2 Fall Home & Yard Ps a RS, [£4 a Sew The Dallas Post October 6, 1999 Bulbs and perennials can Fall is the traditional season for planting the colorful tulips, daffodils and other bulbs that bloom in the spring. Today, how- ever, savvy gardeners are taking note that fall is also a perfect time to plant such perennial “bulb buddies” as forsythia, heuchera, cowslip. hosta, golden feverfew, Myosotis (forget-me-not), ivy, Nepeta (catmint), primroses, and others. Used in smart combinations, inter-planted bulbs and perenni- als can creale an especially in- triguing spring border that serves as a springboard to a super sum- mer garden. Mix and Match When planning the early spring garden, look to combine early- flowering bulbs with perennials that produce early foliage and/or early flowers. The early, long-{low- ering miniature Narcissus ‘Feb- ruary Gold," for example, offers glorious yellow flowers in exactly the same hue as Forsythia intermedia ‘Golden Bell. This narcissus also teams up smartly with another perennial, yellow cowslip (Primula veris). Cowslip, in turn, makes a spritely match for other narcissi such as the diminutive yellow favorite ‘Min- now’ and the elegant ‘Louise de Coligny’. For a sophisticated color combo, consider blue lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia), so named because il was once thought to have medicinal quali- ties related to the lungs, and the later-flowering pale yellow Nar- cissus ‘Jenn.’ Both plants thrive in semi-shade and tolerate mois- ture well. Complementary Colors Bulbs combined with perenni- als in a landscape are used to complement, not dominate, the planting. The idea is to create a rich tapestry of color, form, and texture. Avoid perennials that will spread too quickly and overpower their partners. Whereas huge beds of tulips or hyacinths were once mainly used to cut blazing swaths of color that ‘bloomed and then faded across the landscape, they are now often used in more subtle combina- tions lo create evolving scenarios in the spring garden. Shape, height, color, texture, and bloom times should all be considered. There's also a practical side to this. After the flowers of spring bulbs fade, the remaining foliage is left to wilt and die back. While necessary if the bulbs are to flower again next spring, this withering phase can be a let down in the garden. Inter-planting with quickly- growing leafy ground covers such as hosta, leadwort, ferns, and heuchera can be the answer. Cam- ouflaging with appropriate peren- nials is a win-win situation in anyone's garden and pretty too. A planting of Hosta tardiana ‘Hal- cyon’ becomes something quite special with the cheerful blue racemes ol Muscari ‘Blue Spike’ peeking through. And why not add tall, elegant green-and-white Tulipa ‘Spring Green’ to the mix for extra measure. After bloom, the tulips’ fading foliage is easily masked by the fast-growing blue- green leaves of the hosta. The Season Marches On One thing to remember ‘when mixing bulbs and perennials is that shade-loving perennials can be combined perfectly with many sun loving bulbs. The reason is that the bulbs are at their best while the branches of deciduous trees are without leaves. This means that even many wooded areas have the benefit of plenty of Es HUNTSVILLE NURSERY GARDEN CENTER & LANDSCAPING "Fall is for Planting Sale" 7 \/s e) i Now at Huntsville Nursery 20-50% OFF Remaining Plant Inventory Call our Landscaping Division at 675-0062 Garden Center 675-2861 » 66 buddy up spring sunshine. By the time the early summer sun heats things up and the spring-blooming bulbs are asleep for the season the tree leaves have come out, providing plenty of shade for perennials. Bulb and perennial combina- tions can be permanent additions to garden beds and borders. The bulbs should be planted a little deeper (up to nine inches for tu- lips) and left in the ground after flowering. Each fall, some slow release bulb food, or a top-dress- ing of compost or other organic fertilizer will help them perform in spring. Be Creative Many combinations even un- usual ones can be perfectly pleas- ing. Consider clusters of tall, nod- ding white Leucojum aestiveum amidst the lovely leaves of Gera- nium ‘Johnson’s Blue.’ Plant the white starbursts of Tulipa turkestanica amid the red- 99 ¢ in the garden leaved wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea. Groundcover plantings of smoky mauve heathers come alive in spring with surrounding sweeps of cobalt blue grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum). Later in the season, brighten things up with Tulipa ‘New De- sign’ combined with brilliant blue Scilla siberica and peachy-pink and yellow primroses. For pink- on-pink pleasure, pair button- headed, daisy-like pink Bellis perennis ‘Pomponette’ with deep wine-colored, fringed Tulipa ‘Bur- gundy Lace.’ Or try May-flower- ing camassias such as C. leichtlinii ‘Alba,’ which are per- fect in a shady spot combined with ferns. For a spectacular sum- mer combination, plant the great Eremurus (foxtail lily) with plant- buddy Alchemilla (lady's mantle). ’ ’ Companionship Contained Bulbs and perennials enjoy life together in containers too. Choose permanent residents first peren- nials that will serve as foliage or flower anchors. Bold hostas, gi- ant ferns, or pewter- or magenta- leaved heuchera are good ex- amples. Now add dramatic sea- sonal “come and go players.” An especially sophisticated spring- time look pairs silver-leaved Heuchera ‘Pewter Moon’ with near-black Tulipa ‘Queen of Night,” mauve wall flowers, and tall, willowy yellow cottage gar- den gems. These are just a few sugges- tions there are hundreds more. For as spectacular as bulbs are when planted by themselves, the pleasure is doubled when a little perennial companionship is in- troduced. For more tips on gar- dening, be sure to visit your local garden center. Source: Pennsylvania Land- scape & Nursery Association, Harrisburg, PA, www.plna.com. eel safe and secure Bi I [TES GON EVE Residential Outdoor Security Lighting can make all the difference. It’s a fact — when lights go up, crime potential goes down. That’s why Residential Outdoor Security Lighting from UGI is the perfect choice for homes, parking areas and driveways. Start feeling safer soon! For a free brochure or more information, call UGI at (800) 962-1212. Locally, call 830-1218 or 830-1256. * You definitely feel safer when you can see your surroundings. * UGI will install the light on an existing UGI pole. Other options are available. « Enjoy worry-free, automatic lighting for as little as 35¢ a night. Fall Home & Yard The Dallas Post October 6, 1999 ¢ 11 Some things to think about when selecting a standby generator This year, consumers are con- sidering the purchase of a standby generator more than ever. Some homeowners have doubts that the power will stay on January lst, 2000. Others may be business owners who have always intended to purchase auxiliary power, and Y2K concerns have helped them finalize that decision. If you are considering a backup generator purchase, there are important sizing and code requirements that you need to know to insure a safe and adequate standby generator installation. Sizing the generator takes into account the total kilo- watt (kw) requirements of the elec- trical equipment to be served. Undersizing can leave you frus- trated while oversizing is just a waste of money. Pay particular attention to anything with an elec- tric motor. Starting a motor re- quires three to seven times the current used during normal op- eration. Allowing for this startup or inrush of current when sizing the generator is crucial. Electrical connections to the wiring system of the home, farm, or business require a double- throw transfer switch. This is not a do-it-yourself project! Involve an experienced electrical contrac- tor to insure a safe, reliable in- stallation that meets all local and national code requirements. An- other safety consideration is where the generate is placed. Unless you vent the generator fumes to the outside, never locate it inside a building, garage or basement. A new publication is now avail- able that contains a wealth of information about standby gen- “ erators. Called “Sizing and Se- lecting Your Standby Generator,” this 20-page illustrated guide helps homeowners, farmers and small business owners under- stand a correctly sized and safely installed standby generation sys- tem. 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