Posts tagged shrubs
Garden Clean-up: Do You Want Your Neighbors To Hate You?
Dec 8th
Autumn in the North is the time to take care of your garden beds for winter. Fall clean-up can be managed with one out of three possible maintenance strategies,each one is good or bad in some way.
The “tidy clean-up” removes essentially all dead plant matter from the garden-with the exception of woody perrenials and flowering shrubs. This is the most tidy and neat looking technique. Reminiscent of your living room after the maid service leaves. Diseased foliage left behind with this technique will probably contaminate next years perrennials.This is going to help with your pest control. There are less pro’s with this strategy because you have pretty much removed all of the excellent compost and mulch that leaving dead material provids for next year. You have also removed the winter protection and that plant matter provides for roots. Which means that you will have to add expensive fertilizers and amendments to your garden to make up for this. Expensive in labor and costly in fewer nutrients this approach is perhaps the least recommended.
The “high/low maintenance” technique for fall clean-up is a balance between the sterilizing your beds and the do nothing approach. High/low maintenance technique is by no means a no maintenance approach. Think of low maintenance as meaning less work in the spring, but still a good work out in the garden this weekend and probably next week end too. In this approach one would remove dead annual plants,sprinkling the seeds as you go and putting away your outdoor garden decor if need be. These should germinate if you don’t use preen in your garden. Go ahead and cut back your perennial plants, leaving one third of the plant, but don’t cut back woody plants and flowering shrubs. If you cut these back now they may not do so well next growing season. The birds in your garden will appreciate it if you leave some seed heads behind. If you cut down your grass leave about one foot to provide winter protection. Rake out the beds and remove all of the cuttings and most of the leaves that have come down from the trees. Blow remaining debris from beds onto your grass and chop with lawn mower. Those autumn leaves are like free fertilizer when they are mulched into the lawn. Oak leaves mulched into the grass are supposed to prevent future weeds in your lawn. Encourage you lawn care people to mulch leaves as much as they are able to. Now is the time to bury tree roses and grafted roses. You may want to put some wilt spray on your rhododendrons in December as well as build some burlap houses for them. Try to prevent the burlap from touching the leaves as this can contribute to drying them out. If you want better results from your rhododendrons, hydrangeas and roses next year then this is the time to make an effort to protect them.
the “no maintenance” technique to fall clean-up is the final and perhaps least labor intensive approach. Mother nature will tuck in all your plants with out any work from you-that is the big advantage of this technique. The con’s of doing nothing now are that your neighbors will hate you for your messy yard and you will have a lot to do in the spring at a time when lots of plants are starting to peek through the debris. Perrennials and early bulbs are delicate in the spring and can be easily destroyed as one tramples through spring clean up. Also one should remember that soil in early spring is very friable and can be compressed as you step in the beds. Remember that weeds left in your beds will grow through out the winter months if you do not pull them [out] in the autumn.
What ever your clean-up approach be sure to put away your outdoor garden decor for the winter as you don’t want it to get ruined. Also remember to clean out your cool bird feeders and stock up on bird seed before the snow falls so you can sit back and watch the animals in your garden while it sleeps.
Every gardener has their own individual way of taking care of their fall garden maintenance before winter descends. The approaches outlined in this article are meant to help you decide what fall maintenance technique is ideal for you. Most importantly have fun in your garden!
Growing Trees in Small Spaces
May 24th
Everybody has different tastes and preferences and this is also true when it comes to gardening. Some people find one garden appealing while others may not, however, it is reasonably safe to say that the vast majority of folk enjoy trees. A quality garden often features at least one specimen tree or a small number of small trees as a backdrop to their flower garden.
Specimen trees are those types of tree which has something appealing about it that is rather unique. Such a tree may have beautiful and fragrant blossom or maybe unusual fruits. Other specimen trees may have unusual architectural qualities about them such as the monkey puzzle tree or corkscrew hazel.
Even in the smallest of backyards it is often possible to include a small specimen tree. When choosing a specimen tree it is important to choose one which is suitable for use as a focal point to your garden design. When restricted by space common garden and landscaping designs are simply not possible. In such cases you always need to keep in mind that you do not need to follow any set design, you need to adapt designs to match the space available. So it may not be possible to place specimen trees in a central location but this is not a necessity, often a specimen tree placed in a corner can bring that small portion of your yard to life.
Another factor in moving away from a centrally located tree is that is helps create the appearance of space. When placed in the centre of a small yard a tree can sometimes make a space appear smaller! One advantage to using trees in small spaces is that you will only need to buy one, or possibly two, trees. Therefore your budget may be able to accommodate the purchase of a more expensive, high quality, unique or unusual tree which further enhances your yards beauty.
Evergreen or Deciduous?
Evergreen trees are those types of tree which do not lose their leaves during the cooler months of the year. The great thing about using evergreens in a small yard is that there are often dwarf or miniature species available which means that it becomes possible to grow more than one tree and even a collection of evergreens with different hues. In such backyard designs it is possible to create a small garden which maintains color throughout the year.
Deciduous trees are those types of tree which lose their leaves during the colder months of the year. Although many consider the leaf drop too much of a problem when such trees are grown in small spaces it is a matter of opinion. Deciduous species often have unique qualities and their continual change through the seasons often creates different moods and adds interest to a small place. Species such as corkscrew hazel or willow can look spectacular during the winter months as their main appeal is their contorted branches which are not really visible with leaves present.
Other types of trees and shrubs can bring great interest to a small space. Dogwoods are available which have a variety of differently colored branches ranging from deep black through to red and even bright yellow. Maples and Japanese Maples are often a good choice for a small yard as they can be kept small and their brightly colored and ever changing leaves add color and interest to even shady corners.
Overall creating a garden in a small backyard is not an impossibility. In fact there are so many species of trees and plants available which are highly suitable for use in small spaces that you may surprise yourself at what is truly possible.
To discover more about trees and shrubs in small spaces visit http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/
