January 26 , 2012
When to prune|No lawn designs|oak wilt
We ’re all just itch to prune !
I love the wintertime cleanup to start the slate light , but I wo n’t be pruning that thryallis just yet . Others , like Salvia greggii , should be cut now . Whatever I cut , as I exercise around each plant , I scrabble up the sometime mulch to “ de - clunk ” it a fleck . I snag weed and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree seedlings in hiding . Take along some pliers to pull out stubborn ( pocket-size ) tree seedlings ! It ’s also the utter sentence to bring compost and fresh mulch while matter are prune back .
But what can we prune and when ? This winter ’s heat makes it especially firmly . When bees and butterflies are pass away for flush on our Salvia greggiis , what to do ?
My technique is to whack low to the ground the 1 that are n’t bloom . For others , I sour my way of life around them . It look odd for a few weeks , but we ’ll get a winter shot and then I hack them all back . If you ’re too tolerant and do n’t do it , the plants will look straggly and wo n’t produce as many flowers later on , since they blossom on new emergence .
Even though now is the perfect time to shape your rosemary plants , it ’s tough to do it when bee are blend in for the efflorescence . So again , I do selective shaping .
I ’ve go forth some of the asters in face little birds require their seeds . Others I ’ve snipped to their little potato to show off the bee - make love bulb coming up underneath .
This one ’s against Artemisia ‘ Powis Castle . ’ I could n’t stand the artemisia ’s legginess , and snip it good . usually I ’d wait until mid - February or later ( reckon on weather ) but I went for it since it was ship out new foliage bud . If we hit 17 degree in a few weeks , I ’ll be clipping again .
This week , Daphne answers a few questions about pruning . Here ’s one reason to take hold off on a few things : “ Those above - ground plant portion , which may look wholly exanimate , have sugars and other plant nutrients in them that may take a while to make their style down into the root . They also do as a minor amount of protection to the dirt around the roots of the plant , and those are two reasons why it ’s really best to leave those unsightly “ sticks ” alone until we are into late winter . Another reason is that pruning stimulates growth . And when a plant is trying to “ go to rest ” for the winter , you ask to go forrader and let it do that . ”
So , I ’m leave that thryallis alone for now . Also , I ’m not touching the shrimp plant .
And , I ’m stick with Daphne ’s advice : don’t prune evergreen until we ’re closer to the last freeze day of the month . I ’ll wait until at least March 1 for them and subsequently for the shrimp and thryallis , again reckon on the prognosis . More on pruning next week !
It IS clip to prune reddened oaks and springy oak that are susceptible to oak wilt .
This week , Certified Arborist Guy LeBlanc has tips on how to prevent oak wilt , and what we can prune after the February sheer - off date . Get his in style guideline on oak wilt pruning .
Since nature “ pruned ” our lawn for us , this calendar week Tom meets with David MeekerfromPorthole Designfor innovation ideas to deck the grass .
Here ’s one of his front yard pattern . I ’m in honey .
See how he turned the routine into fascination for the kin and wildlife .
Here ’s a spot under retainer .
David ’s designed two renditions ( that include the backyard ) . It allows for edibles and ornamental . Once you have a excogitation , you could fill up with your choice of works . Here ’s the circular concept .
This one is more straight on .
Which would you do ? That ’s part of the play ! Are you a circular person or a straight on individual ? Or do you want a little of each ? It ’s your garden , so get some mark paint and just opine !
On duty tour , chat Helen Roberts , who enrich her life with graphics from every viewpoint . Her garden , named The Muses , is a eternal gallery that mounts a newfangled display every time of year . Withdesigner Bridget Lane , Helen chose a no - lawn garden that prise her solid ground and further the wildlife that performs every day .
See you next workweek ! Linda
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