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Perennial Flower Garden Blog



I have had a love affair with perennial flowers for many years and this is the place where I share my latest articles, perennial flower gardening tips, pictures and what I'm doing in my perennial gardens.  And yes, I have more than one perennial garden because one simply won't hold all the plants I want to grow.  :-)  The fun thing in all this is that my garden is brand-new and I'm building it from scratch.  Here's what I'm up to.

If you have a question, you can ask it here.

New subscriptions to the newsletter can be signed up on the left nav bar.  And the links section lists my other sites too - just in case you're looking for other gardening information.

In answer to the question, "What have you done for me lately?" :-)   Here it is.

All the new articles fit to print.



Jun 23, 2009, not blooming after propagation

I propogated a plant from my mother a month ago. It has grown very well (huge) but no flowers. Is there a male /female plant? or will mine flower

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Jun 22, 2009, Pampas grass - not turning green this year

My Pampas grass is mostly brown and it's June. I live in Oregon. What do I do to green it up? Thank you, Doug says that a brown plant that's

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Jun 22, 2009, Goblin Gaillardia

How do I dead head this flower? Thank you! Doug says you deadhead this perennial flower by following the stem as far down as you can with your

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Jun 17, 2009, creeping phlox transplanting

What is the best time to replant creeping phlox? Doug says that Creeping Phlox can be replanted or transplanted first thing in the spring (when the

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Jun 17, 2009, Blackeyed Susan pruning tip

How do I remove flowers that have died to encourage new flowers to bloom? I'm not sure where on the plant I should remove the old flower. The exact

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Jun 17, 2009, blue hue minority

Why are there so few blue flowers? Is it something to do with chlorophyl in the plants? Doug says that chlorophyll determines the leaf colour (green)

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Jun 16, 2009, Spring, sumer & fall ground ccover

I am looking for a ground cover that will flower in the late spring, summer and early fall - are there any ground covers such as those - someone

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Jun 16, 2009, how to kill perenial ground cover

I bought a house that I just found out has perennial ground cover growing out of control and I do not want it anymore how can I get rid of it! Doug

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Jun 16, 2009, Raised garden beds

We want to make a large perennial shrub bed on existing lawn...our question: can we leave the lawn in and apply topsoil to a dept of a foot? If we

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Jun 16, 2009, drooping calla!

Hi, I recently bought a calla lily bulb complete with soil and pot with not much info on how to plant and care for etc. To my surprise it soon

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Jun 16, 2009, Propagation

when is the best time to divide these plants? My need more space, they look over-grown and like weeds. Help!! Doug says that spring is the best time

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Jun 13, 2009, black eyed susan turning brown

What is causing the plant leaves to turn brown? Doug says he's not there and you don't describe how the plant is growing but the main disease of

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Jun 8, 2009, Hosta's and Mulch

Is is alright to use cedar mulch with hostas? I was told you can not use cedar mulch with hostas. Is this true? Doug says this will come as a

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Jun 8, 2009, How to make lily of the valley bloom?

I have lillies of the valley in my little shade garden, but they hardly ever bloom. Last year I had 2 plants with flowers, this year NONE! they have

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Jun 8, 2009, Can't ID this purple foliaged perennial

I have a number of these purple foliaged perennials in a full sun garden bed. It is about 36 tall and has begun to bloom with these tiny pink/white

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Jun 8, 2009, creeping flox has brown areas

My creeping flox looked great during the spring months and bloomed beautifully. Now the blooming is done the have started to turn brown are they

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Jun 8, 2009, Temporarily Moving Black Eyed Susans

We are having a flower box redone. The box is filled with Black Eyed Susans and they will have to be removed and then replanted in the box after the

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Jun 2, 2009, need help around a pool area

We just put in an inground pool and have a 3 foot decking around. On one long side and one short side (L shape)we have a 3 foot area to plant.

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Jun 1, 2009, Potted Hibiscus

I live in northern CT In the winter I bring in my hibiscus when can I bring my hibiscus outside? What temperature range? Doug says that this isn't a

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Jun 1, 2009, peonies changing color

My mom has had a peony for several years and it has always been pink. This year my mom's peony is white. Does she need to amend her soil in some way

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Jun 1, 2009, renewing a garden

I just bought a house in summer 2008. I am a beginner gardener trying to learn about the seemingly healthy established perennial gardens. There

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May 26, 2009, Hostas care.

