| AT YOUR SUGGESTION WE PLANTED 105 AJUGA IN THE BED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE (WHERE WE PULLED OUT PACKASANDRA). THIS WAS A MONTH AGO AND THEY ARE JUST SITTING THERE, HAVEN'T SPREAD AT ALL AND SOME ARE LOSING THEIR COLOR. IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD BE DOING TO MAKE THEM SPREAD FASTER? WE PLANTED THEM 6-8" APART AFTER BEING TOLD THEY WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. THE LOCATION SEEMS IDEAL, SUN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS IN THE A.M. AND THEN SHADE THE REST OF THE DAY. I KEEP THEM WATERED AND WEEDED, AND STILL THEY JUST SIT. |
| Ajuga, just like any plant, needs to become established and will grow fastest in the late spring and early summer. The stress of transpalnting along with the waning season would combine to slow the plant down, so at this point you may need to be patient. Ajuga is a relatively fast grower, but in the plant world that is still in terms of a year or so, not a few weeks. I would expect them to fill in completely next year. In the meantime, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy and keep them weeded. Next spring you may want to apply some complete fertilizer and/or some compost around the plants to give them a boost. I would be a bit concerned about them losing color if they are turning brown or tan -- if this is the case make sure you are watering correctly. If the color is changing from reddish to a more green tint, that is probably the result of being grown in a shadier location and would be normal. |
