Welcome to our March edition. Winter came after all, and Spring is finally here. I was becoming concerned as we went through our normal rainy months of November – January, and we received little to no rain, but then February came,and we did receive some good soaking rains. Hopefully, that pattern will continue into early spring. The title of this article can really be attested to by you, the homeowner as to whether the plants have remained manageable or frequently need pruning. There are generally two reasons for excessive pruning. One reason deals with the selection of the plant, and the other has to do with the placement of the plant. The selection is whether what was planted is a 2’ to 4’foot plant or 6’ to 10’ foot plant. Two-to-four-foot plants are very manageable and are the ones we want to use in the “body” of our landscapes. However, even these plants if planted too close to the sidewalk, or pathway can be considered poor placement requiring frequent pruning. The taller plants if used in the body of the landscape soon become maintenance issues with frequent pruning needed. If they are planted along the fence line, where they belong, they serve for screening, privacy, breaking up a fence line, a tall wall of a home, or hiding and/or minimizing a neighbor’s tool shed or R.V. Privacy, when needed usually involves a two-story home(s) looking directly into the yard from the back or side. Privacy, at times can be accomplished through tall plants, but normally requires trees. Often the homes have similarly placed windows, and if it is your neighbor to your side, you may be able say good morning to them without even getting out of your bathrobe. So convenient right? This is where privacy is really needed, and it requires a landscaper who knows his plants and trees. If we encounter a situation for screening or breaking up a fence line in the back, there are many plants that can fit that. However, for privacy down the side of the home there are only a few plants or trees that can fit that bill, hence the need for knowledge/experience. Normally, screening things or breaking up a fence line happens in the back yard, and there is more room for the plants to grow tall and wide. Along the side of our homes where homes are side by side, privacy is normally needed but our space is limited. We need plants to grow much taller than they do wide and depending upon whether we are talking about 8’ft. to 10’ft., which could be a bush, or 25’ which would need to be a tree, there is a limited selection of plants. Plants have their design from creation, and some plants put equal energy into their tips (apical meristems, apical is vertical growth) as they do their sides (lateral meristems, meristems are the growth tips). Others are apically dominate, meaning 60% to 70% percent of their energy goes into their vertical growth. Knowing these varieties and knowing that each variety in this category varies in their apical dominance, determines the right plant(s) for this area. However, this is only one part of the puzzle. The other part is the all-important aspect of sunlight. These areas, down the side of our homes, can vary in the amount of sunlight they receive. Some can be full sun all year long, and some can be sun in the summer, but as winter progresses, they become shadier. We also need to think about soil type and the inert strength of the plants. If the soil is poor, e.g., rocky, then I would pick the strongest grower in this category. I may like another variety more, but if it dies or performs poorly then what’s the point? The stronger grower is the best choice.
In the pictures you see, these extremes are not seen except for the back fence. The back yard’s rear neighbor’s balcony is taller than our clients fence so establishing privacy was important to them. Unfortunately, complete privacy takes some time, but the plants are off to a good start. The plants are currently are screening and breaking up the fence with complete privacy coming. We did both yards for them (front and back), so the budget was definitely a consideration, and that’s okay. There are clients that need to have privacy now, so we buy bigger plants with the understanding that it adds cost to the job. Others can say hello to their backyard neighbors for several years knowing that privacy is coming. It is a personal decision. There exists in the plant kingdom plants for every situation, and I am grateful to have had a background in actually growing plants. This has been my ace in the hole in being able to help our clients.
The landscape here is going on its third year. I just saw it again 2/11. We are doing a job across the street, so I will be viewing it for several more weeks. I am very happy with how it is maturing and enjoyed visiting a bit with the owner Carl. The day was cold, so his wife Dorothy stayed indoors, though we had a great talk on the phone. Though their landscape is in its “winter clothes,” it still shows well. In a month or so, it will have more blooms such as Azaleas, Chinese Fringe flowers, and assorted perennials. The chorus of blooms will begin and end with the beautiful fall color of the front yard Red Leaf Maple that is dormant currently. Pay attention to the night picture. There can be no replacement for the beauty and ambiance that night lights add to a landscape. The picture is of the backyard; however, the front is as equally stunning.
Gardeners – get ready, if you like to take advantage of cool season vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, the time to sow seed is right now. Until next time, Good Gardening 😊