Planting in the Gardens
Planting is in full-swing at my Bedford, New York farm.
My gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, and our summer intern from the School of Professional Horticulture at The New York Botanical Garden, Wambui, have been very busy planting young specimens grown from seed right here in my greenhouse. We sow thousands of seeds each year. Starting from seed isn’t difficult. They can be planted closely together in seed starting trays, and then once grown, pulled apart for transplanting outdoors. My flower cutting garden will be so full of color this summer.
We added lots of new plants in the perennial garden across from my long clematis pergola. They will join the Epimediums, Syneilesis, Polygonatum, and Disporum that we planted in this space last year. Although it is still a work in progress, it is looking more and more amazing every day. We're also using some of our new tools from Gardener's Supply Company - handy trowels and spades that have made the planting process easy and efficient. Enjoy these photos.
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- We have been working hard in the farm’s gardens. Here is the latest batch of specimens ready to be planted in the Stewartia garden just behind my Tenant House – columbine and foxglove.
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- Ryan carefully places the potted plants where they should be planted. This is always a good idea before digging the holes, so they can be positioned where they look best. I wanted to underplant this grove of Stewartia trees with all sorts of shade-loving perennials.
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- Ryan creates a hole twice the size of the container. A plant’s roots grow out more easily into loosened, enriched soil. Here at my farm, all my beds are filled with nutrient rich “black gold”.
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- The plant is buried to the same depth it was in its pot. Never bury a plant deeper than its crown, or where the roots and the stems meet – buried crowns mean suffocated plants!
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- Our NYBG intern, Wambui, is also busy planting. Here she is planting some columbine. Aquilegia, also known as granny’s bonnet. It is a genus of about 60-70 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
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- Columbine is an easy-to-grow perennial that offers seasonal interest throughout much of the year. It blooms in a variety of colors during spring, which emerge from its attractive dark green foliage that turns maroon colored in fall.
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- The bell-shaped flowers are also a favorite to hummingbirds. These plants will thrive in this garden.
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- Planting a perennial bed can be fun when done properly. Before starting, be sure to measure the bed area, and know the amount of sunlight the area gets and how well the soil drains in the beds. When mature – this bed will look so gorgeous.
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- In my flower cutting garden nearby, more plants and shrubs are being planted. Wilmer uses this spear head spade from Gardener’s Supply Company to plant a rose bush near the gate facing my head house.
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- This spear head spade is made from heavy duty, high-carbon manganese steel. Its sharp, spearhead-shaped blade slices through soil quickly and efficiently.
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- The narrow, pointed head lets you dig in beds without disturbing nearby plants.
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- This will soon be full of beautiful roses.
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- Many of the plants in this garden were started from seed. If you remember, Ryan and Wilmer planted seeds all winter and nurtured them in the greenhouse – and here they are grown up and ready to be transplanted outdoors.
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- When selecting locations for any plant, always consider growth pattern, space needs, fragrance and appearance.
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- I wanted these garden beds to be filled with beautiful mixes of flowers, so each bed is different and full of color.
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- Here, Wambui is using the potting trowel exclusively from Gardener’s Supply Company. It has a wide, curved blade that is ideal for scooping potting mix, and it holds more soil than a traditional trowel.
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- This trowel is about 11-inches with a head that measures about four-and-a-half inches wide.
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- The forged steel blade is securely fastened into a comfortable hardwood handle – it has become quite popular here at the farm.
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- When planting any specimen, always tamp down the soil surrounding the plant after it is in the ground – this ensures good contact between the soil and the plant itself.
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- This is the mini trowel from the Gardener’s Supply Company. It is sized perfectly for seedlings.
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- Ryan is able to plant these specimens quickly using the mini trowel to remove them from the tray.
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- And this is a gardener’s lifetime raised bed spade. The raised bed spade is especially handy when working around existing plants in a crowded bed.
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- It is hand-forged from the finest high-carbon Swedish boron steel.
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- And, the handle is made of sustainably grown European ash hardwood.
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- Used by generations of New England gardeners, Cape Cod weeders like this one slice weeds just below the soil line and are great for working in tight spaces. A four-inch metal tang extends into the handle, which is securely fastened with a welded socket.
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- Here, Ryan is using Men’s Leather Palm Work Gloves, also from Gardener’s Supply Company. The durable materials make this the go-to men’s work glove.
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- Already blooming are these beautiful johnny jump ups, Viola. The cheery purple flowers are easy to care for and ideal for novice gardeners who want to add some color to their landscaping.
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- This is a pansy. The seeds came from the French seed producer, Vilmorin. My granddaughter, Jude, picked out the seeds for this flower.
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- This is the foliage of an allium. There are more than 700 different types of alliums in the world. They grow in most any soil, as long as it is well-drained. They also love sunlight and will perform best when they can be under it all day long. Since most of them multiply naturally, they can be left untouched in the same area for years.
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- Here is one of the many peonies planted in this garden – all staked up so its stems are supported as it grows.
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- This is the foliage of the iris – a hardy, reliable, and easy to grow plant. Irises also attract butterflies and hummingbirds and make lovely cut flowers.
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- These are the leaves of lupins. When in bloom, lupins provide tall stems of flowers in every color and provide a peppery scent to lure in bumble bees.
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- And this is columbine – already so full. Columbine plants aren’t particular about soil as long it’s well draining and not too dry. While they enjoy full sun in most areas, they don’t like it very hot, especially during summer.
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- The garden is looking so wonderful already – in a few weeks, it will be stunning. I will be sure to share photos. What is growing in your gardens? Let me know in the comments below.
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