Home Grown 267 August 19, 2004

I have had several shrubs and small trees die this year for no reason. These have been planted within the last five years. Because I have heavy clay soil, I have made a beautiful planting mixture for them. I dug a hole twice as wide as the balls and mixed one-third compost and one-third manure and one-third rich, black soil. I didn't put any clay back in the hole. So why did they die?

You loved them too much. The best-laid plans of gardeners can be derailed by things beyond their control. In this case, it was weather, wet, wet weather. You have created a lovely mixture guaranteed to hold an optimal amount of moisture. The mix is surrounded by clay that acts as a container. Add water and you have a soil mixture that resembles chocolate pudding in a bowl. If you analyze what went into the pit of despair, it was well over two-thirds organic matter. That's like adding bezillions of torn up sponges to soak up and hold moisture. That moisture has nowhere to go. In the last five years, we haven't had a really rainy season, so you got away with this mixture. When it was dry, you have been watering them and been able to control how much moisture was added. This year, we had double or triple the rain we usually get so months. All the air was forced out of the soil and water filled the soil pore spaces. None of these
plants were swamp dwellers and couldn't tolerate the conditions. If you dig them up, you will notice that roots have become darkened and the small ones have probably rotted. Planting in clay soil is a challenge. If you modify the soil in holes, this stuff happens. Breaking up clay into marble or pea sized pieces and putting it back into the planting hole would be a better idea. When digging the hole, roughen or chip up the sides of the hole. Making smooth sides can make it very difficult for roots to grow into the surrounding soil. Add organic matter very sparingly, if at all. You may have to plant slightly higher to help drainage but taper the soil away from the ball very gently. Roots want to grow horizontally. Leaving the plant as a gopher mound gives the roots nowhere to go. In the art of gardening, we probably learn more from our mistakes. This is just another gardening lesson from ol' Mother Nature.



Something is wrong with some of my perennial flowers in my garden. They have been in for at least six or seven years and have been beautiful until now. They are now growing in a circle but the middle of the circle doesn't have anything growing in it. They didn't bloom as much this year. This appears to be spreading because I can see this happening to my Siberian Iris and a couple of others. What is it?

They have just been too successful. Your little darlings have grown into big mooses. This means that it is time to divide those plants. Because you have great garden success, you now get extra plants as a winner's bonus. This is a perfect time of year to divide those plants. Dig them up and divide them into four or more pieces. You will probably need weapons of mass destruction to cut through the roots. This could be a large knife or a hatchet or a big foot stomping on a shovel. Separate the parts and plant them as soon as you are done dividing them. Water them well and by the end of the season, they will have established themselves. Many perennials become less vigorous and bloom less when they are crowded. They can crowd themselves very well after a number of years. If you have ornamental grasses that need to be divided, hold off until spring. You want a time when root growth for them is optimum. As soon as you see the tops beginning to grow, dig and divide. This is one of the pluses of growing perennial plants. You get more for your money.

Gretchen Voyle, MSU Extension-Livingston County Horticulture
Agent 517/546-3950

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