MIDTOWN GARDENS

Looking to get started or to up your gardening game? The links below have some helpful tips to get you that green thumb.

Earth 911.com: Green your Garden 10 water-conscious design tips

HGTV: 14 Simple Gardening Tips and Tricks

Atlanta Magazine: Get Succulent savvy with these expert tricks

AL.com: Gardening 101 Tips and Tricks from a professional

Believe it or not we live in one of the wettest areas of North America. Thats right the Piedmont Plateau, the geological area at the foot hills of the mountains were Atlanta sits, receives almost as much rainwater as the rain forests of Alaska. Why do we have watering restrictions? Because, per capita, Atlantas consume more water than any other city or developed region in the country. As our population grows, we need to be more mindful of that consumption.

There are lots of ways you can conserve, or limit excessive water usage in your Midtown garden and still keep it fabulous.

Water Water Everywhere – 

Your going to have to water your garden. There are right ways and wrong ways to do this. First, don’t water in the afternoon. The sun is high, as is the temperature. That means that much of the water hitting the surface will evaporate and not make it to the roots of your plants where it needs to go. Water in the early morning or better yet over night. Drip irrigation systems are preferable to sprinkler heads for the same reason, it places the water where it is needed around the roots as opposed to on the leaves where it will evaporate.

Turf Grass –

Americans have a love affair with their lawns. They do look great, but they are high maintenance, require regular overseeing and are water hogs. There are more drought tolerant grasses like Bermuda that will go dormant during a drought, but the more luxurious like Fescue need lots of water and attention. Limit the amount of turf grass in your yard to reduce water consumption.

Options –

Substitute a dense ground cover that requires less water and maintenance like mondo. It is drought tolerant, disease and bug resistant, spreads naturally and is evergreen. Did I mention you don’t have to mow it. You don’t have to mow it!. You can also reduce the area of Turf grass by adding hardscape like brick pavers, gravel, mulch or stone.

Trees & Shrubs –

A good way to conserve water in your garden is to plant more trees and shrubs. They have deeper root structures and once established this allows them to pull water from deeper in the soil allowing them to withstand dry conditions longer.

Georgia Native trees and shrubs will likely be more tolerant of dry summer heat in Midtown then imported ornamentals prevalent in nurseries. When choosing those keep an eye out for ones that are more tolerant of dry conditions.

Annuals – 

Annuals are plants that have to be replaced each year because they do not survive the winter. Prized for their continuous flowering throughout the spring and summer they pose some problems. First, because they are young plants when you put them in they do not have an established root system and therefore are more susceptible to fluctuations in water conditions. They have to be watered everyday meaning they consume lots of water. Producing all those flowers expends a lot of energy so they also require lots of fertilizer.

Ornamental Grasses – 

These plants are often surprisingly drought resistant and come in a wide variety of sizes shapes and colors. They can make striking focal points in your garden. Most provide year round interest and some provide seeds for birds.

Much ado about Mulch – 

Nothing on the ground will mean you have to water more then you should. Always mulch! It will help to maintain the moisture in the top soil and prevent evaporation. This is important for several reasons. When the top layer of soil dries out the important microorganisms will also migrate out or go dormant. It will harden the top soil, and it will also increase the temperature of the soil. Mulch also helps to keep the soil cooler. This means the surface roots of your plants won’t get stressed with the summer heat.  The other added benefit of mulch is that it shades the ground and reduces the number of weeds meaning lower maintenance for you. There are all kinds of mulch options for each taste and style from pine straw and pine bark, to wood chips (in brown, black and red), permeable rubber mulch and an assortment of gravels, river rocks and stone chips.

Sun vs. Shade –

While most plants are labeled partial sun or partial shade pay close attention to the conditions of various areas of your yard and the requirements of the plant. Plants labeled partial shade require less then six hours of direct sun light. While they will do ok in higher sun locations they will likely require more water to tolerate the added heat. Its 10 degrees cooler in the shade!

Shade plants will do best in areas with approximately 4 hours of direct sun or as underplanting where they received dappled sun throughout the day.

Full sun plants are just that requiring 8 hours of sun exposure to thrive. They will likely not grow as vigorously or produce significantly less flowers without this exposure.

Birds of a Feather –

Remember that plants are living things and they all have different needs some require a lot of water, while others require much less. When designing your garden organize your plants according to watering needs. Group the ones that require more water together and those that do not need a lot of water together in another location. This will allow you modulate the water application in the garden with localized additional water for those plants that need more of it.

Irrigation Systems-

Private on site wells, are not really a solution for water restrictions. They pull their water from the same aquifer as the municipal system. So if our reservoirs (and the aquifer) are low due to drought, pulling water from a well only worsens the condition within the watershed.

Cisterns and rainwater collection stores excess water for later use. This water would likely end up as stormwater runoff and go into the stormwater system. Maintaining it on site is less taxing to the municipal waterworks and provides you with watering options during times of drought and restrictions.

Rain Barrels come in all sizes and styles to fit your needs and interest. They are typically connected to a downspout in your gutter system. They store water until you are ready to use it and it is accessed through a faucet like the ones on your home. These should be installed properly with attention to not allowing mosquitoes access to the standing water in them.

