Pruning Guide Shrubs
Sunday, April 18th, 2010Pruning Guide Shrubs
|
|
The Random House Book of Shrubs (Random House Book of . $19.95 |
|
|
WORLD TREES SHRUBS FRUITS 1869 Original Antique Map $28.99 |
|
|
Showy Eremophila E. racemosa Seed Native 1m Shrub Hardy $3.20 |
Backyard Landscaping Ideas — A Guide To Evergreen Trees And Shrubs
Evergreen trees and shrubs are generally more expensive than their counterparts, although many feel that they are well worth the extra expense not only for their year-round beauty, but also their reliability and longevity. Evergreens can range all the way from broadleaved shrubs like rhododendron to the tall pines and spruces that many people think of as simply “evergreens”.
Perhaps the most common of evergreen trees is the pine. It’s noted for its long, soft needles and its rapid growth. In fact, they often attain 60 to 80 ft. maturity very quickly.Red pine is popular as well and useful for creating textured backgrounds and windbreaks. The Ponderosa pine is a more compact tree that is often used for wind protection and ornamental purposes. The Austrian or black pine, with its spreading branches is very commonly used in the Midwest.
Perhaps the most widely planted evergreen that is used for a windbreak is the Norway spruce tree. It grows very fast, it’s very hardy, has short dark green needles, and is shaped like a pyramid. The Black Hills spruce tree is also very tough and resistant to drought. It grows much slower than the Norway spruce but can still achieve a height of 40 ft. in time.
White spruce on the other hand, can mature close to 60 to 70 ft. in height and is often used in landscaping designs. Colorado blue spruce is generally hardy, however it does suffer some in extreme heat and drought conditions.
Red Cedar is perhaps the most popular of the evergreen Cedar trees. It’s often used as an ornamental tree for both hedges and windbreaks. It tends to be very tough and hardy, and takes winter very well.
Perhaps the best overall Evergreen tree for windbreaks and screening is the Douglas fir tree. It’s hardy and drought resistant, grows fast, has a pyramid shape, and looks great in most landscape designs. The Balsam fir, which is also known as the Christmas tree, is well-known for its fragrance and unique appearance. On the other hand, the white fir tree has an attractive silver color instead.
The Juniper family of Evergreen trees is often used in planting, with the tall types such as the upright Juniper being used as a textured background, and the spreading types like the Pfitzer juniper being used for groundcover and edgings.
Yew, has thick glossy needles and upward reaching branches, and can be used as both a shrub and a tree. In fact, they can even grow well in sun and shade, making it one of the most versatile evergreens.
Evergreens as a whole can be adversely affected by hot, dry weather conditions and need to be watered every couple of weeks or so at this time. Be sure to water it enough so that the moisture will reach deep into the ground at least 6 in. or so. Applying a layer of mulch in dry weather can also help protect against moisture loss during this period.
It’s a good idea to prune evergreens in the late spring just before the new buds appear. And in the late fall give them a good deep watering to help prevent the branches drying out and cracking under the weight of snow or the force of wind during the winter.
As you can see, there are a lot of varieties of evergreen trees that accomplish many different tasks in a home landscaping design. Hopefully this article will help you choose the one that will work best for your home and help you care for it properly too.
Easy Care Shrubs
Shrubs are essential to a successful garden. They provide fragrant flowers in the spring, lush green foliage during the summer and colorful foliage throughout the fall. Evergreens add color to the winter landscape. Shrubs give a landscape design its overall structure. With a seemingly endless list of shrubs available to the gardener, choosing the appropriate one for your garden takes a bit of planning. This article covers some common, easy to grow shrubs.
Many deciduous shrubs, those shrubs which lose their leaves in winter, are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. Hydrangea, for example, is a popular deciduous shrub which can thrive for years with only occasional pruning. Hydrangeas are essential to the garden in summer for color and foliage texture. They’re one of the few summer blooming shrubs and no garden is complete without them.
Butterfly bush is an easy care, summer blooming shrub with fragrant flowers. As the name suggests, they’re attractive to butterflies. Some varieties grow up to six feet tall and six feet wide so they’re more suitable to the larger garden.
Viburnums have long been a gardener’s favorite as they’re one the most versatile, adaptable and easy care shrubs available. There are over 120 varieties of Viburnum so there’s one for every garden. Some viburnums, such as the Korean spice or judii varieties are suitable for shrub borders and as specimen plants. Others have a more natural feel, such as the arrowwood or maple-leaf viburunum, which are great for the woodland garden. Most varieties retain colorful berries in the winter.
Many evergreens are easy to grow as well and provide gardens with year-round interest. Rhododendrons, for example, a showy, spring blooming shrub, are ideal for the mixed border and perfect for naturalizing the landscape. Once a rhododendron is planted, it requires little maintenance. Though not necessary, pinching off spend blooms encourage a healthy bloom the following year.
Azaleas, like rhododendrons, are quite versatile and suitable for a number of garden situations. They’re perfect for the shade gardens as their colorful spring flowers brighten up the landscape. They work as well planted among other shrubs in a foundation planting as they do in the woodland garden or formal garden. Occasional pruning may be needed to keep them at the size which is best suited to your garden.
Hollies are wonderful evergreen shrubs which are perfect as a hedge or as a privacy screen. They’re also suitable for the foundation planting. Hollies require a bit of pruning to retain their shape, but they are worth the effort since they form beautiful red berries in the winter.
Evergreen boxwood shrubs are hardy and, unless you’re your planting a formal garden, require only light pruning once a year. Boxwoods are generally available in mounding and upright varieties. They’re ideal for hedges, the entrance garden or a courtyard.
When designing your garden, its important to determine the site conditions of your garden. Refer to a plant hardiness map to determine what will grow well in your area. Choosing the appropriate plant results in fewer garden problems and less maintenance. Ideal for people with busy schedules, easy care shrubs thrive with little upkeep and remain beautiful for years.
|
|
252 Dark Lime Silk Roses Buds Flowers 36 bushes E664 $39.99 |
|
|
21 Red Silk Roses 3 Wedding Bushes $3.60 |
|
|
Scepter’d Isle Rose Shrub Bush Plant Roses Bushes Now ! $24.95 |
Prune this: How to care for and prune the Dracaena family commonly known as a Corn plant
|
|
PRUNE TREES & SHRUBS Australian Garden Pruning Guide $9.09 |
|
|
Shrub Pruning Guide How to Prune Western 1936 Classic $13.97 |