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| 13 Jul 2008 05:58:32 am |
 a good time to plant |
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It is often recommended that fall planting is the best time to plant new things for the garden. I do not dispute this dictum, but wish to remind gardeners that ANYTIME you get a plant and plant it immediately, it begins growing in your garden. If you get a plant in summer, and plant it when you get it home, you automatically take advantage of this seasons growing circumstances. And when fall comes later, your plant will already be in the ground and growing and can take even more advantage of the "fall planting" season since it is already growing. More roots and shoot growth will occur than a newly planted specimen since it was planted earlier in summer, spring, etc. whenever you got it!
So containers allow any gardener to have a plant immediately start to establish itself as soon as you plant it.
Summer is also a good time to look for plants, since it is often less busy at nurseries, the days are longer, and you can make several trips besides stopping in at your favorite local nursery. You can take your time and search out new goodies for you garden. There will be things in bloom, things that have already finished blooming, and so much more..don't forget you can also order in advance those special plants too.
The summer period is a great time to shop for maples. They are in full flush of growth and are showing summer leaf colors, often quite different than spring leaf colors. Often they are putting on a second flush of growth, so you can get a larger sized plant before they get potted on to larger container sizes.
Summer is a great time to see flowering shrubs like hydrangeas (the shade loving types(H. macrophylla, H. serrata, H. aspera) as well as the sun loving typesH. paniculata grandiflora 9H. p. g. Pinky Winky is a hot new one with a large cluster to 12" and bicolor inflorescence, older cluster is pink and tip is white!) others like H. arborescens 'Annabelle', and H. quercifolia are sun - shade tolerant depending on climate and exposure and watering), indigofera incarnata (I. decora)(*This is the wonderful little bush that looks so much like its cousin wisteria, but can fit anywhere, containers, borders, etc. as it is small growing), agastache, Calylophus drummondii, Hibbertia paniculata, Calendrinia spectabilis, the newer Abutilon hybrids (smaller growing shrubs with more profuse flowering and improved colors), Taro/elephant ears (Colocasia spp. and cvs.), flowering gingers (alpinia, hedychium, zingiber spp.)
Exotics like bamboos, and the unusual conifers(variegated pines, spruces, etc.) are also full and lush at this time of year.
Deciduous flowering shrubs are also in prime growth, full foliage and have full plant branching.
Deciduous azaleas are in full leaf (and they take full sun too, and bloom better in full sun!)
Many wonderful things await the gardener at this time of year. Asking questions of your nursery professionals for new items/plants can often influence what will be on the buying list for the coming season.
Fruit trees as well are just wonderful to buy now. If you are lucky, you may find trees in fruit! and can taste them this year without having to wait for fruit wood to form in later years while they grow.
Right now plums, pluots, and some very early peaches and nectarines are in season.
Still not too late to plant a few veggies such as beans, parsley, carrots, squash, pumpkins, if you hurry, get them sown or put out small plants ASAP so they can grow fast in the warm soil and begin to set fruits/ crops. |
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Category : General
| By : Admin |  Comments [0] |  Trackbacks [12] |
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| 19 May 2008 04:52:10 am |
| conservative watering with efficiency |
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What with the new changing weather patterns due to global warming, we are now facing a water shortage, and rainy season which is much reduced over the more traditional winter rain patterns we have been accustomed to. Here are some tips to try.
We all like to have wonderful lush gardens, but some of us face water restrictions, rationing, etc. What to do? Do we just plant drought tolerant species and then have a less colorful season during the summer month? Not necessarily so if you think wisely about your landscape areas.
If you have a blank empty space, it is worth it to consider passive solar design in your planting scheme. This is simply explained as growing plants that will help you reduce your exposure to the sun in summer and allow that same sun's warmth into your house in winter. This is easily done by planting leaf losing(deciduous) plants to shade the facade of the building during the summer and when the leaves fall in winter, they allow light to warm the structure. Small trees and shrubs(deciduous) can fit this bill nicely and provide a wonderful seasonal show depending on species selected. (This also can be applied to established landscapes by adding a tree or shrub to do the shading job.)
If you choose water conservative plant material, then that is wise for future water needs.
You might also consider planting a more drought tolerant landscape in the majority of the out areas, and then concentrate your thirstier plants closer to the house, or closer to each other. By doing this, you can have your lush garden area and still be water conscious with the rest of the landscape.