I have a beautiful hostas with green center leaves and white edging. It is approximately 3 years old and is quite large. My problem is that it grows a

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May 26, 2009, aphids on lupins

where can i buy something to kill or help treat the aphids attacking my lupins Doug says you can go to your garden shed. Pull out a hose. Turn on

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May 26, 2009, growing time for BLACK EYED SUSAN

I would like to grow some Black Eyed Susans for my daughter's Sept wedding and would like to know approx how long from seed to bloom or how far into

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May 26, 2009, NOT COMMING UP BY NOW

I HAVE HAD MY BLACK EYE SUSAN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS DOING FINE/THEY HAVE YET TO START TO COME UP OUT OF THE GROUND IN SOME AREAS USUALLY BY THIS

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May 19, 2009, Perenial spring, summer and fall blooming plants for sunny garden

How many plants should be put in a 9X15 garden with a front and side views? This garden will be viewed by passengers on the trains and rail fans.

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May 19, 2009, peonies changing color

My mom has had a peony for several years and it has always been pink. This year my mom's peony is white. Does she need to amend her soil in some way

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May 19, 2009, polemonium in a pot?

can polemonium be grown in pots? Doug says that any perennial can be grown in a pot.

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May 19, 2009, aphids on lupins

where can i buy something to kill or help treat the aphids attacking my lupins Doug says the easiest way to kill aphids is to knock them off the

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May 14, 2009, Training phlox

How do I plant creeping flox so they will spread more sideways. I have a very

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May 14, 2009, African Daisy

It's so impressingly brilliant white when it's in full bloom around March and April. It stays green all year and blankets our large

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May 14, 2009, An animal is eating the tops off my black eyed susans

I am not sure what animal, maybe rabbits, that are eating the tops off the black eyed susans that are just coming up again in my garden. They are not

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May 12, 2009, Need to identify a perennial

I have a perennial growing in my garden and I don't know the name of it. It has fuzzy leaves and looks very much like lamb's ears until a little deep

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May 12, 2009, Is Pincushion Rabbit Resistant

Is the pincushion flower plant resistant to rabbits? Doug says not as far as he knows - there are very few perennials that a rabbit won't

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May 8, 2009, Perfect Soil!

What is the soil type that is needed for the Black Eyed Susan to grow in? Also what is the best soil type if it can grow in multiple ones. Doug says

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May 6, 2009, Starting perennial seeds indoors in Florida

I live in zone 9 Florida. We will be laying out a perennial garden towards the end of the summer. Can I start seeds now (May 1) indoors, harden off

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May 6, 2009, Hibiscus

I didn't know I had to prune my hibiscus back in the fall. Should I do it now in May or just leave it and see if it will grow. It looks dead to me

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May 5, 2009, Need ground cover

Hi, I have a sloped backyard, which is a bit rocky, and quite sunny. I would like to plant a ground cover on this hill, preferably by seed (as it

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May 5, 2009, Should I thin out.

There is an area of black eyed susans in my yard. They come up every year. Should I thin them out or just let nature take its course? I love them.

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May 1, 2009, planting iris bulbs in springtime

today I bought 3 bearded iris already beginning to grow in their pots, do I plant them now April 28, 2009 in Green Bay, WI area or should I be

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May 1, 2009, No-work cover for very steep slope

I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I have a very steep slope on the side of my property. All summer long, it is covered with the worst possible, thorny,

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May 1, 2009, control spreading

the black eyed susans are taking over the garden. What is the best way to control spreading? Use edging of chemical? Doug says they'll do this -

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Apr 28, 2009, Ground covers that are safe for dogs

Can you please tell me what groundcovers are SAFE for dogs? I don't care about the pounding it will take, just as long as it is not harmful to the

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Apr 27, 2009, Area with no sun

I have a small corridor type space between garage and house. About three feet wide by 6 feet long. There is no sun and very little light in this

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Apr 27, 2009, what perennial can tolerate full sun, and nightly water via sprinkler?

I need help choosing a perennial that can tolerate strong sun and hot summer. my problem is my neighbor waters her garden every night via sprinkler,

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Apr 24, 2009, Looking for extremely thirsty plants - pond plants appropriate?

We have spots in our backyard that get standing water for days following a heavy enough rain. Are there uber thirsty plants that will soak this up,

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Apr 23, 2009, Hibiscus transplanting time

Can I transplant now in the spring before it has started to grow? Or is fall the best time? Doug says that first thing in the spring always worked

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Apr 23, 2009, Pachysandra growth pattern on banks

Hey maybe a stupid question but am curious as to whether Pachysandra if planted on a hill will grow more up the hill or down . Doug says pachysandra

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Apr 22, 2009, privacy

We recognize that your privacy is important. This document

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Apr 22, 2009, starting a rock garden

I have a large pile of rock all along my back yard fencing, I am planning to make it look more attractive by making it into a rock garden. I have

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