Table Of Contentmonth-by-month GardeninG
minnesota
& wisconsin
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Job: 09-30943 Title: MBI-Minnesota & Wisconsin Month by Month Gardening
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month-by-month GardeninG
minnesota
& wisconsin
What to Do Each Month to Have
a Beautiful Garden All Year
melinda myers
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Job: 09-30943 Title: MBI-Minnesota & Wisconsin Month by Month Gardening Job: 09-30943 Title: MBI-Minnesota & Wisconsin Month by Month Gardening
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Dedication
To my parents, Betty and John, who allowed me to dream big and taught me to work
hard to achieve those dreams.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to all the Minnesota and Wisconsin gardeners. Your warm reception at
events, kind words about my books, and encouragement to write more help keep me
working away at the computer.
I also want to thank the University Extension specialists, Master Gardeners and staff,
the staff and volunteers at the botanical gardens and arboreta in Minnesota and
Wisconsin, horticulture professionals, plant society members, avid gardeners, and
friends in the media for your enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge.
A special thanks to my family and friends for your patience and tolerance during the
process. Thanks to Pete for your patience and support and to my daughter, Nevada,
and grandchildren, Maya and Sammy, who remind me of what is important in life.
A big thanks to my team: Diana, Dawn, Mark, and Nevada. Together we will continue
to reach out, educate, and inspire new and experienced gardeners.
Thanks to my editor, Billie Brownell, for not giving up on me, and to Deb Wiley who
helped me push through the process.
And finally, thanks to everyone at Cool Springs Press (Quayside Publishing).
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Contents
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................6
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK .....................................................................18
USDA HARDINESS ZONES ....................................................................19
January ...............................................................................................20
February ..............................................................................................34
March ..................................................................................................48
April ......................................................................................................64
May ......................................................................................................86
June ...................................................................................................106
July .....................................................................................................124
August ...............................................................................................138
September ........................................................................................152
October .............................................................................................170
November .........................................................................................186
December.........................................................................................198
APPENDIX ..........................................................................................208
PLANTING A TREE .......................................................................................................208
PRUNING ....................................................................................................................209
LATE PLANTING CHART ..............................................................................................215
ORDERING SOILS & MULCH CHART .........................................................................216
PLANT SPACING CHART ............................................................................................217
MINNESOTA FROST (SPRING) MAP ..................................................218
MINNESOTA FROST (FALL) MAP........................................................219
WISCONSIN FROST (SPRING) MAP ..................................................220
WISCONSIN FROST (FALL) MAP ........................................................221
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................222
GLOSSARY .........................................................................................223
INDEX .................................................................................................226
PHOTO CREDITS ................................................................................239
MEETING MELINDA MYERS ...............................................................240
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Introduction
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I have been lucky enough to call the northland my home for over
35 years. In that time, there have been no two years or growing
seasons exactly the same. The changing seasons and changeable
weather put you and your gardening skills to the test each year.
This is part of the challenge and fun of gardening in the north. It is also why gardeners are such a great
group of people. You must be optimistic and perhaps a bit crazy to garden in the north.
Whether you are hoping for a big harvest, a beautiful landscape, or a little stress relief, knowing the
“when” and “how” of gardening will help you be successful. Use this book to eliminate some of the
guesswork. It is a guide to help, not restrict, your gardening efforts and experimentation.
Always start with a plan. Put your gardening and landscape plans on paper to help you grow and
develop a beautiful landscape and productive garden. And don’t worry—a landscape plan is meant to
change over time, not remain stagnant. Make needed and desired changes along the way to achieve
your landscaping goals.
Start or continue a garden journal. It can be as simple as a spiral notebook, as complex as a computer
spreadsheet, or as beautiful as a coffee table book. Use this to record planting information, growing
records, and pest management strategies. Refer to your garden plan, journal information, and this book
to help you get the most enjoyment from your Minnesota or Wisconsin garden. These tools can help you
repeat successes and avoid making the same mistakes.
Refer to Month-by-Month Gardening in Minnesota & Wisconsin throughout the year. Each chapter
features monthly tips on the time to plant, water, prune, fertilize, and manage pests. Use these general
guidelines as your starting points.
Consult with local experts to fine-tune these recommendations to fit your specific backyard growing
conditions and gardening style. The University of Minnesota is known for its plant hardiness research
and introduction of many new hardy plant varieties. Visit the University of Minnesota Landscape
Arboretum in Chanhassen for a first-hand look at some unique varieties of plants. And don’t overlook
all the plantings and information available from your nearby public gardens. These are great places to
observe and evaluate plants growing in similar conditions to yours. We have all killed a few plants along
the way. This is part of the learning process. Most important, just get started, relax, and have fun.
