snow-in-summer help

10 years ago

Hi there!

This is my first post... so please let me know if I'm not posting in the right forum :)

After googling a million word-variations, I thought I'd try to post in a gardening forum for some help... I tend to come accross gardenweb.com when researching my perennials, so this seemed like a good place :)

I planted my first perennial garden(s) this year - they are a work-in-progress! One in the front yard, one in the back. I have some salvias, lupines, bleeding hearts, black-eyed susans, phlox, snow-in-summers, a lilac bush... it's a lot!

My question is about my snow-in-summers... They are growing nicely, and starting to sprawl out quite a bit, but they're not flowering all that much. I have seen some around town that are in full bloom, and I was assuming that since I just planted this year, I would have to wait a little longer or not get the full benefit since they were just planted about 5-6 weeks ago.

However... I'm a little more concerned because the stems, below all of the bushy-ness, seem pretty yellow. I'm not sure, but it doesn't look natural.

I have a fear that I may have overfertilized them after planting - here is a quick timline. Transplanted. 1 week goes by. Fertilized, then the next day was unexpectedtly hot/sunny for May in New England, and by that night they were totally wilted, I watered immediately, and a lot, and they bounced back enough... but now the stems are still that yellow color and I'm concerned :(

Any thoughts or advice on saving them? Will they be fine? Or are they probably toast now?

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Comments (3)

NHBabs z4b-5a NH
10 years ago
Welcome! You can always post a question here, and the folks over in the perennials forum would also be good for this type of question.

I don't usually fertilize plants in the ground, and I never fertilize new plants which will have been well fertilized at the nursery. I do add organic matter to my beds before I plant them, either compost or well-aged manure, and then after planting I top dress with an organic mulch like chopped leaves, compost, or wood shavings from the family shop. That seems to be enough to keep my plants happy, and the mulch reduces the need for watering and weeding.

In my experience, Snow in summer responds to stress with yellowing foliage and stems. Between the heat and fertilizer on new plants, they've experienced some stress, but I expect will be fine in the long run. They may look a bit homely for now. If they were older, I would suggest cutting them back and letting them grow more foliage, but I wouldn't do that with new plants like yours. Just know that if they do this in future years, you can cut them back and they will put out new foliage and look better.

And what you said about it being a work in progress? I think I can safely say that pretty much all of us have works in progress - for me that's what being a gardener is and it's part of the joy of this obsession.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
10 years ago
Hi Leslie,

Can't really help you with your specific question, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum! And I can add that nhbabs always gives great advice! :)

Dee
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diggingthedirt
10 years ago
Yes, welcome to the forum! My sow in summer also has yellowish stems, although usually not noticeable until later in the season.

I agree with nhbabs, they'll probably be fine - they're incredibly rugged plants. I also agree that fertilizer often does more harm than good in a perennial bed. You want to feed the soil, not the plants, so adding organic material is the best thing you can do for your gardens.

Mulch will help a lot, as it breaks down but also just sitting on top, moderating temperature swings, improving soil texture, and retaining water in the soil.