| I love coneflowers but I can't keep them in my garden. They die after a few days of planting. I water them every day in summer. |
| Echinacea, or coneflowers, are drought tolerant once established so I think daily watering, even in summer is excessive. I think you are drowning your plants! Try this: amend the planting bed with some organic matter prior to planting (spread 4-5" of compost or aged manure over the bed and dig it in to a depth of 8-10"); plant at the same depth as your coneflowers were growing in the nursery pot (not too deep, not too shallow), then water them well after planting to help settle the soil. You won't need to water again until the top inch of soil dries out. (Stick your finger into the soil - if it is moist one-inch beneath the surface, you won't have to water for a few more days). After you've had the plants for a while you'll be able to tell when they need water (usually no more often than every 7-10 days). Best wishes with your coneflowers! |
