For the very first time, I purchased one of those recycled tire soaking hoses. You know, the black hoses that weep the water slowly. I was so amazed at how they worked I purchased a total of 900 feet of hose! I wrap it around my gardens visiting the perimeter of each plant. It performs a marvelous DEEP watering which will last much much longer than a superficial top watering that may get only the top 1-2 inches. Hosta roots go down 12-15 inches or more. I let it soak 2 hours - it's easy and better! Here is a picture of what it looks like when visible (had a hard time finding a place for a good shot!) http://www.hostas.com/images/misc/soaker-hose.jpg

I was especially mindful of the hosta need for water . . . I moved several large hostas this spring to ease some garden congestion ('Sagae' and montana 'Aureo-marginata'). These are erect shaped hostas, not mounding. The leaf immediately began dropping lower and lower to the ground. After a quick deep soak, the leaves were once again held almost vertical. A day later, the leaves where down again. Another quick deep soak, the leaves where up again! They consume a lot of water which is quite evident when their roots are disturbed.

Then I began to notice how the leaves were being held by other hosta plants that had the mounding habit. After a heavy watering, the leaves, instead of touching the ground, were held just above the ground. This is when the soaker hose (mentioned previously) seemed to be the answer. Hostas I am convinced need and require deep waterings so that they perform to their best potential.

Grasses

In the same vain, Miscanthus grasses even though they grow well in the open garden, are naturally occurring at the edges of rivers and lakes in China. A deep heavy soaking for these plants will be of great benefit also.

Those of you who purchased Miscanthus floridulus this year - getting big huh? My floridulus which is in it's third year is currently standing at 10 feet on 07/04. It has very good potential of reaching the 15' mark this season. See the current picture at http://www.hostas.com/images/grasses/miscanthus-floridulus.jpg.

I am very impressed with Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'. I picked up the grass plugs last year for retail pots. I was not very impressed at what they looked like in the pot. But I gave them a chance and planted 3 along the south side of a solid wood fence. They are really great! In fact, I like them FAR better than Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'. They are really blue and stay blue! Depending on growing conditions, they will get anywhere from 4-5 feet high and are hardy to zone 4. See the current picture at http://www.hostas.com/images/grasses/panicum-prairie-sky.jpg. These are also on sale for $6.00 each.

Hosta Pick of the Month

The following hostas will be new additions to next year's selection. More to come! The following newsletters will highlight these new hostas.

	Hosta 'Blue Moon'
	Hosta 'Kabitan'
	Hosta tokudama 'Aureo-nebulosa'
	Hosta tokudama 'Flavo-circinalis'
	Hosta venusta
	Hosta 'Yellow Splash Rim'

Ornamental Grass Pick of the Month

The following ornamental grasses will be new additions to next year's selection. The following newsletters will highlight these new ornamental grasses.

	Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'
	Carex muskingumensis
	Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
	Miscanthus sinensis 'Bluttenwonder'
	Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'
	Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry'
	Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Virdescens'
	Pennisetum setaceum
	Pennisetum setaceum 'Burgundy Giant'
	Phalaris arundinacea 'Dwarf Garters'
	Spodiopogon sibericus

Wisdom from the Garden

If your feeling low, show it so that you may receive help - drought.