Mike Hogan| Special to The Columbus Dispatch
One of my goals as a gardener is to plant something somewhere in my home landscape every month of the year. While that goal may be more easily achievable in locations in other parts of the country, it is becoming more achievable here in Greater Columbus thanks to climate change, some strategic planning on my part and a little help from Mother Nature.
Many gardeners think about spring as being the best time of the year to plant outdoors, and for vegetables, herbs and some annual flowering plants, spring is certainly our primary planting season in this part of the world. But there is no need to limit planting activities to one several-week period of the year, especially if you wish to incorporate native shrubs into your landscape.
Summer planting of shrubs
One group of plants which I tend to direct my summer planting activities toward are shrubs. I do this for several reasons; one being the lack of time I have available for gardening.
For me, between spring garden cleanup tasks, planting annual flowers and herbs, spreading mulch, pruning spring-flowering shrubs and general landscape maintenance, I simply run out of time to complete all the necessary home-landscape tasks in a timely manner.
This is especially true when weather vagaries delay accomplishing some tasks. Until I retire, if I can complete my spring garden and landscape tasks by July 4, I’m happy.
Cost and availability of plant material are additional factors in my decision to plant shrubs well into the summer. Soon after the start of summer, many nurseries and garden centers begin to discount prices on plant material as demand for plant material starts to slow down. I find July and August a wonderful time to purchase woody ornamentals, trees and even herbaceous perennial plants.
The value of native shrubs in the landscape
Birds, butterflies, moths, bees and other beneficial insects depend on plants to provide seeds, nectar, pollen, cover, nesting sites and nesting materials. Development and other human activity have destroyed, degraded or fragmented many natural areas, limiting available habitat for pollinators, insects and wildlife.
Small areas such as home landscapes, gardens, patios, decks, community gardens and unmanaged areas can be important places to grow plants which support these creatures.
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Instead of simply selecting shrubs and other ornamental plants only for their ornamental appeal, why not consider planting native Ohio shrubs in order to draw an assortment of living creatures to your landscape?
These creatures support many ecosystem services, and growing many different plant species will attract and support a wider diversity of creatures, such as multiple species of wild bees.
Need to replace a long line of boxwoods in your landscape? Consider replacing them with a variety of native plants which provide bloom at different times during the season.
Choosing native shrubs for your landscape
There are scores of different species of native shrubs you might choose to plant in your landscape. To determine which species you might prefer to add to your landscape, visit a large nursery or landscape to examine the characteristics of a variety of different shrubs.
Arboreta such as Chadwick Arboretum on the OSU campus and botanical gardens such as Franklin Park Conservatory are also great places to explore the characteristics of different native shrubs. Some of my favorite native shrubs include the following:
- Chokeberry (Aronia species): Chokeberries are known for their bird-attracting berries and stunning fall color.
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Young stems of buttonbush feature round clusters of creamy white flowers in late summer. Their shallow flowers provide easy access for an assortment of pollinators, including butterflies and small bees.
- Shrub dogwoods (Cornus species): Shrub dogwoods are excellent, adaptable shrubs suited for many different growing sites. Flowers and fruit provide food for birds, small mammals, bees and other pollinators.
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Shade-loving spicebush blooms in early spring and its fruit ripens to bright red in late summer. It serves as the larval host for several species of butterflies and moths.
- Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillate): This deciduous holly features berries which persist through winter until birds consume them. I love my winterberry cultivar with golden yellow berries, which stand out after a snowfall.
There are a few native shrubs which I tend to avoid in Greater Columbus simply because of the alkalinity of our native soils. While there are species of azalea and rhododendron which are native to Ohio, these species tend to grow in areas of the state that have more acidic soils.
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The native soils found in Greater Columbus are more alkaline, and unless a gardener or homeowner commits to adjusting soil pH on a regular basis, these plants tend to struggle in our landscapes.
Aftercare is critical
There certainly can be challenges associated with planting container-grown or balled and burlap shrubs in summer, particularly when weather is especially hot and precipitation can be spotty.
Proper planting and care of newly planted shrubs can minimize these weather-related challenges. If you plant woody ornamental plants in July and August in Greater Columbus, be prepared to provide ongoing care for these plants.
Start by planting the right plant in the right place. Don’t expect a shade-loving plant to thrive in a full-sun location in your landscape, even if that plant is native to Ohio. Likewise, don’t select wet areas of the yard to plant shrubs which will not tolerate wet roots. Instead, look for species such as shrub dogwood, buttonbush, aronia and others which thrive in moist soil conditions.
When planting shrubs in summer, consider adding organic matter such as peat moss or compost to the planting hole. This is especially important if the native soil in your landscape lacks an adequate amount of organic matter.
And the most critical care needed in summer is water. While older established shrubs in your landscape might thrive in the hot dry conditions of summer without irrigation, newly planted shrubs will need weekly irrigation of at least 1 inch per week if rainfall does not supply this amount on a regular basis.
Adequate water is critical for the root systems of these plants to adequately develop before winter. Don’t let changing leaf color and cooler temperatures in autumn stop you from continuing to provide supplemental irrigation to these plants if fall rains are infrequent.
Mike Hogan is Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate professor with Ohio State University Extension.
hogan.1@osu.edu
