Mid-summer gardening tips for attracting butterflies, choosing lower-maintenance plants
The middle of July is not too late to cut back leggy azaleas and rhododendrons and remove the top third of any chrysanthemum plants so they will branch out and bloom as compact, bushy plants.
You can fertilize the lawn if you are determined to water and keep it green all summer, or stop watering and allow the lawn to “go golden” or dormant for the dry months of August and September. A dormant lawn will still green up when the fall rains return.
Q. I want to attract butterflies and I heard there is a special plant that Monarch butterflies need to survive. Do nurseries in our area sell this plant and what is it called? — B.M., Puyallup
A. You must mean the milkweed plant, or Asclepias, and yes I have seen it for sale at local nurseries but usually in the spring and not this late into the season. I suggest you phone or call local nurseries, and if they do not have this pollinator favorite in stock, they may be able to order if for you.
Meanwhile, consider adding sedum “Autumn Joy” and helianthus for late-summer pollinator blooms, and the early flowering pulmonaria, or lungwart, for early spring flowers. There also are sterile butterfly bushes available (Buddleia) such as the dwarf Buddleia “Pugster” and the compact Buddleia “Lo and Behold.” These dwarf buddleias will attract and feed butterflies and provide your landscape with summer blooms on a low-maintenance shrub. The butterflies will thank you.
Q. Is Carex a good ornamental grass for our area? I am getting rid of my huge ornamental grasses that reseed and that need cutting back in the fall, and I want to use a grass that is evergreen and less demanding. I have read that Carex is a good alternative and better behaved grass. — T., Email
A. Carex, or sedge, is not a true grass but it has grass-like leaves and is an excellent choice especially in damp areas. The evergreen carex provide year-round color in shady areas and have good pest and disease resistance. Look for “Evergold” with shiny green leaves and a gold stripe, and the new variety “Everilo” with brilliant green leaves that turn golden with age. This last one is part of the Sunset Western Garden Collection of plant introductions so it does well in our area. Carex does not need to be cut back in the spring and is less likely to turn into a maintenance monster.
Q. What is the name of the Euphorbia with gold and lime green foliage that looks good all year? It is used in container gardens and I remember it survived without much water and even looked good in the winter. I owned it once but then moved and forgot to take this amazing plant with me! — P.O., Tacoma
A. The Euphorbia “Ascot Rainbow” really is an amazing perennial plant with red stems, gold and green leaves and a rosy tone once the weather gets cold. The good news is if you cannot find “Ascot Rainbow” euphorbia at nurseries now, just wait a few months. In the fall local, garden centers and nurseries will restock with perennials that show off in the autumn and you will find this and several other Euphorbias with the fall plants on display. Another favorite is Euphorbia “Ruby Glow” with bright red new growth and leaves that are almost black. Just one Euphorbia plant will fill a container and look good all year long.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.
