Hit the Dirt; Heath and Heather

Good morning. This is sad if we hit the debt. Are you looking for a low maintenance ground cover with year round interest that is evergreen in greens Grays golds and reds that flowers. No such thing you say. Sounds too good to be true but that our Heath's and Heather has maybe two feet of snow would eliminate the went to interest. But an open winter would not. So many uses to low growing for rock gardens late fall and winter interest for the front of perennial or mixed borders. And the best way to display these plants is in a have a garden once established there is little maintenance and a patchwork of colorful foliage of different heights and textures can be stunning Heathers can be combined with other plants like vertical forms of Kona flows and for a variety of form color and texture catchments Allium time. Tony asked a bear Berry and blueberry could be used. How do you have those native to Europe and North Africa. What is the difference between heaven and heaves. Heaven is cologne of all GARIS has small scale

like opposite leaves the foliage is ever changing intensifying in the fall. It flowers in the summer in shades of white smoke and pinks and well-drained slope or a lawn area could be turned into a have a garden. It is hardy and needs protection. Only in zones 2 and 3 went to Heath Erica Karanja is a hardy to zone for and has shining needle like foliage and is fast growing and spreading and needs only slightly acidic soil. It blooms and went to and the new growth is sometimes yellow or cream colored. Cross sleeved Heather Erica Tektronix has plants that are compact and mostly grayish green. Also Hardy to zone for it prefers cool moist conditions but Sandy well drained acidic soil is also OK. The flowers are held in pendulous classed as for most of the summer. Also Hardy to this area. Two hybrids of Erica Tetra Vic's Williams Heath and Watson's he. Heather on the heath plans mature and from three to

five years so plan the garden carefully slightly acidic soil with good drainage is necessary if you have creative soil. Try a raised bed I mix existing soil with sand peat moss and topsoil fertiliser should be low in nitrogen to discourage a lot of tender growth that are susceptible to winter damage. The bed should be in full sun with plenty of air circulation stimulate the roots when you plant by pulling them apart while slicing them down with the tip of a sharp knife. But about 18 inches apart and the spaces will soon fill in water in an mulch with three inches of pine bark mulch or pine needle mulch. What do we do for the first month. A deep penetrating soak but don't overwater do it in the morning to avoid fungus growth. Annual pruning during the first four to five years promotes multiple branching at the base of the plant. Prune of the spring. First removing any damaged branches for cluing of Algarve this cut back last year's flowering branches below the old flowers

lush growth will start at the cut. So be daring. Especially on top of a riot is that could get leggy compact or ideas really need pruning. Eric a car near only needs cosmetic pruning after blooms have faded. Erika Tetra looks can also be pruned in early spring and counting after the heaviest bloom and sama may stimulate a second blooming sheep's years are a good tool for pruning newly planted beds should be protected with boughs in winter to prevent heaving. Once established this shouldn't be necessary if you could count of us of Cloon of us with long lasting double deep pink flowers on dark spreading green foliage. So one night with uprights over grey foliage and Mo flowers Let us strike a blooming in fall with beetroot colored flowers. Wick will flame with gold to brilliant red spreading foliage and for Eric a car near those Fox Hollow with deep pink flowers and yellow foliage with Branch tips and

spring wood Pink has pink flowers and spreading green foliage with bronze tips. Erika Tektronix album Wallace has bushy silvery grey foliage with white flowers for added enjoyment. He's going to have those dry well if you've got the flowers and placed them upright in a jar with about an inch of water and then let them use up the water and dry out. You will have good results. This is Sally for hits the dirt.