Re: Nepeta/catmint

In a message dated 10/25/99 12:46:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
SSaxton@Schwabe.com writes:

<< 
 Can anyone comment on Six Hills Giant vs. something like Walker's Low?  I
 have several plants around my garden of Six Hills and I'm so tired of it
 taking over the plant, in breadth and flopping in height, even with cages. >>

This may or may not be good advice depending on where you are located.  All 
nepeta should be grown in lean soil and with as little water as possible to 
keep the stems firm.  Six Hills Giant can be cut back from the first spring 
growth to bloom on shorter stems.  Put some stakes or twiggy pieces of brush 
in the plant early in the growing season.  If tied up with green string or 
similar the staking will not be apparent.

Nepeta siberica (which can be grown from seed) does not flop and sometimes 
reblooms for me in zone 4.  N. siberica is a fairly large plant.  Try Six 
Hills Giant around the base of a clematis vine or some other location where 
it's floppy ways would be appreciated. 

Many perennials that grow very tall can be shortened a bit if cut back one 
half early in the season.  If given time to recover and form flower buds the 
plants will be exactly as unshortened but a week or two later.  Where I live 
about June 25th is the latest I would do this.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY z4



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