OK, I know this is asking a lot. However, I have decided I need some help
here. What I have is a big garden with a lot of perennial plants. The ones
that I have put in I know the names of, and I have basic growing
information on them, but I just don't know which of these plants want to
be cut back ever, and if so, when. If anyone knows where I can go to find
out when/if to cut back a plant, or if anyone can comment on any of these
plants in particular, that would be great. I mean, basically, I know how
to plant the plants, and I seem to be doing ok with watering schedules.
I'm on top of the needed spraying and feeding of the roses. But beyond
that, I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing. Given that these
plants are surviving and for the most part looking good, I'm not too
worried, but I'd like to know how to do best by these guys. Also some
stuff does get pretty straggly but I am really hesitant to cut stuff back
if I'm not sure about it. So. My list is divided into herb type perennials
on top, and non-herbs on the bottom. The date of planting is in brackets
after the name of the plant. Oh, if anyone can answer my lavender
question, that would be great too.

BTW, I'm in zone 6 just outside of Philly (literally - I can walk to the
city line if I have to ), if anyone is curious to see what has
overwintered here successfully!

Thanks in advance for any help. Here's the list:

anthemis nobilis (chamomile) [2000]
thymus vulgaris [2000]
tricolor sage [2000]
rosmarinus officinalis "prostratus" [1995, moved in 2000]
thymus citriodorus (lemon thyme) [2000]
cinquefoil potentilla "melton fire" [2001]
Monarda fistulosa (bee-balm) [2001]
origanum x majoricum (italian oregano) [1998, moved in 2000]
greek oregano [2002]
variegated oregano [2003]
thymus serpyllum (mother-of-thyme) [2000]
thymus sp (woolly thyme) [2001]
stachys byzantina (Lanata) (lamb's ear or woolly betony) [2003]
salvia officinalis (sage) [2000]
achillea millefolium "cerise queen" (yarrow) [2003]
achillea millefolium "paprika" (yarrow) [2003]
achillea millefolium "apple blossom" (yarrow) [2003]
achillea ageratum "moonwalker" (yarrow) [2003]
achillea ptarmica "the pearl" (yarrow) [2003]
agastache rupestris (licorice plant, rock anise hyssop) [2003]
saponaria ocymoides (soapwort) [2000]
lavendula "munstead" (lavender) [2000]
lavendula x intermedia "provence (lavender) [2000]
****I need to know how to tell the lavenders apart, too! I didn't label my
plants, sigh.****
mentha piperita (peppermint) [2000]
melissa officinalis (lemon balm) [2000]
origanum majorana (sweet marjoram) [2001]
allium tuberosum (garlic chives) [2001]
artemisia dracunuculus "sativa" (french tarragon) [2001]

echinacea, unknown variety, purple coneflower taken from mom's garden [2001]
unknown type of yellow coneflower taken from mom-in-law's garden [2002]
scabiosa caucasica "fama blue" (pincushion flower) [2003]
scabiosa coumbaria "pink mist" (pincushion flower) [2003]
scabiosa "bluestone perennial house hybrid" (pincushion flower) [2003]
linum perenne Blue (flax) [2003]
carnation "garden spice mix" [2003]
galium odoratum (asperula)(sweet woodruff)[2002]
clematis viticella "etoile violette" [2000]
coreopsis [tickseed] "moonbeam" [2000]
sedum spurium "bronze carpet" (stonecrop) [2003]
dianthus deltoides "arctic fire" [2003]
dianthus "pixie" (cheddar pinks)[2001]
gaillardia "mandarin" (blanket flower)[2002]
chrysanthemum maximum "becky," (becky's shasta daisy)[2002]
phlox subulata "scarlet flame," (creeping phlox)[2002]
veronica repens (creeping speedwell)[2002]
geranium x cantabrigiense "karmina" (cranesbill) [2003]
aquilegia "McKana Giant Hybrids" (columbine) [2003]
aster x dumosus "wood's pink" (hardy aster) [2003]
aster laterifolius Coombe Fishacre (calico aster) [2003]
campanula glomerata Joan Elliott (clustered bellflower) [2003]
campanula persicifolia coerulea (peach leaf bellflower) [2003]
campanula port. resholt variety [2003]
heuchera x brizoides "firefly" (coral bells) [2003]
rumex sanguineus var.sanguineus (bloody sorrel) [2003]
salvia x superba "blue hill" [2003] [**one of these plants has WHITE
flowers]
"New Dawn" climbing rose [2002]
unidentified reddish pink blooming miniature rose [2001]
two unidentified rose bushes that came with the house [assumed 1997]
two red-blooming "groundcover" type roses [2001]

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large

Try __The Well Tended Perennial Garden__, by Tracy Disabato-Aust. It's a
well written book that will answer many of your questions and give you a
strategy on how to care for you garden.

No affiliation, etc.

Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA
" OK, I know this is asking a lot. However, I have decided I need some help
here. What I have is a big garden with a lot of perennial plants. The ones
that I have put in I know the names of, and I have basic growing
information on them, but I just don't know which of these plants want to
be cut back ever, and if so, when. If anyone knows where I can go to find
out when/if to cut back a plant, or if anyone can comment on any of these
plants in particular, that would be great.

Try __The Well Tended Perennial Garden__, by Tracy Disabato-Aust. It's a
well written book that will answer many of your questions and give you a
strategy on how to care for you garden.

No affiliation, etc.

Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA
" OK, I know this is asking a lot. However, I have decided I need some help
here. What I have is a big garden with a lot of perennial plants. The ones
that I have put in I know the names of, and I have basic growing
information on them, but I just don't know which of these plants want to
be cut back ever, and if so, when. If anyone knows where I can go to find
out when/if to cut back a plant, or if anyone can comment on any of these
plants in particular, that would be great.






I also like Sunset for Northeastern gardens, it breaks it up into micro
climates.
Colleen
Zone 5 Connecticut

(Hillary Israeli) wrote in message ...

Hi, Hillary!

I wasn't really expecting to see a familiar name on my random lurking
here, so I just had to reply, even though I'm far from an expert
gardener!

linum perenne Blue (flax) [2003]

I've had some blue flax in my garden for about 4 years now. I love it
- but it does self-seed abundantly if you don't cut it back. If you
started it from seed, it may not bloom the first year, but after that
- look out! Ds also loves to play with the seed pods. I tend to cut
it back in early spring, so I have the seed pods for winter interest -
YMMV. It's also best for days when you are home - in my garden at
least, the blooms open after I leave for work, and blow away before I
get home. But at least I don't have to dead-head.

I also cut my lavender in the early spring, for winter interest. The
timing is when I realize that my grape hyacinths are coming up and
getting hidden by the lavender! I think mine is Munstead, though I'm
not positive, and I probably can't describe it well enough to help
your identification problem.

Good luck with your gardening!

Irene