Last week, I noticed a pickup truck going down the freeway with a bunch of dead branches tied down. I recognized some buddleia and saw the seeds exposed to the wind as the truck sped down the road. I wonder if there are rules that demand the bushes be covered in a way that keep them from spreading seeds all along the route. It’s problems like this that help noxious weeds move into populated areas, where they become difficult to control.
I agree that the buddleia seeds are one of the most recognizable “weeds” when sent out to a composting facility; I often see pickups and trailers with dead branches whipping in the wind, as they go along the road scattering the seed along the sides of the freeway. If gardeners had deadheaded the plants in the season, they would have bloomed longer, and also not set the huge amount of ripe seed that is now blowing all over the freeways. I have many buddleia in my garden and have very little reseeding. In my large garden I have 5 named varieties. Only one has seeded around its base. I have removed those, and that’s that.
I’m sure I need to read the state noxious weed publication (nwcb.wa.gov/nwcb_publications.htm) on buddleia one more time, But I’m going by my many years of delving in gardening and horticulture, my observations and experience.
family are tree farmers here in the county. I see other ‘escapee’ such as American holly, spirea, and of course nonnative blackberry vines all through our trees. I have yet to see buddleia starts in the forests. Sometimes I wonder if buddleia gets the bad reputation because it’s so noticeable along the roads leading to the composting and recycling facilities.
We moved to Clark County in August, and were told how wet and rainy the falls are here. We did see some rain some weeks ago but now it’s just lovely again. Is this the normal weather pattern? If it is, we can see why the natives don’t want to talk about it; the rest of the nation would want to live here.
This is not the norm for the Pacific Northwest.
It’s nearing November and as I write this we are experiencing (another) long stretch of warm, dry, sunny days and chilly nights. In our area, all the trees and shrubs are full of lush greenery; there has been very little leaf drop so far this fall.
I’d like to see the leaves fall soon. An early, heavy, wet snow is not unheard-of in the county, and sometimes even early in November. I am imagining the problems that would make — for power companies and just in general — as the weight breaks limbs.
I hope you will learn to like living here in Southwest Washington. It is normally quite rainy in the fall, winter and spring, due to our being so close to the Pacific Ocean. But we have been experiencing some odd weather pattern the last several years, and it’s hard to say when the weather will become more normal. While the lovely weather is wonderful as a day-by day experience, I’m hoping that more typical fall weather will cause the trees and shrubs to drop their leaves, and we can get on with fall, and ease into winter.
I still have fuchsias and begonias in baskets in full bloom. I have moved them in a little closer to my house, and other spots that I feel might give them a small amount of protection on a particularly chilly night, but they are still performing beautifully. Can I keep them over winter, then just bring them back out next spring?
I’m sure that could be done, if you have a greenhouse that is warm enough to keep them growing. In my opinion, they lose something as they become huge — they are more difficult to display and maintain. Maybe more trouble than they’re worth.
Additionally, the chance for bringing in insects and disease with soil that’s been out all spring and summer is pretty great.
The growth on a fuchsia’s old wood could be hard to direct in a nice shape for a basket. The root mass would be such a tangle, and become too large and heavy for comfortable handling as a hanging basket.
I think you would be better off to let them go down this fall. Cut them back, and repot them in fresh soil, using larger containers if necessary. I start my baskets (in the greenhouse) mid-to-late February.
If the fuchsia is an upright one, as I mentioned here several weeks ago, try planting it in the garden. Find a nice spot that will be protected from winter winds, and yet not too exposed to hot sun and harsh summer conditions. If you place it well, (planting it deeper than normal) this increases its chance of survival and it could become a family favorite each late spring on through late fall.
Celeste Lindsay is a WSU-certified master gardener. Send questions to mslindsay8@gmail.com.
