Echinacea in the garden

Photo above is a garden in Landenberg, PA one year after planting. Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' with Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' behind and Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva' to the left for some late summer blooms. All deer and drought tolerant!

In a different clients garden, Landenberg, PA. Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High'

Same residence, rear hillside garden one year after garden installation. Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High' in center of photo.

Echinacea purpurea, or Purple coneflower, is a eastern and central North American native flowering perennial that every sunny garden must have. They are drought tolerant and deer seldom bother. In recent years plant breeders have developed rather interesting cultivars. These newer varieties showcase yellow, orange, red and even white flowers. They make great cut flowers, butterflies and bees love them and when the seed heads are left in tack over the winter season the birds will appreciate the meal! When designing my clients gardens I often sneak a few in mix, they liven every garden up. Plant some today and everyone wins!

Trimming Ornamental Grasses

It's that time of year when we get out into the garden and clean-up for another season in the garden. I always get the question of when to cut back ornamental grasses, to which I always say now. I prefer to leave the golden foliage up through the winter as opposed to cutting the grasses back in the fall. Either time you will not harm the grasses, it's just a gardeners personal preference. I love their contrast against a new fallen snow or in front of some evergreens.

This spring I have noticed incorrect horticultural practices when cutting grasses back. I have seen grasses not cut back far enough to the ground. I have seen grasses sheared like shrubs. The photo shows the correct way to to trim them back to the ground. Easiest way to trim is a sharp pair of hand pruners or shears. If you have numerous and larger clumps in the garden then electric or gas powered hedge shears make quick work of it.