Grey Water systems recycle water from home use typically from sinks, showers and washing machines. This water can be diverted from the sewer system and stored in on site cisterns for landscape use later on. This is an option for newer construction as it requires separation within the home, something that is not typically done.

Drought Tolerant Plants – 

For a list of drought tolerant plants for Georgia check out this list by Water Smart,  prepared by Gary L. Wade, Ph.D., Department of Horticulture, The University of Georgia, July, 2007.

How to limit mosquitos habitat in your yard

You can keep your local mosquito population under control by limiting their habitat in your yard. Your primary line of defense is reducing standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs and their larvae hatch and grow. It only takes about a quarter inch of water. Make sure you do the following to limit these opportunities.

• Drill holes in the bottom, not sides, of any garbage or recycling bins stored outdoors. Holes in the sides will leave enough water for larvae to hatch and thrive.
• Keep your gutters clean and downspouts unclogged. Make sure their are no puddles forming at the bottom of the downspout.
• If you have a pool make sure you keep it clean and chlorinated.
• If you have areas on your property that have standing water for more then four days consider regrading that area. Thats enough time for the eggs to hatch and the larvae to reach maturity.
• If you have a pond make your you have it aerated to keep the water moving. You can also stock it with mosquitos larvae eating fish.
• Make sure you dump anything that has standing water in it like a bucket or planter base, birdbath or wading pools at least twice a week.
• Don’t leave garbage around like cans or tires that can collect water.

What makes mosquitoes more likely to bite

Mosquitoes bite for a reason. The female mosquitoe requires blood for her eggs to mature. While the blood of any mammal will do there are traits that make your blood more attractive. There are many species of mosquitoes and what attracts each may vary but generally here are seven things that mosquitoes are attracted to.

• Mosquitoes like people who emit more carbon dioxide when they breathe. This tends to be case with larger people or pregnant women.
• Working out produces lactic acid in the muscles which may attract mosquitoes, so cover up after that workout.
• A study found mosquitoes more likely to bite someone who just drank a beer then someone who did not.
• Mosquitoes appear to be more attracted to Type O  blood.
• People with a wider variety of bacteria on their skin appear to be less attractive to mosquitoes.
• Mosquitoes that carry malaria are twice as  attracted to pregnant women then non pregnant women. This may also be the case with those carrying the Zika virus.

Mosquitoes are attracted by smell, but certain scents that many of us find pleasant, don’t please them. Citronella candles and DEET sprays work by using those scents to repel them. Here are some sweet smelling, beautiful plants that contain powerful mosquito repellent properties. Plant them in your garden or put them in pots on your porch or patio to lower the number of these pesky critters.

• CITRONELLA – A perennial clumping grass, it grows 5 to 6 feet and can be planted in the ground or in large pots. It likes full sun and good drainage, its also relatively  drought tolerant. The plants fragrance is in its foliage, crush the leaf and rub it onto the skin, the pleasant aroma naturally repels mosquitoes.
• LEMON BALM – This herb smells like lemon with a hint of mint, its actually a member of the mint family. Considered a medicinal herb it’s known for warding off mosquitoes. It also attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees. Just crush the leaves and rub onto your skin. This plant is an invasive species so keep it in a pot. Its drought resistant and fast growing
• CATNIP – Yup! Cats love it, but mosquitoes hate it. Its actually considered one of the best natural insect repellents. It contains the chemical nepetalactone, that is both an insect repellent and what your cat loves.  Studies show catnip is 10 times more effective then DEET. It will naturally repel mosquitoes, but you can also crush the leaves and rub it on your skin. Its easy to grow.
•  MARIGOLDS – These little flowers contain Pyrethrum, a compound used in insect repellents. Plant these around the entrances and windows of your house.
• BASIL– Know as an herb used in Italian cooking its also a great mosquito repellent. Its essential oils have been found to be 100% effective. The plant is highly fragrant and will repel mosquitoes, but you can also crush the leaves and rub the oil onto your skin for added protection.
• LAVENDER – A favorite scent for perfumes and candles know for its relaxing and calming qualities in humans, its repulsive to mosquitoes. Plant this beauty in your garden or in pots, again you can crush the leaves and rub the essential oils onto your skin for added protection.
• PEPPERMINT – Mint Julip anyone? This pungent herb has larvicidal and mosquito repellent properties, mosquito larvae die within 24 hours of expose to a solution of peppermint oil and water. Just crush a few leaves of the plant to release it oils.
• GARLIC – We can’t guarantee it will ward of vampires, but it will do the trick with those little blood suckers. You don’t have to eat lots of it or wear it around your neck just plant it in the garden to do the trick. By the way garlic plants have very pretty delicate blue flowers.
• PENNYROYAL – This plant is another member of the mint family and it can become invasive so keep it in a container or use a hard border around it. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Place a vase of fresh cut pennyroyal in the house or place some clippings in your pocket to keep the mosquitoes away.
• ROSEMARY – Another great cooking herb, this is an outstanding repellent. It need full sun so watch where you plant it. Both the live plant, which is highly fragrant, and cuttings are effective. You can even toss a sprig into a fire to create an incense that is pleasant to you and your guests and keeps those unwanted pests away.
• GERANIUMS – Known for their flowers, the scented geraniums are also a popular repellent. The most effective are the lemon scented geraniums. They prefer warm, sunny and dry climates, but they do hold up well in cooler areas. Remember to prune them frequently to encourage flower production.

