Re: need advice bare-root perennial

**j* e* m* s* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

This would have been my advice. Get the bare rooted geranium planted 
soon, though.
jems

>Judy,
>
>Fall is the absolute best time to plant this perennial.  The ground 
>is nice and warm and roots have a much better chance of getting 
>established.  Make sure the plant gets well watered before the 
>ground freezes and once it freezes, make sure the plant gets mulched 
>so that it doesn't heave when those mid-winter thaws come.  That's 
>what usually kills late planted perennials -- those tender roots get 
>exposed to winter and ka-blam! There they go!  Winter mulch is 
>intended to keep everything nice and cold.  It can be removed when 
>things start to thaw for good around mid-March, but I'm sure by then 
>you'll have gathered lots more info on this.
>
>You might want to suggest that as long as there's a hole being dug, 
>dig it a little bigger and put some spring blooming bulbs in behind 
>the geranium. Something on the smallish side like muscari or crocus. 
>The emerging geranium foliage will hide the withering bulb foliage 
>and that hole will do double duty for half the work.  And won't you 
>look like the genius!
>
>
>Lorraine
>
>Lorraine Ballato
>Brookfield CT  (zone 5b)
>----- Original Message -----
>   From: Judy Lowe<h*@yahoo.com>
>   To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org<g*@lists.ibiblio.org>
>   Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 4:26 PM
>   Subject: [GWL] need advice bare-root perennial
>
>
>   Someone in our office was selling bulbs for his daugher's school. 
>And someone ordered a perennial geranium from the list, which 
>arrived bare root. What should she do now? She lives outside Boston 
>(probably Zone 5B) and if her area hasn't had a frost yet, it will 
>soon. Should she try to grow it as a houseplant over winter? Plant 
>outside and see if it comes up next spring?
>
>   I've had no experience with bare-root perennials in fall and 
>wouldn't have ordered them myself, figuring that fall planting would 
>be iffy. But I figure that someone on this list -- maybe everyone -- 
>knows more than I on this topic and can help my co-worker.
>
>   Thanks so much,
>   Judy Lowe
> 
>http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening<http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening>

-- 
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The Hoosier Gardener
Writer * Editor * Speaker * Garden Consultant
Co-author of The Indiana Gardener's Guide
P.O. Box 20310
Indianapolis, IN 46220
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
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