Latest Update 6th May 2017.
Golden Beard Penstemon.
- Penstemons are small short lived herbaceous shrubs and grow well in my clay based organic soil. They are very hardy and my weekly 1 hour watering by drip irrigation in summer provides plenty of water during their growing season.
- After they finish flowering in late autumn, I cut them back hard and after clearing old mulch and debris, apply 60mm of homemade compost covered with straw mulch.
- Dead flowers are removed right down to the base of the stem to encourage new growth during the summer.
- After a few years, when its vigour reduces, I propagate new plants by root division in late autumn.
- I have had Golden beard Penstemon for many years and I love their subtle dark pink flowers.
- Binomial Name: Penstemon Barbatus.
- Family: Plantaginaceae.
- Garden bed type: Drip line irrigated.
- Plant Spacings (centres): 1000mm.
- Climate: Warm Temperate.
- Geography: Southern Hemisphere. Growing
- Full sun.
- Minimise soil disturbances to maintain a natural soil structure.
- In late autumn, remove old mulch, fallen leaves and other decaying organic material. Dispose of them in the compost heap.
- Remove dead or diseased flower stems and reduce the height of the remaining foliage.
- Apply a top dressing of home made compost to the surrounding soil at a rate of 60 litres /M2.
- Cover with fresh straw mulch.
- Propagate Penstemon by root division in late autumn.
- Prepare the soil in the intended position and plant the new plant. Water it in well with dilute seaweed extract.
- Apply a monthly foliar spray of aerated compost tea when the rest of the ornamental plants are sprayed.
- My Penstemons have been always been pest free in my garden
- Regular foliar sprays of aerated compost tea should deter most airborne pests and diseases.
- An annual application of home made compost and aerated compost extract on the soil helps control soil borne pests.
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