For clematis with the most beautiful blue flowers, choose ‘Arabella’, Emilia Plater’, ‘General Sikorski’ or ‘Prince Charles’.
Peonies resent transplanting and do not need dividing. Resist digging up established plants unless you must.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentais) is one of the few native shrubs that provide midsummer blooms for pollinators and also, one of the few that grows in wet soils and shade. With flowers in shades of pink and white, buttonbush is visited by hummingbirds, butterflies and several bee species. It grows up to 12’ tall and is hardy in zones 4-8.
Install bird netting or scare devices on fruits trees just before fruits start to color.
Continue to feed annuals and potted plants, however, stop fertilizing perennials for the rest of the season. This allows the plants time to prepare for winter.
Water container gardens daily during the hot weather. Outdoor container plantings are especially vulnerable to dehydration because moisture evaporates on all side of the pots and the roots are confined to a small area.
Sow seeds of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli for a late-season harvest. Start the seeds in pots, flats or small garden beds. Transplant the seedlings into areas of the vegetable garden that have been vacated by early-season crops such as peas. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting in approximately 4-6 weeks.
Plant Something Massachusetts is a project of Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, and was originally established in partnership with Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association.