A simple technique to use when watering is familiar to many of us. That is the occasional deeper watering which wets those deeper roots. Thorough watering is much more effective and efficient than shallower watering at shorter intervals. With deeper watering, you are encouraging the plant to grow roots deeper. With more frequent watering with shorter intervals, you are encouraging shallow rooting. The plant simply cannot tap into subsoil moisture if the roots have not grown deep.
Another technique is to double water. Let me explain. This is especially nice if you water containers. You water your plant as always, letting the excess run out of the drain hole freely. Then you wait for perhaps 10-20 minutes and then water that same plant again. What happens is that the soil is wetted the first time and the plant roots begin to absorb the water. Now the soil is moist and you apply water again and that wets any soil in the container which was not wet the first time, and also allows the plant to take up more moister after the first watering. You will see a marked improvement in your plants if you water this way.
The added benefit is that now you can go at longer intervals of watering since the plant is thoroughly hydrated and can now go longer between waterings.
This also works in the landscape. Just make sure to check your drainage so that roots are not waterlogged and probe with a shovel to see how deep and effective your watering with this technique is when you begin.
Commercial growers have used this little known technique for some time, finding that their crops benefit from the more thorough watering.
Of course if the plants are wilting, water them! Don't wait until the scheduled interval day. Pay attention to the weather conditions and condition o fthe plant always!
A fundamentally important thing is to check your sprinklers regulary and fix any which are broken, or broken irrigation lines, drip emiters, etc.
Also check your timers/controllers and make sure you are not wasting water by applying too much so that excess sheets off the area and into gutters, etc. You can usually program your timer to water at several shorter intervals to apply the same amount of water and have that water go into the soil, instead of flooding away, wasted.
A tip for ease of maintenance is to get controller that you can feel comfortable with when you need to use it/ change a program. If you buy a simple one which is more costly than a cheap one, but is easier to use than the cheap model, you will make yourself much happier in the years to follow.
Drought tolerant plants, xeriscape and mediterranean climate plants, native plants(not all are drought tolerant) are headings under which you can find a large and varied plant materials listing. Besides that, you can plant many bulbs(spring, winter flowering bulbs may need zero watering since they are dormant during the summer) and annuals(choose from among the wildflower mixes, etc.)
Suuculent type plants are also resistant to droughts and most cactus species are too. If you have an inclination to the rare, unusual, choose from the caudex/caudiciform plant species. Many conifers are also less thirsty species. |
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Category : General
| By : Admin | Comments [1] | Trackbacks [5] |
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| 18 May 2008 04:35:51 am |
| care for plants in high heat |
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Just as people appreciate coolness during very warm weather, so do plants. If they cannot stay cooler, it is very important to keep them well watered. If they are dry, growth will be checked or set back due to drying out and growth abortion results from lack of moisture. We are having a very warm spell just now, and the softer growth of spring is more tender to it than summer growth, so now is a very important time to keep your plants well watered so they can make it through this warm period and any following hot weather.
A basic tip and observation is that if the plant is wilting, water it immediately, amking sure to see that the root area is saturated. Various plants such as maples and other ornamentals that like ample water throughout their growing season will greatly benefit from additional water applied during hot spells. It is important to thoroughly wet the root zone,so water deeply, then ease off and let the soil dry out somewhat before watering again.
Water is best applied during the early morning hours, but if you cannot do that, just water the plant when you can. With Japanese maples, it is recommended to keep the water off the leaves in the full hot sun of the day, otherwise they might burn. Dusk is alright since it can cool the area off as long as you can dry off the plant before nightfall.
Watering containerized plants is even more important since all the roots are only in the confines of a pot and the plant does not have the benefit of deeper roots in lower levels of the soil.
As long as the soil drains excess water freely away and the plant is not waterlogged after watering, you can apply water. (In containers, you may need to water several times in a very hot day.)
Various ornamentals such as roses and bamboos will definitely show stress and damage if they do not get enough water in heat waves. Flowers dry up and abort, leaves may dry and burn/ later falling off, and growth is checked. Younger plants tend not to need as much water as older plants, but you need to water larger, older plants very well in order to wet the entire root zone they have grown over the years. All plants in soft growth condition will burn badly if they do not have ample water in a hot spell.
