Month: January 2020

Red tip bushes, as Fraser’s photinias (Photinia x fraseri) are occasionally called, provide a handsome solution for regions of the landscape in which a bit of pizzazz is necessary. Beloved for the stunning red color new-growth leaves game in the spring and its year-round evergreen foliage, red tip bushes thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 and 9. Since they grow at a speed of 2-3 feet each year and can be pruned and shaped to stylish standards, it is possible to integrate red tip bushes in several regions of your landscape layout.

Block the view of your gardens from neighboring properties or the street with a hedgerow of red tip bushes. Prune the hedge early in the spring to control its height and width, and to foster the appearance of glowing red leaves as the new growth emerges. Leave the hedge unshorn for a rambling, rustic look that is suitable as country streets and in the far end of a huge backyard.

Cut lower branches from a red tip shrub routinely to create the appearance of a normal tree with a spreading canopy of dense, evergreen foliage. Listed as a utility-friendly tree from the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute in California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Fraser’s photinia is typically appropriate for planting near overhead wires but might need to be top-trimmed occasionally to keep its top limbs in check.

Anchor a island bed with a single red tip bush, and trim it early each spring to maintain a tight, compact form. Plant sun-loving perennials in the bed, like tall, purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and lacy, threadleaf “Moonbeam” coreopsis (Coreopsis verticullata “Moonbeam”), that both grow in USDA zones 4 through 9 and are elegantly complemented from the tree’s leathery green leaves.

Train select limbs of red tip bushes laterally and wires to create an espalier facing an unattractive retaining wall, the side of a backyard shed or along the edge of a little garden area. Install the hold wires once the bush is planted, remove the unwanted branches prior to the red hints show up in the spring, and loosely tie the remaining branches to the wires to guide their growth.

Flank each side of the front-door entry or the entry point of a garden path with red tip bushes to create symmetry in the landscape design. Trim the trees into circular, pyramidal or boxy shapes for a formal garden setting. Pinch off the division ends of the simple topiary or shear the whole shrub in late winter or very early spring to encourage the glowing reddish leaves that punctuate the garden’s springtime appeal.

Incorporate red tip trees right to your living fence of mixed evergreens and deciduous shrubs and smaller trees along a property line. Incorporate early bloomers, like forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia), that rises in USDA zones 4 through 8 and shines with golden yellow blooms in early spring, and plants that have rich autumn color, like red laceleaf Japanese maples (Acer palmatum “Ornatum”), that grow in zones 6 through 8, to provide the boundary hedge a complete selection of colorful, seasonal interest.

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Fences covered in vines make a lush backdrop to your own garden. Selecting the ideal vine means understanding the terms into which you’re raising the plant. Soil conditions, sunlight pattern and whether you need to give support to this vine prior planting it near a fence all play a role in determining what is ideal for your lawn.

Tolerant

Cross vine (Bignonia capreolata) is a strong utility vine. It prefers sunlight to grow its bright, trumpet-shaped blossoms that grow in groups of two to five, but it may also tolerate shade planting. It isn’t fussy about its soil conditions, growing happily in average soil that drains well. This easy vine also does not need extra support, because cross vine climbs almost anything, using the nails at the conclusion of its tendrils to cling to fence substances. It grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9.

Tenacious

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), also known as poor man’s string, evening trumpet flower or yellow jessamine, is a robust perennial climbing vine suitable in USDA zones 7 through 8. This vine is almost indestructible, climbing over and up constructions, such as fences, easily and quickly. It prefers sun to bloom well, but also tolerates shade. The vine produces bright yellow blooms set against shiny dark green leavesthat can be particularly attractive when viewed unwanted with its bright red berries. Carolina jessamine is poisonous if ingested.

