Re: stachys

In a message dated 6/17/01 11:28:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
nlowe@hotmail.com writes:

<< Hi, gang.  I have an area of stachys (lanata?) that is looking rather sad. 
 
 Does anyone have some suggestions for keeping it looking a little neater?  A 
 month or so ago, it started sending up flower stalks, and I cut them back 
 pretty severely.  Now, I see lots of new growth starting, but there's also a 
 LOT of dead leaves, almost making a blanket over the ground.  When I pull 
 out dead leaves, there are large bare patches, which I hadn't noticed 
 before.  What do I need to differently, as far as maintenance goes? >>

Use a claw tool and rake that area clear of dead leaves and roots that tend 
to surface.  The common stachys (lambs ears) can be valuable for dry 
infertile or waste areas.  It will grow more tight and thrifty in dry soil.  
The raking clear should be done in early spring.  It seems the more flower 
stems that you cut down, the more it produces.  Leave it alone for a while 
and then in July clip it flat, rake it out and water heavily once.  The 
entire area will renew making the best growth in cooler weather.

There is a form called 'Big Ears' and numerous other names that is not as 
grey but has larger leaves and it reputedly non-flowering.  It does, however, 
flower once in a while.  This form is also a plant needing dry soil or a 
pebble mulch to prevent rotting undergrowth in too humid climates.

In my zone 4 garden, stachys lanata or byzantina is completely hardy but will 
rot on wet soil and do poorly.  This plant should not be given lush 
conditions.

You can also dig up the entire area and replant the new growth which is a 
good idea once in while.  If dug and replanted in the fall, you will have 
less messy undergrowth in spring. I have stachys growing in pure sand left 
from a child's sandpile where it does very well.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index