fabricflowers

Flowering plants add color to the landscape and attract butterflies and other beneficial insects. Below are some timely tips to keep flowers and flower beds looking their best.But first I will address the beetles that have been massing in large numbers on Linden trees and other flowering plants. If the insect is a one-half inch long, dull orange beetle with two dark spots, they are harmless soldier beetles.The adult and larvae of soldier beetles feed on other insects, such as grasshopper eggs, and so they are one of our beneficial insects. They sometimes feed on flower nectar and pollen, but they do not harm plants. Soldier beetles, despite their numbers, do not require any control.

And now onto flower care tips.On early blooming perennials, like Penstemon, Heuchera coral bells and ladys mantle Alchemilla remove spent flowers to tidy the plant and encourage new foliage. Attractive foliage provides a nice green contrast to summer bloomers. If leaves are ragged, deadhead these as well.

Late blooming perennial flowers like Chrysanthemums, Asters and Sedum can be pinched up until late June. Pinching one to two inches off stem tips promotes compact growth with more stems and flowers. Pinching must stop by late June or blooming will be delayed too late into fall.

Chrysanthemums are responding to our early season and unusual weather by already developing flower buds. If it is preferred that mums bloom later, early blooming can be delayed by cutting mums back a few inches now, even if they already have flower buds.