Having grown up in the country, with a
big garden and chickens and such, Its hard for me to
comprehend how little the average person knows about whats
growing in their own front yard. I'm reminded of this every
time someone calls me in October worried because their
forsythia or some other deciduous shrub is losing it's
leaves; or when I have to inform someone
that a plant is dead and they ask, "Will it come back?"
This page is for those people.
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"Deciduous" plants lose their leaves
in the fall.They will go dormant and may appear to be dead.
Fear not, they will come back in the spring. If your plant
still looks dead after around June 1, it could be. A dead
plant will never come back, no matter what you do. If you
are not sure if it is dead or alive, scratch off a small
section of bark, if you see green, your plant is alive; If
you see brown, your plant is dead.
"Evergreen" plants stay green all year, but they
will drop some old leaves as they are repaced by new
ones.Do not be alarmed if you notice your evergreen
dropping some leaves, unless your plant begins to look
bare. |
A weed is any plant that comes up
on its own, without being planted there. The term "weed"
is relative. A rose is a weed if it is in your bean field.
A bean is a weed in your rose garden.
Click on the link above to find out
what plant hardiness zone you live in. Select only plants
that are appropriate for your zone. These are plants that
can withstand the minimum and maximum temperatures in your
area.
I am sure you have seen bushes that
were trimmed into a square. Mother Nature definately didn't
do it! No one who knows anything about plants makes them
square. People who do know about plants laugh at people who
do things like make their bushes square.
Square bushes are the type of things that attract scam
artists. (See warning below.) If you like formally trimmed
hedges, be sure to at least round off any "corners", and
sharp edges. Not only will the hedges look better, you'll
look smarter. (Bushes aren't perfectly round either. Your
yard shouldn't look like an elementry geometry lesson.)
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When planting any type of plant,
(except bare root) do not plant it deeper than it is in the
container it came in. You are planting it, not burying it.
DO NOT pile dirt over the top of the soil that the plant is
already in. When planted, the top of the soil in the
container should be LEVEL with, or sightly above, the top
of the soil in which it is planted. |
Before you choose a plant for your
yard, find out how big it will get. (READ THE TAG!) Keep in
mind that when you purchase a plant it is generally only a
fraction of the size it will be when it matures. It will
get much wider as well as taller. Be sure it has room to
grow. If you have to trim a plant to control its size
within a year after it is planted, you have definately made
a very bad choice.
You can not make a large plant into a small one. If it is
supposed to be a large plant, and you try to keep it
trimmed short, You will cause yourself a lot of work and
the plant will never look good. It may work for a short
while, when the plant is young, but not when it matures.
Remember--Plants grow!--Some of them quite large.
There are many dwarf varieties available. Pick a plant that
will be the size you want when it matures. If you are
putting a plant near a wall or fence, plant it a little
more then half the mature width away from the fence or
wall. A plant that will mature at 5 feet wide should be
about 3 feet away. If you have to trim a plant more than
once or twice a year you have the wrong plant for that
location.
One of the most common questions I am asked, after planting something is "How often do I water it?"You can't put an exact time on when something needs watering. Water when it is dry. Stick your finger an inch or so into the dirt near the plant. If you feel moisture do not water. If you don't, water. How often will vary depending on heat, humidity, rainfall, drainage, and other factors.
When you water, be sure to water thoroughly. If all you do is get the top of the ground wet, you will cause your plants to be shallow rooted, and less healthy. Water well enough so that the moisture goes several inches into the ground. If you water thoroughly, you won't need to water nearly as often.
This is another common question.
Things may be different in a colder climate where the
ground stays frozen, or theres a lot of snow, But here in
Zone 7 I'm quite busy all winter.
While plants are dormant in the
winter is a good time for planting & transplanting, as long
as the ground isn't frozen. It is also the time to divide
perinnials, although for the less hardy ones just before
spring growth starts is best. Even if he ground is
frozen,There's pruning to be done. Winter is the best time
to prune most trees and shrubs. Some say to wait to trim
spring bloomers untill after they bloom. I disagree.You
will probably cut off some flower buds, but if the plant
needs pruning these blooms will only call attention to that
fact. Go ahead and prune it, and the plant can then put
more energy into the remaining blooms, making them bigger
and better, and show off a nicely shaped plant. If you
properly prune your plants in the winter, they will need
little work in the summer. Cold winter days are perfect for
mulching, because the mulch puts off
heat. When spring arrives, all your hardy plants will
be planted, and everything trimmed and mulched. You can
relax and enjoy the beauty in the summer.
Here are some great links to help you
The horticulturally challenged are
prime targets for scam artists. DO NOT let any one who
knocks on your door, offering to do any landscape work for
you, touch your property! Proffessionals do not go door to
door. If you need work done call a reputable proffesional.
These scam artists will ruin your landscape and make you
pay them for it. Do not believe anything they tell you
about what you need to do. They know just enough about
landscaping to tell by your yard that you are
horticulturally challenged. (Another reason to keep your
yard looking good.)
Never hire anyone who advertises tree topping as a
service. Tree topping is BAD.
