Fickling Finicky about Flowers

By Ron Dieter, Sunnyfield Greenhouse & Gardens

Anyone who ventures to downtown Kewanee these days can't help but notice the colorful flowers in the large planters placed along the sidewalks. The care of these planters is the responsibility of Pat Fickling, who owns and operates Pat's Landscape Service.

Several years ago, the landscape committee of Kewanee's Downtown Revitalization Project recommended that the downtown area landscape include ornamental trees and large planters of flowering plants. They knew from past experience, however, that unless a specific plan was in place to pay for the continued maintenance of the landscape, it would soon become an eyesore rather than an asset. They proposed that a special property tax be collected annually from the owners of the downtown buildings to be used for the care and maintenance of the plantings. This plan was adopted, planters were purchased, trees were installed, and local landscaper Pat Fickling was hired to care for them.

Caring for the downtown streetscape is an ongoing task. In late April Pat starts setting out young annuals in the planters. He has learned which varieties can withstand the hot sun and strong winds in the downtown area and has become very particular about the plants he uses. He uses a mixture of plant varieties for plenty of color and seasonal interest. Some varieties that do well for him are Snapdragon 'Liberty' and Nicotiana 'Appleblossom'. Both bloom most of the season and tolerate the heat and wind.

"I tried using Nicotiana sylvestris (flowering tobacco), a tall plant with bold foliage and striking white flowers, but it just did not do well," he says. "I use annual larkspur for early color even though it fades in the heat. By then the other plants take over. Larkspur reseeds in the planters, so I usually don't have to replant it the next season. For midsummer bloom I include annual asters because they provide nice color and some height."

Pat especially likes Super Cascade petunias. They have large blooms and tumble over the edge of the pot. He likes their softer colors better than those of the Wave petunia, a new variety that was popular this year. "I also experimented with dahlias and Celosia 'New Look'," he says, "but I won't use them next year. They just did not do as well as I wanted."

Throughout the growing season, Pat follows a regular program of watering, fertilization, and maintenance. "I never depend on Mother Nature for water. The elements that determine how often I have to water are wind and heat, not rain," says Pat. "Unless we get a good inch and a half or more, I can't depend on rain to water these planters." Using a watering tank in the back of his pickup, he begins watering about six in the morning, before downtown traffic gets heavy. The 42 planters in the downtown area soak up almost 300 gallons twice a week. Pat feeds the plants with Osmocote, a slow release fertilizer.

Keeping the planters looking good can be a challenge. "The worst problem is not diseases, insects, or watering; it's vandalism. It's not unusual on any given morning to find a few plants pulled out and thrown on the street. When I set out some boxwoods last winter, almost every one of the thirteen I planted was pulled up or stolen," he says. "Flowering kale is a favorite with thieves and snapping tree limbs seems to be a popular pastime with some people."

In early fall, Pat removes the summer plants and adds pansies and flowering kale. In most seasons they provide color through the Christmas season. During the winter months he prunes the 54 flowering pear trees to remove damaged branches and to guide their growth. When spring arrives it's time to start all over again. "Next year I'll try several new salvias and foliage plants to see if they make the grade. The fun is in the experimentation."