You can increase the number of pollinators in your area by making conscience choices to include plants that provide essential habitat for them.

Who are the pollinators?

Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, Flies, Bats and Birds.

What do I need to provide?

Food, Shelter and Water

What characteristics of plants attract pollinators?

Color, Nectar, Smell, Pollen and Flower Shape.

The following is a list of some of the many plants that attract pollinators for the Atlanta area.

Trees & Shrubs

Vines

• Centrosema virginianum -Spurred Butterfly Pea
• Clematis viorna – Leather- Flower
• Decumaria barbara – Climbing Hydrangea
• Gelsemium sempervirens – Yellow Jesamine
• Lonicera sempervirens – Coral Honeysuckle
• Mate lea gonocarpos – Eastern Anglepod
• Passi ora incarnata – Passion Flower

Perennials

Butterflies bring a garden to life.

To attract butterflies to your garden plant what they like. That means you will need both “Larval Host Plants” for them to lay their eggs and for the caterpillars to eat and ‘Nectar Plants’ for the adult butterflies to feed on.

Larval Host Plants

Its important to note that most butterflies have very specific needs and will only lay eggs on one type or family of plants. For example, Monarchs, lay their eggs on milkweeds and related plants. Butterflies will pass up a garden with lots of ‘Nectar Plants’ if it can find one with ‘Larval Host Plants’. The latter are essential for them to reproduce, its a matter of survival and they will travel long distances to find the right location to breed and feed.

The following is a list of common butterflies of Georgia and the larval host plants they need:

• Monarch – milkweeds, including butterflyweed, milkweed vines (Matelea)
• Spicebush Swallowtail – spicebush, sassafras
• Tiger Swallowtail – tulip poplar, green ash, white ash, sweet bay, wild cherry
• Gulf Fritillary – mollypop or maypop, green passionflower or other passionflowers
• Long-Tailed Skipper – members of the bean family
• Silver-Spotted Skipper – black locust and other members of the bean family
• Zebra Swallowtail – pawpaw
• Pipevine Swallowtail – pipevine, snakeroot
• Buckeye – broad-leaf plantain, ruellia, gerardia
• Red-Spotted Purple – wild cherry
• Snout Butterfly – hackberry
• Hackberry Butterfly – hackberry, elms
• Giant Swallowtail – Hercules club, members of the citrus family
• Black Swallowtail – members of the carrot family including dill, fennel, parsley and Queen Anne’s lace
• Painted Lady and American Painted Lady – thistle
• Pearly Crescentspot – native asters
• Mourning Cloak – willows, elms
• Gray Hairstreak – beans, clover
• Olive Hairstreak – red cedar
• Henry’s Elfin – blueberry

Nectar Plants

Nectar plants are plants with flowers that adult butterflies feed on. The best ones have a large flower heads or clusters of flowers that the butterfly can land on and hold to as it goes from individual flower to flower. It takes a lot of energy for a butterfly to move from flower to flower so they like to stay put and feed on lots of flowers in close proximity.

The following is a list of some of the ‘Nectar Plants’ preferred by Butterflies.

• Ironweed
• Butterflyweed (also a good host plant)
• Joe-pye weed
• Summer phlox
• Thrift
• Buttonbush
• Abelia
• Lilac
• Liatris
• Native Asters
• Goldenrod
• Sunflower
• Tithonia or Mexican Sunflower
• Purple Coneflower
• Zinnia
• Buddleia or Butterfly Bush

Refrain from using insecticides or use them carefully. They will kill the pretty butterflies you want to attract.

Do you love a specific plant or flower, just want to learnt more about it, find someone with a similar interest or ask an expert? Then check out the list of societies and organizations below.

Greater Atlanta Rose Society

Atlanta Bonsai Society

Georgia Perennial Plant Association

The Dahlia Society of Georgia

American Camellia Society

American Hydrangea Society

The Garden Club of America

Atlanta Audubon Society

For a more extensive list of Garden Clubs and horticulture, conservation, or botany organizations in the area visit the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. website.

Looking to spend a day smelling the roses or being inspired? Then consider a trip to one of these great gardens.

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS

CALLAWAY GARDENS

COSTAL GEORGIA BOTANICAL GARDENS

FRED HAMILTON RHODODENDRON GARDEN

GARDEN OF THE COASTAL PLAIN

LOCKERLY ARBORETUM

MASSEE LANES GARDENS

STATE BOTANICAL GARDENS OF GEORGIA

VINES BOTANICAL GARDENS

WADDELL BARNES BOTANICAL GARDENS

SMITH GILBERT GARDENS

SAVANNAH BOTANICAL GARDENS

DUNAWAY GARDENS

GIBBS GARDENS

COLUMBUS BOTANICAL GARDENS

BARNSLEY GARDENS