My husband is a stuff guy. I am a “less is more” girl. His motto is why buy one of something when you can buy three and have a few extra? I only buy something when I absolutely have to. When he cooks, it is in large quantities, and he puts the extra in the freezer. I’m perfectly content with making just enough for that particular meal. He comes from a family of nine. I come from a family of 3. It has taken 30 years and 1 pandemic for me to appreciate the fact that he values having extras of everything. When a trip to the store literally has the potential to kill one of us, everything that we already have at our home takes on much more value.
We have been discovering necessary supplies and celebrating those findings over the past several weeks. A box of hospital type masks were located in his paint supplies. A few bottles of hand sanitizer were brought in from the garage. The supplies of a first aid kit were used out of his shop. Neither of us have been in a store in 5 weeks, and I am really not sure when I would feel comfortable going into one again. Because we have been able to find and use what we have inside our home, then that makes me wonder what is outside our home that we could use or reuse.
Gardening is an ever evolving process. Plants grow and change. Along the way, perennials can multiply, ornamental grasses spread and shrubs usually grow taller and wider. Seeds are produced in the form of cones, pods, berries, helicopters, and hips. It is the growth and change that sometimes can be harnessed into new, free, plants. Plant propagation is the method in which new plants are grown. This can be through asexual (vegetative) or sexual (seeds) means.
Dividing perennial plants is the most common way to use what you have and create new, free plants. This is an asexual, vegetative type of plant propagation. You are separating portions of the plant by keeping a smaller portion of the crown and root of the plant together. Hostas, daylilies, iris, and ornamental grasses are plants that are frequently divided. There are several ways to do so. One way involves digging the entire plant out, setting it on a tarp or similar material, then using a sharp spade, cut through the root and crown of the plant to divide it into several pieces. The number of pieces varies depending on the size of the original parent plant. Usually plants would be divided into half, quarters or thirds. The original plant is then planted in the area that it was dug out of. The remaining plants can be used in other areas of your yard to add color, give you some privacy or fill in a bare area. Another way to divide plants is instead of digging out the entire plant, only dig out what you want to remove. For instance, if you have daylilies that are starting to hang over a sidewalk, only dig out the portion of the daylily that is closest to the sidewalk. Leave the portion of the plant that is farthest away from the sidewalk in the ground.
Shrubs can often outgrow the spaces where they were initially planted. If you find that you want to move a shrub, it can be transplanted. Although there are certain times of the year when shrubs are more likely to survive transplantation, spring is usually a good time to transplant shrubs. When transplanting, try to dig out the majority of the root structure. Again, speaking in generalizations, try to make the root ball at least 18” by 18”. Make sure to amend the soil when planting the shrub in its new location and spread mulch around the base to help it retain moisture. Slow, deep watering will help the shrub acclimate.
Harvesting seeds is a method of sexual plant propagation. This fall you may want to collect seeds from annual or vegetable plants. Standard or heirloom varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and bean seeds can all be harvested. Seeds must be dried and stored correctly to increase their viability. Allow the seed to mature on the plant as long as possible. After harvesting, spread them out in a single layer in a well ventilated area and allow them to dry. When dry they can be stored in envelopes or glass jars.
Annual flower seeds may also be saved in the fall. Marigolds, petunias, calendula, dianthus, zinnias and morning glories all have seeds that are relatively easy to harvest. Perennial flowers such as coneflower, lupines, astilbe, black-eyed Susan, and columbine can also be grown from seed. Again, harvest them later in the year, dry them properly and store them over the winter. In some cases, you may want to start growing the seed indoors next winter before transplanting them outside.
There are a few other plant propagation methods including layering, cutting and grafting that are a bit more technical and time consuming. If you are patient though, you can produce new trees and shrubs by using what is already planted in your yard.
For the next column, I need your help. If you any experience with or memories of planting a Victory Garden, please email or call me. I would love to learn more about how your family benefited with the assistance of food harvested from a Victory Garden. Is there a family story that has been passed on from generation to generation? I would love to hear it.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
