Don’t fret over envy when you see fields of beautiful wildflowers with lupines. You can easily make your own mini meadow of wildflowers that will lure pollinators and provide you with colorful flowers to admire. Lupines are particularly striking with their vivid blue and purple spires that draw in butterflies, mason bees, bumblebees, and hummingbirds. Planting lupines is a straightforward process, and as time passes, they will self-seed and fill up the area. For a successful outcome, it’s advisable to select a location that receives full sunlight or partial shade if necessary, and has soil with proper drainage. Since lupines are legumes, they serve as their own fertilizer, so you won’t need to fertilize them often.
Creating a lupine garden on your own is a simple and affordable task that can be accomplished by using lupine seeds. You can assist these seeds in absorbing moisture by soaking them in water overnight and cutting them with a file or knife. Once soaked, simply plant the seeds in your chosen area for wildflowers- no need to dig deep or space them out. Though it’s essential to note that you won’t have an entire field of lupines immediately, so patience is key!
Hey, let’s put our math skills to the test! Can you calculate the result of multiplying 2.124 and 1.411?
If you’ve recently acquired some lupine plants, get ready to witness their amazing ability to self-sow, resulting in a beautiful lupine meadow or wildflower plot for years to come. However, if you prefer a more tidy appearance, consider planting Russell hybrids. These hybrid lupines grow up to three to four feet tall and come in various colors including reds, pinks, yellows, whites, as well as the classic purples and blues. For smaller garden spaces, the Gallery series lupines are available, which only grow up to two feet tall. When planting lupines in a smaller space, be cautious when they begin to self-sow. Nevertheless, if you desire a more natural look, allow them to drop their seeds and self-sow into the soil.
To prevent self-seeding, it’s essential to remove spent blooms from your plants completely. An intriguing fact about hybrid lupines is that if you let them self-seed, they’ll eventually go back to their dominant blue color. There’s a possibility that the shade of your lupines may transform as they self-propagate. The small flies on your lilac shrubs pose no threat as long as the bush is robust and had a good blooming phase.
There’s a chance that the flies we see around us aren’t causing any harm and are just drawn to the color and fragrance of lilacs. If you’re worried about deer destroying your garden, there are two primary ways to address the issue. Firstly, you could erect a fence that’s at least seven feet high to stop deer from jumping over it. Alternatively, you can experiment with repellents like Plant Skydd, which utilize blood meal and produce a potent scent that can ward off deer for several months. For additional advice on keeping larger animals away from your garden, take a look at All Things Gardening.
To prevent animals from consuming new plant growth, the use of spray repellents is recommended. Experiment with alternative options that feature strong odors like garlic, cayenne pepper, rotten eggs, or essential oils. It’s important to alternate between these products to avoid deer becoming accustomed to one scent. If you have any questions about gardening, you can send them over to Charlie, who will answer them on upcoming episodes of All Things Gardening. Tune in to Weekend Edition Sunday hosted by VPR’s Mary Engisch at 9:35 am to listen to the show. Feel free to drop a message or tweet @vprnet if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Although comments aren’t available, there are still many ways to get in touch.