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Heathers are low-growing, shrub-like perennials that
blossom into a sea of color. They look great planted
with dwarf conifers, especially when a variety of shapes,
colors and textures are used. Interplant late flowering
varieties with deciduous plants that have colorful
foliage in the fall for a striking display, and use them
in camellia and rhododendron beds to add summer color.
They are also used in rock gardens and as groundcovers.
Heathers enjoy an sunny site with good air circulation
and an acid soil that doesn't dry out or become
waterlogged. Acid soil is a must for summer heathers, and
if your pH is too high, you should amend with aluminum
sulfate before planting if necessary. Pale leaves and
slow growth indicate that the soil is not acid enough.
You can help the soil retain moisture in the heat of
summer by applying a mulch. Two inches of bark chips or
cocoa shells make a good mulch for a bed of heathers.
Care and Maintenance
Use a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants in
spring and at regular intervals through the growing
season as the package directs. It's best to use a soluble
fertilizer rather than one that has to be worked into the
soil because the roots are very shallow, and you can
easily damage them by trying to cultivate around the
plants. To encourage strong growth, shear off the plants
in early spring before flowering begins.
Heathers are susceptible to fungus, and if your summers
are hot and humid, you may want to have a fungicide on
hand so you can treat your plants at the first sign of
infection.
Taking Cuttings
The best time to propagate heathers is mid- to late
summer. Fill a pot with a mixture of half sand and half
sterile peat moss, and make holes for your cuttings with
a thin twig.
Clip a 1-1/2 inch piece from the tip of a non-flowering
shoot. Make sure the shoot is from the current season's
growth. Strip the foliage from the lower half of the stem
with your fingers, taking care not to damage the stem, and
dip the lower end of the stem in rooting hormone. Make
sure the rooting hormone covers the part of the stem where
you have removed the foliage, then tap gently to remove
the excess.
Place the cuttings in the holes that you have prepared and
water the pot thoroughly but gently so as not to disturb
the cuttings. Once the pot has drained, cover it with a
plastic bag, making sure the sides of the bag don't touch
your plants. If necessary, insert a few twigs in the soil to
hold the bag away from the plants. Leave the bag in place
for 6-8 weeks.
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