Introduction ■ 7
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Northern gardeners face extreme cold and a short Use trees as the long-term framework of your
growing season. Gardeners in the more southern landscape. They provide structure, screen views,
area of the region face unreliable snow cover and shade the house, and add year-round beauty. Place
fluctuating winter temperatures. And all of us face large shade trees on the east and west sides of the
untimely snowstorms, flooding, and drought. house. They will shade the windows from the
summer sun and reduce cooling costs. Avoid
Always select the hardiest plant available. Locate growing large shade trees on the south side of your
your county on the hardiness map. Hardiness home because they block winter sun, reduce solar
ratings reflect a plant’s ability to survive the average heating, and increase winter fuel costs.
minimum winter temperature. Select plants rated
for this or colder climates (the lower number). Include shrubs to screen views, highlight focal
Remember, hardiness is just a cold-tolerance points, and attract wildlife. Look for hardy plants
rating. You must also match the plant to its with attractive bark, colorful flowers, and bird-
growing conditions. Healthy plants that get the attracting fruit for winter interest. Select plants
proper growing conditions and care have better that fit the available growing space. This will save
chances of surviving unexpected weather extremes. you time spent pruning the plant down to size
and hauling away the debris.
Use the average frost dates to help with planting
dates. The maps on pages 218 through 221 give Include flowers, vines, and groundcovers for
you the average dates for the first fall frosts and last splashes of color, as focal points, and to attract
spring frosts in Minnesota and Wisconsin. These wildlife. They can be planted in beds, grown in
averages are based on 100 years of data. This does containers, or mixed with your trees and shrubs.
not take into account any late spring or early fall Use them as short-term accents or long-term
frosts that commonly fall outside these dates. additions to your plan.
Consider both the air and soil temperatures when Use color in the landscape to create mood and
planting. Areas near Lake Michigan and Lake interest. Warm colors of orange, red, and yellow
Superior are frost-free earlier than nearby inland attract attention, brighten the location, and make
spaces, but the soil and air stay cooler later into large spaces appear smaller. It only takes a few
spring and early summer. Planting too soon can warm-colored annuals to steal the show.
delay growth and harvest. Wait to plant tropical
plants, such as tuberous begonias and tomatoes, Cool colors of green, blue, and violet make
until after all danger of frost has passed and both a small area appear larger and give hot spots a
the air (day and night) and soil temperatures cooler feeling. So a basket of blue pansies or
have warmed. a planter filled with green foliage plants can
transform a small, south-facing patio into a
Use the weather information, the month-by- cool and roomy spot.
month planting guides, and your own experience
to time both planting and care. Use contrasting colors—warm with cool, such
as yellow with blue or red with green—for an
PLANNING AND IMPROVING attractive, eye-catching blend.
YOUR GARDEN
An attractive, healthy landscape starts with a plan. Combine similar, related colors to hold a design
Draw a base map of your existing landscape. together. Mixing bold colors of red, orange, and
Locate the house, trees, shrubs, gardens, and yellow, for example, have equal weight and interest
other elements on the plan. Use this as a basis to in the flower garden. Mixing cool colors creates a
make future additions, deletions, and changes. subtle and soothing blend.
Gather ideas from friends, neighbors, botanical Use color echoing—repetition of a color from one
gardens, garden tours, and professionals. plant to another—to provide a sense of unity in
8 ■ Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
dramatic. Some gardeners find this style
boring, while others like the elegant, more
formal appearance.
Consider the plant’s texture in your design. Use
fine-textured plants—those with spiky flowers
and grass-like leaves—as filler and background.
A backdrop of fine-textured plants adds a sense
of depth to the garden. Use bold-textured
plants—those with large, round flowers and
wide leaves—for focal points and accents.
Photograph and videotape your progress. It is fun
and helpful to see where your landscape started
and the changes you make along the way.
Stuck or overwhelmed? Consider hiring a
professional. Some of the best landscapes come
from a cooperative effort between a landscape
designer and an avid gardener. A designer can offer
guidance on plant and bed placement and may
save you time and money by helping you avoid
some mistakes.
SOILS
Soil, like the weather, presents challenges to
gardeners. The southern and western parts of
Minnesota and southern Wisconsin developed
from limestone rock. This results in alkaline
(high pH) soils that can make it difficult to
grow rhododendron, blueberries, and other
acid-loving plants. The central and northern parts
of Wisconsin and northeastern part of Minnesota
have granite as their bedrock. This results in acidic
soils that make it difficult to grow other plants.
