Saturday, April 21, 2012

Dividing Heuchera

This green heuchera is a baby, but will become the biggest heuchera in the garden. I have two others which had to be moved out, as they were crowding everything else in the bed. My mistake was moving them to the soggiest, 100% clay spot in Dave's Memorial Garden. I thought they were tough enough to thrive there, but I was WRONG.
I got my garden fork and wheelbarrow and uprooted the two formerly glorious plants and you can see they are barely hanging on, with lots of dead leaves under the struggling new growth.
The clay was gummy and sticky on the roots, preventing good drainage and causing root rot, stem rot, leaf rot...a whole lot or rotting going on.
It was overrun with sow bugs, spiders, and tiny wormy things. Eeeouw. This is where a nice pair of rubberized gloves comes in handy.
To resurrect this poor plant, I pulled apart the stems and cut off all the dead stuff.
In this photo you can see little white rootlets and the tiny green shoots next to the dead ones. I think this will be a new plant, in the right soil. I read online that this section will do best if left to dry out a day or two and then planted. I have my fingers crossed. I will need an entire bed devoted to just getting these going again, as one plant resulted in this many possible growing divisions.  I think I will put them in the veggie bed where the tomatoes were last year, and let them adjust to lovely soil. Then by the time they are showing new growth, I can transplant them, and it will be warm enough for tomatoes to take their place.
Lots of lovely plants...if they take.
I realize this is not of interest to most people, but it is Earth Day after all, so at least I am on topic for once. Ha!

Here's Dave next to the Knockout Rose. We are both so proud of it, as tho we did anything at all to make it grow this well. Truth be told, I planted five of them in this bed and this is the only one that survived after the first summer. Having seen some spectacular ones in town, I know this is just OK, in comparison. But we love it and are amazed at all the flowers. And Dave looks so great too.

The Dawgs at rest, after running and chasing each other all morning.



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6 comments:

  1. Sharon8:48 AM

    The knockout rose looks great. It really gives a wonderful pop of color...as does Dave. Happy Earth Day!

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  2. Happy Earth Day, Mel!I for one am very interested in your little huchera tutorial - I have fallen in love with these plants, so many varieties and all beautiful. Thanks!

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  3. I love looking at your garden and all your plants and of course the dogs.

    Rosy

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  4. Faithful reader Margaret here. Once again I love to hear about your beautiful garden, dogs, and husband. I have many varieties of Hosta and Heuchera as well, but they are just starting to peep out of the ground. I had high hopes that I could start working in the gardens, but woke up this morning to snow again--very discouraging. At least I can watch the birds at the bird feeder.

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  5. Faithful reader Margaret here. Once again I love to hear about your beautiful garden, dogs, and husband. I have many varieties of Hosta and Heuchera as well, but they are just starting to peep out of the ground. I had high hopes that I could start working in the gardens, but woke up this morning to snow again--very discouraging. At least I can watch the birds at the bird feeder.

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  6. ohhhhhhhh sweet doggies!!!

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