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Native Plant Gardening Tip_081118

Clean up your garden and get ready to plant

Heteromeles arbutifolia
toyon berries in November
Autumn is the time of year to prepare for late fall to winter planting. Cut back perennials and grasses right before they enter their active growing period to keep your garden looking neat and cared for.  Plants that benefit from this care include coralbells (Heuchera sp.), wild sages (Salvia sp.), canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides), giant ryegrass (Leymus condensatus), and sedge (Carex sp.).  For more information, consult Care and Maintenance of Southern California Native Plant Gardens by Bart O’Brien, Betsey Landis and Ellen Mackey*  

Pacific Coast Hybrid and Douglas iris (Iris -PCH and I. douglasiana) can be divided in the early autumn as well. Timing is important for successful division of our west coast irises. Gently expose the root area near the fan of leaves of the iris.  They are ready for division when the new roots are approximately ¼ to ¾ of an inch long. Be sure to plant the division immediately as the roots dry out quickly. Check the website of the Society of the Pacific Coast Native Iris  (http://www.pacificcoastiris.org/default.html ) for more gardening tips.

* Available for purchase in the RSABG Garden Shop