Gardening Blues

The color blue is sometimes difficult to use in the garden. This is partly because there are very few true-blue flowers in nature and partly because some of the most striking blue-flowered plants are challenging to grow in Central Illinois. Still adding a touch of blue to the garden continues to gain in popularity.

Colors invoke emotion. Cool colors of blue, green, and violet are peaceful and make an area seem cooler and larger. Blue is the color of distance and can help create the illusion of depth in a small garden. Soft purples and blues can make your garden feel larger because those plants seem farther away.

On the other hand, warm colors of orange, red and yellow grab your attention creating a focal point in the garden. They also make large areas appear smaller. Brighter colors function well as accents. 

In a small garden, color can be used in gradation to create the illusion of space. A great way to achieve this is to have, for instance, bold blue flowers at one end that fade into a lighter blue at the other end of the garden. The garden will always appear larger from the bolder end of the color scale so make sure this is where you spend most of your time in your garden.

Some blue flowers can be challenging to grow in Illinois, but their beauty is worth the extra effort. For example, some varieties of Hydrangea macrophyla produce a beautiful blue flower in acid soil, thus needing routine acid fertilizer applications. Delphiniums and lupines have a particularly vibrant violet-blue color. Although we can get them to produce flowers in Illinois, they prefer cooler temperatures than our summers typically provide. Similarly, blue poppies provide an outstanding icy-blue flower but are very hard to grow in our climate. 

Salvia and Coreopsis

Easier options include clematis, bell flowers (Campanula), bluestar (Amsonia), morning glories, lavender, salvia, and asters. Of these, the morning glory comes in the truest blue color. Morning glory blooms only last a one day and open in the mornings, so be sure to catch them in the garden over your morning coffee. 

Blue Obelisks at Rotary Gardens in Wisconsin

Color doesn't have to be limited to flowers. Add interest to your yard with garden art or containers. A bold blue ceramic pot, for example, can make just as much impact as the blooms it holds. Blue bottles used as bottle trees, as edging, or as carefully placed garden art are also very popular. Add blue focal points to the garden using a blue garden bench or gazing ball. 

Be creative, but don’t overdo it. Too much blue creates mental chaos and could leave garden visitors “feeling blue.” 

Originally Published in Canton Daily Ledger on 6-19-2018

Bed Edging Adds Neat, Clean Look to the Landscape

Landscape edging plays an important role in pulling the landscape together. Edging’s function is to form a clean, neat line between planting areas and turf or groundcovers. When installed properly, it should blend in with the landscape, minimize hand trimming, and help contain mulches within the bed areas.

Hand edging along junipers

Beds can be edged by hand, but it is hard work and must be touched up once or twice a year. Rhonda says that she particularly likes the look of a hand-edged bed. An edging area 4-inches deep and wide can easily contain bluegrass, which spread by underground stems.

Start by using a sharp spade to cut an edge, and then remove the soil and grass to form a small cliff. You can leave it hand-edged like this or fill the space with something solid like steel, wood, brick, stone, or plastic. 

The material used for edging should be long lasting, strong, and compliment the rest of your landscape. Here are some pointers about each type.

Installing steel bed edging

Metal edging, including steel and aluminum, is the longest lasting. Steel edgings have been around for more than 30 years but are relatively expensive, difficult to install properly, and has problems with frost heaving in the winter. The best places to use steel edging are where a great deal of side-strength is required, such as driveway work. Aluminum edging is easier to work with, but the silver color appears unnatural many landscapes. 

Brick, stone, and concrete make useful and decorative edging. Be sure the brick or pavers are well fired so they are waterproof. Stone should be at least 3 inches think and at least 4 inches wide to stop the grass. A sand or concrete base, containing reinforcing rods, provides added durability and strength. The newer continuous concrete edging, poured by special machines, is becoming popular and resists cracking due to the addition of polyolefin fibers.

Wood edging provides a beautiful natural look. Landscape timbers, ties, and treated 2x4s are readily available. These stay in place well and create a nice mowing edge. Rebars and toe nailed corners provide added reinforcement. Avoid using old railroad ties coated with materials that are toxic to plants. 

The most common edging used by homeowners is plastic since it is inexpensive and easy to install. Unfortunately, plastic edging has poor durability and an artificial appearance. Of all the materials used as edging, plastic is probably the hardest to install for a lasting stable edging material. Many of you have probably experienced the frustration of plastic edging that simply will not stay in the ground. Experts generally agree that round-top edgings are better since they do not sink as easily as flat types. If the flat plastic types are used, nail (using galvanized nails) a 1 x 1” strip of treated wood along the bottom of each strip where possible, to help stabilize the plastic. Most frost heaving can be stopped by using grooved or lip-style edging, steel anchoring stakes, and proper installation procedures.

Consider putting in a new edge on your landscape beds this fall. 

Originally Published in University of Illinois Extension Fall 2013 News Packet