Unusual Flower

Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), also referred to as apricot vine, purple passion vine or Maypop, creates intriguing and delicate flowers. The petals of this flower are not solid; rather, they extend from the center of this flower in slim tendrils, lending an airy and delicate quality to the vine. The vine does not require extra support to develop, simply utilizing the fence to advancement vertically. Purple passionflower prefers sunny circumstances, though it also grows in partial shade. Its soil requirements are easy, since it tolerates dry to moist soil. This perennial vine is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Showy Flowers, But Requires Support

Bright, tubular blossoms in dark coral and red add a pop of colour against your fence line. Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), also called woodbine or coral honeysuckle, is particularly suited to chain link fences, because it requires air circulation to prevent issues with powdery mildew. This climbing perennial vine flowers in spring and red berries follow when the bloom is spent. Trumpet honeysuckle prefers sunlight, although it can tolerate partial shade, and moist soil. When first planted, trumpet honeysuckle needs some training to get it started growing on a fence. This vine grows well in USDA zones 6 through 9.

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Such as the saying goes, “timing is everything,” especially when it comes to cutting plants and shrubs. Pruning at the wrong time could leave plants misshapen, make them vulnerable to disease and damage from winter temperatures, or decrease flowering. Other critical aspects include things like utilizing clean, sharp pruning equipment like shears or loppers and utilizing proper pruning methods to decrease plant damage. Since flowering shrubs form next year’s buds at different times of year, gardeners should time trimming projects according to each plant’s flowering program.

Winter Trimming

Winter is a busy pruning season. In line with “Sunset,” it is an ideal time to trim woody shrubs to keep them from becoming leggy during the growing season. It’s also a great time to prune shrubs that bloom in late summer and autumn. For instance, western mugwort (Artemisia ludoviciana “Valerie Finnis”) is hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 10. It grows 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and blooms from August through September with white flowers. According to the University of California Alameda County Master Gardeners, winter is also a suitable time to prune butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica) and roses.

Spring Trimming

Although mild-climate gardeners are predominately busy with planting and preparing soil for planting, gardeners who live at frost-prone areas might want to skip pruning frost-tender shrubs in winter. Wait to prune shrubs which could be damaged or killed with a late winter or early spring frost. 1 instance, Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), is hardy in zones 9 through 11. This evergreen tree grows 3 to 6 feet tall and blooms with purple or white flowers from summer until the first frost. For frost-tender plants, the extra branches and increase protects them chilly weather damage. According to North Coast Gardening, other frost-tender plants include Fairy fuchsia (Fuchsia thymifolia) or citrus-bearing plants.

Summer Trimming

Although spring and winter are a busier period for cutting shrubs, summer is the ideal period to shear summer-flowering hedges like boxwood (Buxus “Green Velvet”). Green velvet boxwood is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, and it should be pruned following its spring flush of growth has finished to control growth and preserve hedge size. Other candidates for summer parting comprise late-flowering perennials like a double reblooming azalea (Rhododendron “RLH1-2P8” P.P. #21,477). This cultivar, hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, blooms once in April and again in July. Pruning it before the second bloom would eliminate its buds and stop its second bloom. Similarly, Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, should be bloomed after the plant has finished blooming in mid to late summer.

When to Deadhead

Most flowering shrubs gain in the removal of spent blossoms, a procedure commonly called deadheading. Trimming dead flowers could be done anytime during a tree’s blooming season. This type of trimming prevents the tree from utilizing energy to form seed heads, frequently encouraging it to bloom more profusely or bloom for a second time.

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When it comes to lighting a greenhouse, nothing works better than natural light. Should you utilize your greenhouse to grow plants in sunlight, or if the construction or placement of the greenhouse limits the light that enters it, you may need supplementary light. Bear in mind that the wrong kind of light can stunt plant growth.

Not Enough Light

A common problem with greenhouse lighting isn’t enough light. If plants don’t get enough light, then they have a tendency to stretch, growing ever greater, seeking more light. Light-starved plants eventually become spindly and top-heavy. Energy that could go into leaves, flowers and fruit goes to stems, and the plant weakens consequently. Getting plants sufficient light entails making certain the artificial lights have a high enough wattage. It also involves ensuring that the light is close enough to the plant. For seedlings especially, the light should be only 1 to 2 inches from the bulb.

