Caring for plants that have lost their blooms

[flippinout]

Fall is fast approaching and the day lilies will be losing their blooms soon, as will the hostases. Be sure to clip the long stems that the flowers were on, off as close to the plant as you can.

By leaving these dead blooms on the plant, I find that it seems to take nutrients away from the major part of the plant.

Hostases that I havent clipped back, dont seem to grow and spread as fast of the ones that have the blooms clipped back.

August is when I usually split up my irises and move them to where I want new plants in the spring. I usually do this when I know it is most likely to rain or soon after a rain as it is no longer muddy.

I do the same with my hostases in August, split them and move them to where I want new plants in the spring. They all seem to do quite well.

As usual, I never follow the guidelines for doing the splitting and moving but havent lost but one plant since Ive been gardening.

I have also started new Weeping Willow trees to be planted in August.

To do this just take off the new tender shoots carefully from the tree then cut the end of the shoot at an angle and stick in water.

The leaves will dry up and fall off but as the roots form, so will new leaves. It takes about 3 weeks till the trees are ready for planting.