SEPTEMBER TO-DO LIST

• Divide perennials every two to four years.



• Plant spring flowering bulbs.



• Clean up and move houseplants indoors when night temperatures fall below 50 degrees.



• Compost weeds, leaves and old garden crops. Unless you are certain of a hot pile, add weeds that have set seeds.



• Plant trees, shrubs and perennials.



• Pot up chives, oregano and thyme for indoor use.



• Prepare garden beds for early spring planting.

Prune daisy bush any time with care

Q. When should I cut back my daisy bush? It's one of the "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" daisies. How far back can I trim it without damaging the plant? I'd like to keep it at its current height of about 3 feet.

A. There is no perfect time to prune a daisy plant as they always seem to be in bloom or have lots of buds. Trim them when the majority of the flowers are spent, realizing that you'll be sacrificing some of the next flush of flowers.

You trim the growth with a pair of hand pruners or use electric hedge shears. I'd cut back the herbaceous or green stems avoiding the old woody portions of the plant. Plants trimmed back to the older, light tan/brown color stems and branches are unattractive looking, as pruning doesn't encourage the lateral shoots.

In order to keep the plant at 3 feet, you'll need to prune it several times each year. Another option is not to prune it at all. Instead, enjoy the endless flowers and when the plant outgrows the space you have designated for it simply remove it and replace it with a new plant. Daisy plants are not that expensive and grow back quickly.


The Marguerite daisy is sometimes referred to as the "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" daisy. It gets its name from a story of a daydreaming young girl's method of determining whether the boy in her dream is the love of her life. She would pick a flower and remove each petal, one by one, saying "he loves me, he loves me not" as each petal fell, until only one was left to give her the answer.

Pineapple Sage

***Star of the late summer and fall flower garden!***


As the weather heats up and sends us indoors to a cooler environment, salvias really start to show their beauty in the landscape. One that every gardener needs is the pineapple sage.

The pineapple sage is known botanically as Salvia elegans. Despite being native to tropical Mexico and Guatemala, it does very well as an annual and is a perennial in zones 7 and warmer. The one requirement for a spring return, however, is good winter drainage.

The attributes of the pineapple sage are many. It is useful from spring through frost, wherever it is grown. The flowers appear in late summer, which means you can still get yours planted to enjoy its peak performance. The leaves, however, are always a treat, yielding the aroma and flavor of a just-opened can of crushed pineapple.

The ruby-throated hummingbird relishes the nectar in the scarlet flowers as much as the culinary artist will enjoy using the leaves to flavor drinks and cream cheese spreads.

Though I have seen the pineapple sage in full sun, I think it is a happier plant in morning sun and afternoon shade. As I mentioned earlier, the soil must be well drained. Remember that the key to the green thumb is how brown it gets first in soil preparation.

Plant on raised beds or amend heavy, tight soils with the addition of compost or humus. Well-drained soil will encourage a spring return farther north than expected.

While preparing the soil, incorporate 2 pounds of a slow-release, 12-6-6 fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed space. Space the plants 24 inches apart, and plant at the same depth they are growing in the container.

This is one of the salvias that starts to bloom as the days are getting shorter in late summer and fall, so do not plant under street lights or floodlights because you will end up with only foliage.

The pineapple sage is a tough plant known for drought tolerance. Do, however, give supplemental water during prolonged dry periods. In the fall, once the plant has received significant frost damage, prune to the ground and give an added layer of mulch for protection. You might want to take a few cuttings in the fall before the frost damage has occurred.

Pineapple Sage Facts



Mature Height 30-36"
Soil Type widely adaptable
Foliage Color green
Growth Rate Fast Moisture Requirements widely adaptable
Sun Exposure Full Sun Zones 7 - 10
The delicious flowers add color and flavor to salads and deserts. Pineapple sages make a stunning center piece or border plant.

In the spring, feed your salvias with a light application of fertilizer with the emergence of growth and every six to eight weeks through September. You may wish to pinch a couple of times to maintain bushiness. Harvest the young, tender foliage early in the morning to use for flavoring.

Like most mints, pineapple sage has square stems.The bruised foliage of Pineapple sage really does smell like fresh pineapple. The red tubular flowers emerge in August. Use pineapple sage in the center of beds and borders, where its open, airy structure will not hide other plantings. It will grow to shrub size in a single season. Pineapple sage is often grown as an annual and often grown in containers. Northern gardeners can cut pineapple sage back and dig it up in autumn to overwinter indoors.

The sages are tough and easy to grow and many attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The fresh leaves of pineapple sage are used in fruit salads and drinks. Crush a few fragrant leaves into hot or iced tea for a flavorful treat. The delicious flowers add color and flavor to salads and deserts. Pineapple sages make a stunning center piece or border plant.

Enjoying Old Fashioned "Old Roses" In Your Flower Garden

In the 18th Century, the practice of tending rose bushes was
popular and a handy source for young men to offer as gifts during courtship. These roses were not only beautiful to admire and richly fragrant but also highly symbolic of an unwritten and often unspoken language between admirers. In ancient times, some even believed that these roses contained medicinal properties. Most of these "old roses" came from hardy shrubs that required moderate tending. Today's "old rose" varieties are also for the most part hardy but require consistent attention before you'll achieve a seasoned gardener's level of perfection.

"Old roses" are mostly hardy bushes or climbers that were very popular in the Victorian age. First introduced from areas of Greece and Persia, these Victorian roses are still enjoyed in the modern day garden. Some experts speculate that "old roses" were reportedly in gardens as far back as the 15th Century. Since "old roses" grow well in many climate zones, they don't require the close attention of many hybrid roses.

The first step in selecting an "old rose" for your garden is to study each plant's requirements and then design your garden plan accordingly. "Old roses" sometimes grow as low shrubs for bed covers; others are bushy and work well as medium height hedges. The climber "old roses" typically resemble a small bush at first and then start to climb along the sides of homes, fences or patios. The right "old rose" for your garden area depends on several factors: sunlight,shading, drainage and insects.

Many "old roses" require at least five hours of sunlight each day. Some low mossy-like "old roses" need a lot of shade. Since all roses require a lot of water - a minimum of 2 to 3 times every week during the summer - but don't take well to standing water, great drainage is a must in the garden area. Insects and nearby debris - like leaves, rose petals and weeds - are often the
main reason many roses look pretty ragged or mildew. To prevent insect damage and disease, use great soil - like manure or organic fertilizer - and prune to remove deadhead or hold back some stems. Never leave "deadhead" (dead rose blooms) on the plant since this causes the bush to waste energy to that spot.

Did you know that the rose is the most popular garden plant and the tea rose is the most popular among the "old roses"? Other well-liked "old roses" are below, along with some common features:

~ Tea roses are climbers or shrubs that come in a large variety of colors (light pink to multi-color). They convey "I'll remember you always".

~ Damask roses are low to the ground shrubs with big fragrant flowers that are usually deep red and found in clusters. Color also varies from white to deep pink. They convey "beauty ever new".

~ Mosses roses are usually low bed shrubs or climbers (like Centrifolia) with tiny roses that leave behind a scent on your hand. Color is usually deep crimson to light pink. They convey "confession of love".

To adhere to 18th Century traditions, "old roses" should be offered in bundle to convey the meaning of gratitude. Also, "old roses" are best presented if trimmed in full bloom. To read up on "old rose" varieties and growing tips, turn to the American Rose Society.


Copyright 2005 Simonetta Jensen. All rights reserved.
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Simonetta Jensen is the webmaster of Roses ABC which is a principal resource for information on roses and other flowers on the internet. For more info visit her archive of articles: http://www.rosesabc.com/
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