■ Roll up a ball of soil and gentle press the ball until a ribbon It is difficult to change the soil pH, and it takes
begins to form. If a ribbon more than one inch long forms before
years to repair the damage caused by misapplication
it breaks, you have silty soil (top). If a ribbon 1–2 inches long
of lime (which makes soil more alkaline) and other
forms before it breaks, you have clay soil (middle). If a ribbon
pH-altering materials. Test your soil and follow
greater than 2 inches forms before it breaks, you have very heavy
the recommendations whenever you attempt to
and poorly drained soil (bottom). It will not be suitable for a
change the soil pH. Reduce your stress and
garden without some major amendments.
increase success by growing plants suited to the
your flower gardens and landscape. Repeat the soil, including pH.
color from one flower to the next plant’s flower,
flower part, or foliage. This type of repetition is Soil type varies throughout the region from poorly
subtle but as effective as repeating the same plant. drained clay to fast-draining sandy soil. The
agriculturally rich regions are filled with loam
A monochromatic garden uses the same color while the glacial deposits created pockets of
flowers throughout. This style can be quite gravel-filled soil.
Introduction ■ 9
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Most urban sites have poor soil due to construction or peat moss into the soil. Organic matter is an
and years of misuse. Proper preparation and care amazing additive that improves drainage in clay
of all these soils improve your gardening results. soils and the water-holding capacity in sandy soils.
Adjust watering and fertilization to fit the soil and Incorporate a 2- to 4-inch layer into the top 6 to
plant requirements. 12 inches of the garden soil.
Soil is the foundation of your gardening success. Do not add sand unless you are prepared to bring
Time and effort spent preparing and managing it in by the semi-truckload. You must add 1 inch
your soil will be rewarded with years of of sand for every 1 inch of soil you plan to amend.
gardening success. This is a large expense and a lot of work. Adding
less than this will produce something akin to
Start with a soil test. This is a good idea when concrete, not well-drained soil.
starting a new garden or trying to resolve
problems. The results will help you determine how Work the soil when it is moist but not wet. Grab
much and what type of fertilizer to add for the a handful of soil and gently squeeze it into a ball.
plants you grow and may uncover the cause of Tap the ball with your finger. If it breaks into
poor plant growth. Contact your local University smaller pieces, it is ready to work. Otherwise, go
Extension Service for soil test information. back inside and wait for the soil to dry. Patience
now will eliminate clods, cracking, and frustration
Perform a soil test anytime the ground is not caused by dealing with damaged soil.
frozen and has not been recently fertilized. Collect
separate samples for each gardening area. You need Work the fertilizers and amendments into the
separate reports for the lawn areas, flowerbeds, and top 6 to 12 inches of soil. Sprinkle the garden
so on. Start with new areas and any spots with with water long enough to moisten the top 2 to
problems. Stagger testing to spread out the cost 3 inches of soil or wait a few days for the soil
and the time involved. to settle.
Remove 4- to 6-inch-long plugs of soil from five or Use one of these methods to convert grass into a
more scattered spots within the garden. Mix these planting bed. Lay out the boundaries of the garden
together to create a representative sample of the with a hose. Experiment until you have the desired
garden soil. Send 1 cup of soil to the University of size and shape. Use curved edges for a more
Minnesota or University of Wisconsin Extension informal look and to make mowing easier. Avoid
Service or other state certified soil-testing lab. tight angles that are hard to reach and will require
Allow two weeks for the results. hand trimming.
After you receive the recommendations, Edge the bed with an edger or sharp, flat shovel.
incorporate fertilizer and organic matter at the Remove the sod with a sod cutter and amend the
rate and time specified on the soil test report. soil as described above. For weedy areas consider
Like water, too much or not enough fertilizer using a total vegetation killer to eliminate perennial
can influence the health and vigor of your weeds like quackgrass before establishing a new
plants. Overfertilizing, fertilizing at the wrong garden. Several applications may be needed. Be
time, or using the wrong product can injure sure to read and follow label directions.
plants, harm the environment, and waste time
and money. Follow fertilization recommendations Consider leaving the dead layer of grass intact
for specific plants if the soil test information is if soil does not need amending. It acts as an
not available. additional layer of mulch and will help prevent
erosion when establishing beds on slopes.
Soil preparation varies by location, conditions, and
the plants you grow. Almost every soil benefits Use mulch, newspaper, or cardboard for a non-
from the addition of compost, well-rotted manure, chemical approach. Edge the bed, cut the grass
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