Question From: MICHIGAN
Q: I enjoy reading your columns and have attended several talks you gave at the County Downs Garden Club annual meetings in Royal Oak. My question is: "What can I do to mask a garden full of lilies-of-the-valley when their leaves turn brown in the heat?" A large, beautiful hemlock provided shade until it got too big and too close to my house and had to be removed. Now the plants are lush and green in the spring then look terrible all summer and fall. I had a trench dug to prevent spreading into the grass. One solution I tried was to put lots of bronze potted mums in the trench to hide the lilies. People say they don't see the brown plants from the street. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Susan
A: Thank you for the kind words. Lily of the Valley prefer part shade to full shade (morning sun is best). While they will live in full sun their soil must be kept moist at all times. As you witnessed in full sun in a heat wave the leaves will turn brown. They will probably do that every summer. If I were you I would replace them. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
