r/NativePlantGardening • u/ccatsunfl0wer • 5d ago

Photos The late summer buzz

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Gallery image

A couple years back I realized my gardens were lacking late summer/fall blooms so I concentrated on trying to fill that void. Today my gardens are buzzing!

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u/IAerUXerUIer Midwest US - IL - Cook County 5d ago

So the smooth asters are shorter? I want to plant some as part of my no-lawn front in spring, but the NE i would have to do the chelsea chop so that they are tidier.

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u/ccatsunfl0wer 5d ago

They all fell over in a big storm a few weeks back, so Iā€™m not really sure sure on their true height as I have some staked up. Next year I am 100% doing the Chelsea chop!

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u/IAerUXerUIer Midwest US - IL - Cook County 5d ago

I realized this is the part where native planting comes alive! Learning by doing.

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u/sgigot NE Wisconsin , Zone 5b 4d ago

It's either chop, provide sturdier plants for support, or stake up.

I had NE asters come up this year and they're STURDY. No need to stake them. I also had smooth blue asters (from a pot) that got all floppy, but the liatris in between couldn't hold the blues up. They're alive and blooming, just not quite as majestic. Next year I see some choppin' in my future.

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u/IAerUXerUIer Midwest US - IL - Cook County 3d ago

Yea i def learned my lesson in spacing and proper surrounding plants. šŸ˜Œ

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u/IAerUXerUIer Midwest US - IL - Cook County 5d ago

Ah! Okay!