The Master Gardener has tips for planting deer-resistant perennials that thrive in shade
The Springfield News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri, partners with the Master Gardeners of Green County each week to bring readers a question-and-answer column with some of the expert horticulturists in the region.
Colleges and universities in the U.S. typically offer Master Gardener programs, which provide "intensive horticultural training," according to the American Horticultural Society. The certified Master Gardeners then volunteer as lecturers, researchers and gardeners in their communities. For more information about Master Gardener programs in your community, the American Horticultural Society created this page with local resources.
Here's a sample of some of the recent questions amateur gardeners had for the masters of the craft.
What would be a good choice of perennials for the front of my yard? The area is shady, I already have ferns growing there and would like plants that look good with those. My yard also has frequent visits by deer, so something deer do not like would be a plus.
While there are many plants that deer don't necessarily like, or ones that are somewhat resistant, it is important to remember that a deer will eat almost anything if hungry enough!
One plant that comes to mind with your shady conditions would be hosta, however they are essentially "deer candy" and not a good choice in your case.
Some perennials that are more or less deer resistant and like shade would include columbine, bleeding heart, Solomon's seal, coral bells, astilbe, lirope, forget-me-nots, wild ginger, and hellebore.
Most of the flowers that bloom in the shade bloom early in the spring, but will still provide interesting foliage after bloom time is over, and will also blend well with the ferns you already have in place.
I would like to add some native trees to my yard. I am also interested in adding fruit production to my gardening plan. What native trees would be appropriate for landscaping and also produce fruit for consumption? When is the best time to plant?
Not only do native fruit trees provide food and shelter for wildlife and insects, they are also a good source of food for humans as well as a beautiful addition to any yard. In adding native plants to our environment, the value of plants producing food for humans is not often discussed. Most are quite suitable for home landscaping and require much less care than cultivated varieties of fruit trees.
Some of the best include persimmon, wild plum, pawpaw, chokecherries, and serviceberries. In addition, persimmon trees grow to around 65 feet tall, but the fruit drops when ripe, so harvesting is a bit easier. Persimmons require both a male and a female tree, so purchase at least two. While wild plum trees normally form a thicket, not necessarily good if you have limited space, they can be trained to grow like any orchard tree by trimming off the suckers that would have formed a thicket.
Other sources of native edible fruit include chokecherries, which are very tart but make a delicious jam when sweetened liberally; as well as serviceberries, which taste somewhat like blueberries with a touch of almond; and juniper berries, with a pine-like taste.
It is best to make sure to obtain seedlings/trees or seeds from a vendor specializing in native plants, as cultivated versions of our native species are not necessarily equal, especially in regard to attracting and feeding pollinators. The best time to plant these trees in southwest Missouri is late March or early April, though your region may vary. Even if you're currently a bit past the best planting time, you should be okay especially if the trees are kept well watered during hotter and drier spells. Fall is also an appropriate time to plant these trees.
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.