FALL AMONGST US

 I have so many asking what I do with all the lilies and how to do a good fall martagon clean-up.  Wanting their investment to have optimum conditions for  future seasons of abundance, vigor and especially multiplying for stunning displays. 

   Some seasons,  I chose to leave the stems alone for the entire winter only because  I had discovered one Spring Day, a few years now,  a bundle of little bees that were emerging from my unsightly, winterized beaten stems. I was so surprised to discover these wee bees,  that I went to other stems and noted baby bees in my allium, foxglove, and even sunflowers around the bird feeders here in the display gardens.  Note the bee hinder inside of a dried up stem of a martagon that I was preparing to clean up in the spring, following a winter without clean-up. 

But—- there are years that I like to cut everything back and give it a really good weeding and fertilizing, especially after a season where we have had more rain and less sunny days within the bloom season. This moisture causes powdery mildew or botrytis. These fungal spores drive me nuts and I hate the look of the gardens during the wane of the season… so…. What do I do? Chop it all down, weed well,  and start fresh. The perennials are safe underground and away from my hoe.  

When the stems are starting to brown, usually seed collection is under way, I will collect my many planned martagon Division ii crosses as well as several that the bees have decided that would make a nice designer cross. Sometimes, nature surely seems to know best when it comes to compatibility in the genetics to produce some stunning outcomes of hybrid martagons. 

Anyway—   

Once seeds are collected, I will cut the stems down to about 6 inches above the ground if they are still semi-green ( ish ).  Stems that are very dried up, I will gently try to pull them out of the grounds, if there is any resistance, I will leave them and wait another week or two. But I do trim these all down to 6 inches too. 

I will weed well, apply fresh compost and leaf litter as it accumulates from the arrival of the autumn season of the falling tree leaves. I will mulch the fallen foliage from the trees with my  https://egopowerplus.com/21-inch-self-propelled-mower/  driving over the leaves and catching them in the lawn mower’s attached bag, dumping the chewed-up leaves onto the grounds. 

Do I use products? I do, — for the prevention of Lily Beetle, Grub and Slugs. 

  There are several products that can be used, and I do not think that one is better than the other, but please read labels and follow directions that are recommended. Also, Follow your best practices in your beds.  Neem is my preference and hand picking, as I only grow your lilies in Certified Organic conditions here at Hartle Gilman Gardens. Other growers have their own practices,  but I have pretty strict guidelines, that I have to comply with.  My products are limited to earth friendly bee nice awareness here at Hartle-Gilman Gardens.  As my grand-daughter once said, ‘BEES NEED TO BE PETTED TOO GLAMEROSIE.’  😳❤️.  Just don’t get bitte