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New thinking for gardens promoted
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[JUNE
9, 2004]
URBANA -- Home gardeners
often assume and act on the conventional wisdom that says to plant
petunias in sunny areas and impatiens in shady spots, said a
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. |
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"People might want to consider things
that are more out of the mainstream," said Greg Stack. "Home
gardeners need to look at what else is out there in terms of plants
for these locations."
If they do so, home gardeners might
find themselves on the cutting edge of their neighborhood; a person
might become a "real mover and shaker in terms of gardens," Stack
said.
The information gardeners need can be
found on Extension's Urban
Program Resources Network website in the
"Hort Corner"
section on the
"Beyond
Impatiens and Petunias" pages.
Stack said home gardeners are often
conditioned to automatically go with petunias in sunny areas and
impatiens in shady ones, even though many alternatives are
available.
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this article]
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The "Beyond Impatiens and Petunias"
pages offer home gardeners a variety of choices.
"We list and describe 18 different
options for sunny areas, 10 for shady areas and five for partially
shaded parts of the garden," said Stack.
The site provides a guide for matching
plants to a particular location based on factors like light, soil
conditions and moisture.
"There is also information on other
plants to consider as well, including shade-tolerant ornamental
grasses, perennials for both dry shade and wet areas, and perennials
and annuals for dry and sunny areas," said Stack.
Stack said the intent is to provide the
home gardener with more information and options.
"We hope
this site will open up the gardening vista to other plants and
choices," he said.
[University of Illinois news
release]
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