Submitted by Joan Regan
I am sitting on our old glider out the back and feeling so grateful for all the shade we have. However, a couple of years ago we had to have two Spruce trees taken down and we lost so much shade at the back of the garden. I didn’t realize they gave us so much shade till they were down. Now the garden at the very back and two other smaller ones are full sun gardens, not part shade. One of the gardens had good sized hostas in them, Blue Hostas, and Blue Hostas don’t like the sun.
So with the promise of Potato Salad for dinner Pete dug them out for me. I know, don’t dig up and transplant in the middle of a heat wave in July, but they were getting scorched. I took them in my wheel barrow transplanting station and gently worked the soil out of the roots cutting the older roots as I was going along, I did this with all of them then put them in a large bin of water and left them for 2-3 hours. Having been hydrated I then potted them up and watered them again. They are now under the trees in the shade on the patio and will stay there getting their blue back. I might just leave them there – they look nice along with more that I rescued last week – those ones are becoming quite blue again. Such pretty tones, different but the same.
In the warmer days, if I am moving something, I use this method of soaking the roots. They have not even reacted to the move. It seems to stop them from going into shock on these hot days. Yes, I will leave them there for awhile. I like the look of them all grouped together like that. Unless they get too big they just might be home.
Now I just have to figure out what to do with the empty spots left in that sunny garden. I do have some pretty lilies in larger pots from Hosta Full On (Dawn Smith ) and (Judy and Brenda) at Earthbound Gardens. So fill up the holes, put down some mulch, a good watering and Ta Da, a pretty garden again.
Hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed, not just the garden but the soul. (Alfred Austin). Don’t know if I shared this before but I like it.
Happy Gardening, Stay Safe,
Joni
jpregan@amtelecom.net 519 596 2389
