The declining honeybee population is an ongoing global crisis. Our most important pollinators, bees, love urban settings where there are short flight paths and a variety of different plants and flowers to sample. In fact, bees are more likely to thrive in your backyard than on acres of farmland devoted to single crops. By the way, there are five or six places in Chillicothe where you can buy Local Honey. You must try it. It is delicious! 

Keep perennial plants well-watered during their first season, but avoid daily sprinklings. A weekly soaking will encourage a healthier root system. Apply a layer of compost each spring to provide nutrients and maintain soil health. Beyond that, most perennials need little supplemental fertilizer. Many perennials, including peonies, poppies, iris, hellebores, bee balm, and lily-of-the-valley, are known to be slow starters. In fact, the first few years, you may only get a few leaves or blooms. But don’t let that discourage you—these plants will reward you handsomely once they become established.

If you have geraniums in your window boxes or in pots, make sure that you don’t overwater them. When the blooms turn brown, don’t deadhead them (just the dead bloom). Cut them back all the way back to the stem. If you have a sweet potato vine mixed in with them, you will have to water them separately because it needs lots of water. Another perennial that does not like wet feet is lavender. After the first flowers fade, trim plants to the shape you want and cut the flower stems. To promote a second round of blooms in August and September, deadhead before the plants set seed. Harvest buds, not flowers, to make sachets or for cooking. The way to stay in control of Black-eyed Susans…share 2-4 plants every time you have seven.

Any time after this early part of July, you can trim back all those spring flowers that are well done with blooming but are still green, like Iris…cut them back to about five inches. I always mark mine by color if I am planning on moving them later. Or if you took pictures while they were blooming, you could use those for reference. 

Tired of pests and diseases beating you to your veggie? Allow adequate space between plants for air circulation? Win the war without chemicals… attract beneficial insects such as lacewings by planting dill and angelica. Remove overripe produce so it won’t attract picnic beetles and other pests. Control soft-bodied pests such as aphids and spider mites with insecticide soap or wash them off your plants with a strong jet of water. Water early in the day so foliage can dry quickly. Allow adequate space between plants for air circulation next time.