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Moonshine Designs Nursery Located in Milan, Illinois 309-756-1967 Fax: 309-756-1058
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Culture on this page for:
If planted 6" apart, it will give a pleasing effect immediately and in two years time form a solid ground cover. Grows in any soil. Water liberally.
Grows in part sun to full shade, to a uniform height of 6". Fine for terraces or any place where grass is not successful.
Zone: 4-9
Height: 6 Inches.
The first year it ‘sleeps’.. The second year it ‘creeps’ And, the third year it ‘leaps’!
It spreads rapidly by underground stems called rhizomes. Pachysandra prefers well drained, moist, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0) soil.
Pachysandra are planted 6-12 inches apart in spring in prepared soil with organic matter added.
Top dress planted beds yearly with compost and/or fertilizers.
Prune back or mow in spring whenever plantings need to be renovated.
During dry periods water by giving a 1 inch soaking, rather than light sprinklings.
Use of landscape edging will keep it in bounds, if necessary.
Bayberry Culture
Myrica pensylvanica
Also known as Northern Bayberry
Besides being an excellent and very adaptable landscape plant, the fruit of this shrub is also very useful. The mature berries are covered with a pale blue, lavender or grayish-white aromatic wax used in making candles which burn with a pleasing fragrance.
This tough plant
grows in coastal sandflats and tidal marshes from Maine to North Carolina. It is
adaptable to a range of difficult landscape conditions including poor, sterile,
sandy soils and heavy clay soils. Plant in full sun or part shade. Hardy to
zone 2. Best in slightly acid soil. Can withstand coastal salt sprays.
Bayberry is a deciduous to semi-evergreen plant. Its growth habit is
upright, with a rounded top and forms a fairly dense shrub. Its size varies. An
average height is about 8 feet without pruning. Plants will develop a spread
equal to their height. Minimal pruning will control it well. Two required for
berry set. See our website for more details.
Mint Culture
For the best results, please use the following suggestions as a guideline in growing your mints:
Unpacking: Unpack the plants as soon as possible and place in a bright, warm area. Keep out of direct sun for the first day or so until they get acclimated after their trip. If frozen, allow to thaw naturally at room temperature. Freezing does not harm these plants and they will pop right back. Keep evenly moist, but not soaking wet.
Preparing containers: We recommend growing your mints in containers. If planting out into an herb garden or border, we still recommend planting in containers. Sink the containers in the ground so the lip of the pot is about ½” above the surrounding soil line. Mints spread by both above ground and underground runners and if not kept in bounds can be invasive. If you have purchased the complete garden including these pots and potting mix:
Add two gallons of water to the potting mix and allow to soak for several hours until evenly moist. Hand mixing will accelerate this process. The mix is shipped dry to save weight. (The potting mix supplied is “soilless” , meaning there is no actual “dirt” in the mix and is sterile. There are also no chemical fertilizers added. Only lime has incorporated to adjust the pH.).
Planting In Containers: After the mix has been moistened, fill the nursery pots and plant your mints; one per nursery container, in the center. Keep in a protected area for a few days before placing out into full sun. The plants will look tiny in these big pots at first, but will rapidly fill up the pot! Other similar size containers may also be used, including hanging baskets and window boxes, etc.
Planting out into the garden: A moist situation is preferable, but mints will succeed in almost any soil, once started into growth. Although in dry, sandy soils it is sometimes difficult to grow, and should be planted in the coolest and dampest situations. We still recommend planting in containers for control! Plant in full sun (north) to light shade (south). Space plants 3 feet apart and prune often to prevent aggressive spreading and promote branching.
Care: Water to keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize lightly to encourage maximum flavor. Keep fresh manure away from mint to discourage rust disease from forming. Remove any yellow-streaked sprigs to prevent the spread of virus. Treat most insect pests with insecticidal soap, should any appear. Insects will not bother Pennyroyal! Mulch around plants to prevent weed growth an to keep soil evenly cool and moist. In northern zones, apply a 6” -12” mulch over the plants after a couple of hard freezes in the fall. Remove in early spring. Pennyroyal is more prone to winter damage north of zone 6 than the others.
Harvesting and Using: Harvest sprigs just before flowering or as needed. Use the foliage fresh, frozen, or dried in teas, candied treats, or as flavoring for peas, lamb, potatoes, and other foods.
Where a long or regular supply is required, it is a good plan to have at least one bed in a sunny and sheltered area, and another in a shady spot. This way, harvests may be made both early and late in the season. Pinching off early flower stems will extend harvest time.
Preserving & Drying: When the plants are breaking into bloom, the stalks should be cut a few inches above the soil level, on a dry day, after the dew has disappeared, and before the hot sun has taken any oil from the leaves. It can then be dried for culinary in the future. All discolored and insect-eaten leaves should be removed and the stems tied loosely into bunches and hung to dry on strings for 'bunched' herbs. The bunches should be nearly equal in length and uniform in size to facilitate uniform drying. The leaves may also be stripped from the stems as soon as completely dry and rubbed through a fine sieve, or pounded in a mortar and thus powdered. Store in tightly capped bottles or containers that are airtight.
Euphorbia myrsinites
Very unusual trailing, evergreen foliage accented in spring by 1" gold flowers at the tips of every branch. Good for edging elevated planters, borders, and especially effective in rock gardens. Hardy perennial. Hardy in Zones 5-9. Will survive in Zone 4 with winter protection. Does not like wet feet. This plant is a good choice for hot, dry areas. Very drought tolerant. Foliage may ‘droop’ in extreme cold, but will perk back up when warm temps return. Height: 6" Spread: 12-18".
NOTE: All euphorbia species have a milky sap that can be irritating to sensitive individuals if contact is made with the skin for a prolonged time. Wear gloves when trimming or dividing this species. Avoid getting sap in the eyes as it really burns! (Voice of experience!)
Sedum album
Use as a ground cover in rock gardens, along walkways, or along sunny
borders. 3 plants in a 10” hanging basket will attract lots of attention.
Allowing plants to ‘cascade’ over the side of containers and window boxes give a
nice effect. Also an excellent house plant! Not recommended for foot traffic.
Your Chubby Fingers has a low water requirement and does not like wet feet.
Prolonged exposure to poorly drained conditions will result in failure. Foliage
is evergreen turning an interesting pink/red in the fall. Stays green in the
summer; even during droughts!. Tough plants!
Exposure Full sun to light shade
Soil: Well drained, gravely or sandy soil
Height: 2"
Spread 8-12"
Zones 4-9