If you have missed a watering or (like me) did not apply enough sometimes and burned off tips or leaves result, all is not lost. Check the stem condition of the plant. If it appears plump and healthy, you probably got water to it in time to save it. Do not pamper it too much with excessive care at this time. Just continue your regular watering routine and you will see signs of new growth in a short while. Burned leaves will drop off to be replaced by new growth. (Do NOT fertilize! now). With things like fruit trees, well, you may have lost your crop this year, but the tree will continue to grow and then bloom (and perhaps set fruit) next year.
With potted plants in bloom, you can just move them to a shady area until the heat passes, keeping them well watered of course. They will appreciate the warmth and show it by making new growth, after the flowers have finished.
The key to a great gardener filled with expertise is the fact that they have lost a number of plants and learned from those trials/failures. Remeber that plants are living things, and sometimes living things just die. So don't be too hard on yourself if that happens. Figure out what went wrong and try once again! ...with renewed enthusiasm. |
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Category : General
| By : Admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [2] |
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| 06 May 2008 04:40:57 am |
| flowers of mid, and late spring |
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At this time of year, we have already enjoyed some of the season's finest offerings, but there are plenty more to come. Among the spectacular items of interest are midseason tree peonies and the later wisterias (those long cluster forms). There are the mid and later season dogwoods (Cornus kousa and C, controversa)and maples are in full flush of glory. Flowering trees such as Styrax and the later pendulous flowered magnolias(M. sieboldii, M. sinensis, M. wilsonii), and the rare Davidia and spectacular Paulonia are show stoppers. Flowering shrubs do not disappoint either. A multitude of Rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas, the Mockoranges (Philadelphus) and Deutzias and Weigelas. My personal favorites are the Japanese snowballs and the Doublefile viburnums9Viburnum plicatum and form V. p. tomentosum)..so spectacular with their horizontal branching displaying those wonderful flowers to full advantage all along the branches.
The plants mentioned will tolerate sun to shade exposures, depending on species and varietal selection.
Wisteria is classically planted with tree peonies in Japan..a stunning combination. Woodland effects with the many maples and dogwoods, styrax, and viburnums are all just wonderful things to add to your spring memory, not to mention the garden. They are of easy care, do all the planting preparation and then just enjoy the bonus of spring blooms for many years to come.
A wonderful bonus to planting these kinds of choice ornamentals is that they make wonderful cut material for the vase..and you cannot buy them. Fragrance is a nice surprise to many of these species as well. (Many philadelphus are very fragrant with P. microphyllus and its cvs. scented of grape soda, or bubble gum)
With many plants that bloom on last year's growth, you can do any pruning now. The resulting growth will mature and often bloom next spring since you have allowed that growth the maximum time to mature flower buds for later.
A coming exquisite favorite of the garden are the Siberian and Japanese iris. They produce some of the most vibrant cobalt blue - violet colors in the plant kingdom and the presentation in the floral form is just wonderful and graceful. Siberian iris bloom on many flower stalks with grassy foliage that looks good all year. Japanese iris bloom will end the iris season, but with the most spectacular display imaginable and graceful foliage as well. Very large blooms up to over 12" across can be had with some cvs. and flower stalks can get to 5 ft tall if well fertilized with ACID fertilizer and plenty of humus, compost in the planting bed. |
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Category : General
| By : Admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [6] |
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| 07 Apr 2008 05:00:34 am |
| Tour of the Japanese Tea Garden |
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There will be a tour of the Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco on April 21st at 4:00 p.m.
I will be leading the tour and lecturing on the history of the garden, it's creation and changes over the years after my family resided there.
For more information you can call the California Horticultural Society (Cal-Hort) for information and reservations.
The tour will precede the lecture and there is dinner at a local establishment. register with Cal-Hort Society.
The lecture will discuss the origin and creation of the garden, the inroduction o fthe fortune cookie, as well as some of my backround (Arlington National Cemetery 1,000 cherry blossom tree donation commemorationg the centennial anniversary of the Tea Garden) etc.
The Tea Garden history has not been discussed in detail and there is but little information available in printed form and I will provide much of the unkown history of the USA's oldest style Japanese garden. |
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Category : General
| By : Admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [12] |
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