decorating. That’s always something that really helps highlight the landscape and gives those mums and the pansies and all those things, gives them something else to be around.”

Helland also say Fall is a great time to drive around your neighborhood or town to look at trees. You can see the fall colors and determine what type of tree you would like to add to your yard in the future.

VIDEO: CELEBRATE FALL

“After that first hard freeze, identify what plants you want to keep, like the grasses,” Helland said.

“Grasses are the perfect plant to leave alone because you’re just going to get a lot of interest in them through the fall and into the winter. Some things that you can cut back would be your daylilies and your hostas - things like that. But remember, dogwood, viburnum, hydrangea. Things that have some type of ornamental value. After the first hard freeze is a great time to be spraying. You’re doing a final spray for all your weeds. That way your dandelions won’t come up next year.”

Helland suggests cutting your lawn a little shorter than usual and watering all your plants.

“Make sure to water, water, water, water all your trees, and water all your plants before you put that garden hose away. That’s very, very important that the trees and shrubs and plants and perennials go into the winter with some type of moisture around the root system. If we don’t do that, they start to desiccate or dry out, and then it just becomes a struggle for those plants and trees and shrubs and stuff to start up next year and have the same type of foliage that they had this year. One thing to remember is, if you did plant any new perennials or new shrubs, leave some leaves or mulch up around the base of them. That’ll help protect them from the really deep cold. Any hybrid tea roses, CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. Return to Menu

WINTER CONTINUED. you got to cover those up, with leaves or some type of mulch organic matter. That’ll help keep them insulated. Basically, when we insulate something it keeps a consistent temp for a longer period. And the water and the moisture helps to keep it hydrated throughout the winter.”

Helland says you can trim some shrubs this fall but don’t trim lilacs and forsythia. Trimming dogwood, Diablo Ninebark, and Spiraea is ok in the Fall.

VIDEO: PREPARE FOR SPRING...

IN WINTER Return to Menu

SOUTH DAKOTA HOME GARDEN returns for the 2021 growing season beginning April 22. Each week Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Brookings shares lawn, landscaping and gardening advice.

Freshen up your skills, prepare to get your hands dirty and join the conversation on SDPB. We’re on In the Moment Thursdays at Noon Central, 11am Mountain and again at 7pm Central, 6 Mountain. Episodes of SD Home Garden are on SDPB1TV Thursdays at 9:45pm Central, 8:45 Mountain; Saturdays at 6:50pm Central, 5:50 Mountain and 9:45 pm Central, 8:45 Mountain; and and Sundays at 6:45 pm Central, 5:45 Mountain. on SDPB1. Our first three episodes are “Dig in and prepare your Bareroot stock” April 22, “It’s time to plant your Vegetable Garden” April 29 and “Flowering Plants May 6.

Join other lawn and garden enthusiasts online, use the hashtag #SDHomeGarden. Check us out online at SDPB.org/sdhomegarden