Brass Button Plants

Planting

• Brass buttons do well in full sun in regions with cool summers. Southern gardeners should provide the plant with afternoon protection from the hot sun. Although brass buttons tolerates most soil types, incorporating some compost into the planting soil helps it off to a strong start. When planting more than one, space them 8 to 10 inches apart. They spread rapidly, and fill in bare spots during the first season.

Culture

• Brass buttons is shallow-rooted so pay careful attention to the soil's moisture content. Never allow the top of the soil to dry completely. Warm-region gardeners may need to change their irrigation schedule to provide more water in the summer. Bachelor buttons prefer an acidic soil so use a fertilizer, in early spring, labeled for acid-loving plants, such as azaleas. Don't allow the granules to remain on the foliage -- use a hose to soak the product to the roots and wash the leftovers off the plant.

Pests

• The brass buttons plant isn't bothered by many pests. Occassional aphid or spider mite infestations may occur. Aphids are easily washed off plants with a strong blast of water from a garden hose. Insecticidal soap sprays work as well. A large spider mite infestation may lead to the death of the plant so inspect it periodically for signs of this pest. Spider mites are tiny, and difficult to see with the naked eye but they leave tell-tale webbing on the plant's foliage. Use a miticide containing bifenthrin or acephate, according to label directions and precautions and reapply every two weeks.

Propagation

• Brass button plants are easy to propagate with divisions of their roots in spring or fall. Water the plants the day before propagating to make it easier to remove them from the soil. Dig into the soil 2 to 3 inches away from the brass buttons and use the shovel to pry it from the soil. Because of its shallow root system it should easily lift from the soil. Use your hands to tear the clump into separate plants, each with its own roots. Replant the brass buttons immediately to avoid the roots drying out.