Seventeen years ago I decided to grow blueberries. Several hundred large shrubs were obtained and successfully transplanted. In order to send all the strength possible into the root system, the plants were cut to six-inch stubs. The first year’s growth was excellent, each bush recovering about half the normal size. For the second year, it […]
Archives for July 2011
The Home Greenhouse – July Geraniums Calling
July is the month in the greenhouse to clean things up, plants some seeds and do some propagation… but which plants do you focus on?
Autumn Elaeagnus – Rapid Growth Crowds Natives
Autumn Elaeagnus is one of the best shrubs for autumn effect and at one time was highly both for rapid growth and modest price, the problem is – it crowds out native species (see invasivespeciesinfo.gov). Its artistic merits rest on beautiful silvery foliage and heavy masses of pink and red fruits. The latter are effective […]
Groundcover Plants Rescue Sloping Shaded Bank
Groundcovers are the answer in spots too dry for a lawn, where grass is hard to mow, where rain erodes the sloping ground and where shade is too dense.
Miniature Daylilies Compact Color For Borders and Garden Paths
Many people only think of daylilies as colorful, bright, robust and vigorous flowering perennial requiring a lot of space… but you can have daylilies in miniature forms as well!
Daylilies The Dark Secret of Rich Beauty
Daylilies with bright colors and dark varieties confuse some on how best to use the dark colors in the landscape. The question is how should one use the dark daylilies? In small home gardens a dark accent is invaluable.
Growing A Bonsai Tree – Culture Of Dwarf Trees For Beginners
Question: I saw some amazing bonsai plants at a crafts show this past weekend. Can any tree or plant be grown into a bonsai or are they special varieties? Jana, Eugene, Oregon Answer: Jana, Bonsai, or dwarf tree culture, is a hobby enthralling in its possibilities. It offers the opportunity to play with nature in […]
Summer Pruning Tips for Northern Trees and Lawns
Question: Is July a bad time to prune our maple and dogwood trees? How far back should we prune our Wisteria shoots? Audrey, Phoenixville, PA Answer: Audrey, the practice of summer pruning has long been used. This is the best time to prune trees that would bleed if pruned earlier. Maples, dogwood, birch, yellow wood […]
July Southern Gardens For The Relocated
Question: We relocated from Minnesota to Louisiana, and was not ready for the summer heat in the southern states which make it unbearable and difficult to get much outdoor work done in the afternoons. I’m trying to readjust to new seasons. As a new “southerner” what things do we need to work on in the […]
Tips for July Northern Landscape – Divide, Prune, Pinch
Question: How often should we divide our iris plants and also what about dividing Lily-of-the-valley clumps. How should big should the clump be when divided? Erica, Wilkinsburg, PA Answer: Erica, when iris has been in one place more than three years, the plants should be dug up and divided. Buds for next year are already […]
