The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1168989
A-6 Local Wednesday, September 18, 2019 The Press-Dispatch Shawhan presents beekeeping program to Petersburg Garden Club The Petersburg Garden Club's September meeting was hosted by Karen Klipsch and Cindy Gaskin. Mike Shawhan presented the program on Bee- keeping. Small world: South Dakota woman finds baby book from Petersburg family Continued from story on A-1. The cover of a baby journal found 20 years ago in a Michigan an- tique store and a picture of John Wilber Foreman and his mother. Anyone with information about this family is asked to call 812- 354-8500 and ask for Andy Heu- ring. Revive overcrowded and struggling perennials By Melinda Myers Fall is the best time to divide spring and summer blooming perennials that are overcrowded, dead in the center, fail- ing to flower or flopping open. Wait until spring to dig and divide fall or summer blooming perennials that were not moved the previous fall. These are guidelines that increase suc- cess, but most gardeners have found that the best time to divide is when you have the time and can provide good, proper post-transplanting care. Use a sharp-edged shovel to dig the pe- rennial, roots and all, out of the ground. Lift the clump out of the soil and use a li- noleum, garden knife or drywall saw to cut the plant into smaller sections. Some gardeners prefer to use two gar- den forks placed back to back in the cen- ter of the clump and then pry the perenni- al apart into two pieces. Continue the pro- cess until the desired size and number of divisions is achieved. Discard and compost the dead center. Divide the remaining plant into four, six or eight pieces. The smaller the divisions, the longer it will take for the plants to reach mature size. Larger divisions may quick- ly grow, fill the space and need to be di- vided sooner. You can plant one of the divisions back into its original location. Use the others to fill voids, expand existing gardens or start a new bed or border. Just make sure to match the plant with its desired grow- ing conditions. No matter how you plan on using the di- visions you should prepare the soil first. Add compost, peat moss or other organ- ic matter to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. Plant the divisions at the same depth they were growing in the garden. Water thor- oughly at planting and throughout the fall or subsequent growing season whenever the top few inches of soil starts to dry. Spread a layer of shredded leaves, ever- green needles or other organic mulch over the soil surface. Be careful not to bury the stems. Mulch helps moderate soil temper- atures, conserves moisture, suppresses weeds and improves the soil as it breaks down. Regular dividing can also help eliminate other garden tasks like deadheading, stak- ing and replacement. Divide repeat bloom- ing daylilies every few years to keep them blooming throughout the season. Do the same for threadleaf coreopsis. Divide asters every year or two in the spring to keep them vigorous and control their spread as needed. Increase the vig- or and compactness of Shasta daisies by dividing them every 2 to 3 years. Peonies, on the other hand, seldom need dividing. They can remain in the ground undisturbed and blooming profusely for decades. Fall is the time to dig and divide peonies if you need to move or want to di- vide them to make more plants (propa- gate). Don't be alarmed if your peony or oth- er perennials fail to bloom the year after transplanting. The transplant often spends the first year establishing a healthy root system instead of flowering. Just be patient and you will be rewarded with flowers the following year. Take advantage of the warm soil and cool air of fall to dig, divide and transplant overcrowded and struggling perennials. Your efforts will be rewarded with better looking and more floriferous gardens. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. Asters should be divided every year or two in the spring to control their spread and keep them vigorous. Photo by Melinda Myers, LLC Proud pumpkin grower Terry Strobel, of Winslow, shows off a large pumpkin he raised this year. Stro- bel said he doesn't know how much it weighs because he hasn't picked it yet.