Re: daisies for shade
Hi Bobbi,
see that you received several replies to this one already. Guess the point I
was trying to make was get the plant established and then will take care of
itself. Plant early, get the roots into the soil, water and mulch. Don't let them
completely dry out during the first growing season. That is not usually a problem
around here as we get adequate rains until around July or August.
Different species and hybrids of Asters take varying amounts of sun. Most will
perform to some extent in either direction. The New England aster, for instance,
grows in many exposures around here from shade to full sun. When in full sun they
normally have the roots protected by grass and have access to a bit more moisture.
Ever notice how this one browns out at the bottom toward the end of the season?
Adaptation to tall grasses. Don't need the bottom foliage once it has been covered
by
the grass.
I use compromise on most of mine. Lots of light, but not full sun. halfway
decent soil.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Roberta Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Re: [SG] daisies for shade
> Gene, I don't have too much trouble with "normal" asters, except that I
> find they like a lot of sun. It's the woodland ones that don't grow at all
> for me. Was I giving them TOO much sun? I was growing them in a former
> gravel driveway. Maybe the soil there is not rich enough, compared to the
> rich composted leaves they grow in under natural conditions, altho the
> garden asters seem to like it. But your suggestion of inadquate moisture
> puzzles me because, in the wild, these asters get only whatever rain Ma
> Nature sends them and they seem to manage fine. I have seen them blooming
> in the woods in very dry, even parched conditions. (I secretly wonder if
> we have two different genera here and hereby signal all the taxonomic
> splitters to come forth and sort this out!)
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
