Springtime and Gardening

[xilman]

Originally Posted by MooMoo2

Sometimes (maybe more often than not?) cost != quality.

Often cost is an indication of the difficulty of propagation.

That is why rampantly spreading bamboos tend to be much cheaper than slowly growing clump-forming bamboos. The latter have to be grown on for years before they can be split up to form new clumps. Care and storage costs money.

It is also why Araucaria araucana trees are much more expensive than Cupressus × leylandii.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by MooMoo2

Sometimes (maybe more often than not?) cost != quality.

Out of all the plants that my mom and I bought over the years, the ones that did the best were the ones that we acquired cheaply and had low expectations for.
<snip>

Having low expectations probably enhances the enjoyment when the plant thrives.

Last year, I bought a number of prairie plants, including two specimens of Dalea purpurea, AKA purple prairie clover. The prairie clover plants were tiny. I set the little square plastic containers down and started to dig where I wanted to plant it. I accidently knocked one of the pots over, and much to my surprise and horror, instead of the roots being potbound as they are with most such plants, the root system wasn't much bigger than the above-ground part. The poor little thing was lying on the ground, roots not even half an inch long, clinging to a tiny amount of potting soil, the rest of the soil still in the container. The other prairie clover plant was the same way. I figured they were both goners, but I planted them anyway.

Amazingly, they both survived, and later in the season actually grew to respectable size. They sprang back up this year, and are doing very well.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I accidently knocked one of the pots over, and much to my surprise and horror, instead of the roots being potbound as they are with most such plants, the root system wasn't much bigger than the above-ground part.

When I buy plants for planting out I always try to pick up the pot and see whether roots are coming out the bottom. Quite often I will buy a plant with better roots over one with better tops. It's the roots that suffer from transplanting; the tops will generally grow back much more easily.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by xilman

When I buy plants for planting out I always try to pick up the pot and see whether roots are coming out the bottom. Quite often I will buy a plant with better roots over one with better tops. It's the roots that suffer from transplanting; the tops will generally grow back much more easily.

Not possible in this case. I bought the plants from a volunteer organization devoted to restoring and maintainng natural areas. Due to COVID restrictions, it was order in advance, pick up plants later. In one, possibly two cases I had ordered two different species of the same genus, but got two of the same species. C'est la vie!

But in the case of the Prairie Clover, all's well that ends well!

When I transplant I water the plant in the container before removing it. I have sometimes used a root stimulator (vitamin B-1 solution) to reduce transplant shock.

Meanwhile, one of the prairie plants I got the year before last has thrived beyond my wildest imaginings. I got a single specimen of Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, and planted it in one of my front yard garden beds. It grew a bit that year. Last year, it bloomed and, as hoped, attracted Monarch butterflies. And it spread a bit, which it does by sending horizontal underground runners around a foot deep.

This year, it has spread out of control. From next to my steps, it has gone under my porch and come up outside the south end. It has gone under my sidewalk and come up in the other garden bed. I don't want to put in an underground barrier (it's tight quarters for digging) so I'm going to remove it from that location. I'll dig out and give away as much as I can, and ruthlessly poison the rest.

I already transplanted some to my back yard last year, and more this year. It has plenty of room to spread back there, and the heavy clay soil there is keeping it in check.

I've also got another native milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, in my front garden. It is a good garden plant. Last year it had at least one Monarch caterpillar on it.

[Dr Sardonicus]

That would be "down!" I was continuing my efforts against the unwanted trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), and it occurred to me I could show what a formidable foe I was battling.

Last year and the year before, I contented myself with sawing or lopping stems to short stumps, and treating the stumps with either glyphosate (20 - 50%) or concentrated brush killer (triclopyr 8.8%). Some stands did expire, but new shoots appeared this year. As mentioned earlier, I have taken to digging, trimming, treating exposed rootstock with concentrated brush killer, covering it with plastic, and reburying it.

The rootstock in the pictures is about as big around as a man's thumb. The underground reserves of these specimens are amazing. One wonders how long they've been growing. The practical answer is, "Too long!"