Too Much Light

Plants can get too much light. Throughout the afternoon, plants use water and light to make starches and oxygen. At nighttime, the plant converts these starches to sugars and stores them. Among the problems with greenhouse lighting is that it may be left on around the clock to spur fast development, but doing so compromises the health of plants. Plants given an excessive amount of light become pale, sometimes sunburned. A span of roughly eight hours of darkness each night helps plants preserve their wellness.

The Wrong Kind

Plants use mainly red and blue light for photosynthesis. High-pressure sodium lights put out most of their light from the yellow range, which is virtually unusable by plants. Incandescent lights put out broader range of light, but they put out heat, something that may damage little, tender plants. Metal halide and fluorescent tubes have been better options. They’re trendy and efficient and they put outside light the plants can utilize.

Uneven Distribution

Uneven light means some plants will grow well while others languish. Though different plants have different light requirements, generally speaking, greenhouse lighting should provide 20 to 40 watts of light per square foot, spread evenly across the growing surface. That light must also have the ability to reach all the leaves. Plants that are spaced too closely will have some leaves that are shaded all the time.

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Window boxes provide additional planting space around the home while adding curb appeal to the house. If a window box is located in a partly shaded area, there is still enough sunlight to grow most plants. The shallow root space and fast drying ground supply two hurdles that are overcome by choosing plants that do not develop deep roots and perform withstand drought conditions.

Perennial Flowers

Perennial flowers return in the origin every spring, attracting the window box to existence with interesting colours. Cascading hopflower oregano (Origanum libanoticum) grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10, reaching 1 to 2 feet tall and wide with fragrant, pale-green leaves forming paper-lantern shapes on arching stems. The tiny, rose-pink flowers appear from summer through autumn attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the window box. “Chi Chi” sturdy pink petunias (Ruellia brittoniana “Chi Chi”) create dark-green, narrow leaves covering the 24-inch-tall comes topped with pink flowers from summer until the end of fall in USDA zones 7 through 10. This tall plant looks great when implanted near the back of the window box.

Evergreen Foliage

Evergreen plants keep their leaves through the winter, providing year-round color. The dwarf asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus “Nana”) grows in dense, round clumps 15 inches tall and wide with glowing lime-green, fine needle-like leaves at USDA zones 9 through 11 with white flowers blooming in the spring. “Limelight” licorice plants (Helichrysum petiolare “Limelight”), in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, climb 1 to 2 feet tall covered with chartreuse-green, velvety leaves and tiny white blooms. This licorice-scented plant spreads up to 6 feet wide unless back to a sensible size.

Semi-Evergreen Flowers

Semi-evergreen plants remain colorful and keep their leaves all year long unless exposed to freezing temperatures. They lose their leaves in winter. “Bowles’ Mauve” wallflowers (Erysimum “Bowles’ Mauve”) create clusters of fragrant pink blossoms blooming from spring until the end of summer on an erect, shrubby, gray-green plant 18 to 24 inches tall and 15 to 18 inches wide in USDA zones 6 through 11. Pink Texas skullcap (Scutellaria suffrutescens) form a 4-inch-tall mound spreading 15 inches wide with green leaves and rose-red flowers appearing all summer long in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. This plant need watering until it is established and producing new growth. “Wild Thing” fall sage (Salvia greggii “Wild Thing”), at USDA zones 6 through 10, rises coral-pink flowers lasting from spring until the end of autumn on 2- to 3-feet-tall stems. This blossom attracts hummingbirds, and the plant requires clipping to control the length of the stems.

Succulent Foliage

Succulent plants create thick leaves and stems, which store moisture, as an adaption to growing in dry conditions. “Blue Spruce” stonecrop (Sedum reflexum “Blue Spruce”), at USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 11, creates small, blue, evergreen leaves resembling blue spruce needles and yellow summer flowers on 8-inch-tall stalks. This easy-care plant spreads up to 18 inches wide. Calico kitty crassula (Crassula pellucid “Variegata”) rises 12-inch-long trailing stems covered with variegated leaves in rose, pink, cream and green colours. Find this succulent near the front border of the window box so that the stem may hang over the rim.

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