Articles involving trees, shrubs, bushes, woods and hedges plus related subjects
Hamamelis x intermedia primavera was flowering on an open shrub. It was about 5 feet high and had a 7-9 feet circumference.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Orange Beauty’ was 8 feet tall and well furnished with scented blossom.
Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena was the star of the display at Harlow Carr gardens on the 1st February. They obviously like the acid soil conditions and showed no sign of the cold December spell we all suffered.
Trees are great natural features in our British landscape. It is no surprise that gardeners want to grow them in their gardens.
In addition to the horticultural problems trees can cause damage that other plants do not. Broken branches and flying debris can break glass or knock down fences, roots can damage drains, trees take up water from the soil leaving it prone to subsidence and, rarely trees cause damage to foundations .
This year my roses are a good bit later to come into full bloom. The cold snap in May undoubtedly caused problems.
A white rugarosa type had all the buds ‘browned off’ by a late frost and guess what colour that left me - ‘browned off too’!
Tips for June
Getting Bigger Blossoms
I think lilac trees are boring for 11 months of the year but for a powerful scent they are hard to beat in late May.
The White Lilac is every bit as scented as the ‘lilac’ Lilac.
For tips growing Lilac see this post
For cut flowers
Not the the traditonal blousy Japanese cherry but the purple-leaved bird cherry is a more unusual choice for the large garden.
Bird Cherry Description
Bird Cherry Varieties
Acer are renown for the colour of their leaves in Autumn. Careful selection of varieties will produce great spring colour in addition to your Autumn blaze of glory.
Select the varieties that are classified as shrubs. ‘Japanese Maple’ Acer japonicum and palmatum will give you the desired results.
Other Acers like Field maple, Sycamore, Red or Silver Maple are all medium to large trees 50′ plus.
Paper bark maple and Snake bark maple have interesting bark and grow to be small trees 15-25 feet tall.
Acer japonicum Vitifolium is one of my favourites not shown here. It has salmon coloured fan shaped leaves that turn red in Autumn. …
2010 seems set to be a great year for Apple Blossom. All around there seems to be vast quantities of blossom on each tree – let us hope there are enough Bees to go around when it comes to pollination.
I was surprised when I looked more closely at the size and colour on the blossom of different trees and have reproduced some varieties here. As you may remember there was a lot of frost damage on a row of cordons but, touch wood, my main trees remain unaffected.
The late arrival of warm weather is playing into the hands of pollination as most varieties seem to have opened at the same time. This will bring the insects out and help cross pollination to produce a good crop of Apples.
Glowering skies loom over this tree but showers of rain are an occupational hazard for Apple blossom. As long as the rain drains from the tree and is not trapped in pockets to cause wood rot there is no problem.
I have to admit to a spray regime after blossom fall to protect my fruit to deter insects
This eating apple has dark red skin and I will have to look in my old note book to remind me of the variety. Still I am not surprised to see that it has pinker blossom than the James Grieve.
Each blossom was larger than the old half-crown and made a wonderful sight.
Interest in Willow has revived over the last few years and there are many garden uses.
Decorative Uses
DVD Making Living Willow Sculptures
Practical Uses of Willow
Varieties and Uses of Willow
List of varieties from Willow Withies
Spring flowering Wisteria are starting to clothe the walls with festoons of flowers.
It may be an excuse for newspapers to show pictures of Wisteria in full bloom but they are running a story about Asian insects wiping out our Wisterias.
The Problem
The Future
How do you move shrubs that have out grow their current location? When should you move flowering shrubs?
Tips for Moving Shrubs
Move plants only when unavoidable by digging around the plant to create a big root ball of soil.
Heavy rootballs can be dragged into place on a piece of sacking or an opened out compost bag.
Dig a £10 hole for a £5 plant, loosen the bottom of the hole, mix in some bone meal, back fill, tamp down the soil and water in.
Replant at the same depth – look for the soil level on the trunk or lower branches.
If the shrub is really big and bulky, prune it back hard before moving. You may loose some blossom the following season but it should regrow.
When to Move Plants
Move flowering shrubs in early winter when the shrub is dormant.
Incase of fatality take and root cuttings before moving.
If moving house ask permission of the new owner or stipulate your intentions when selling your property.
If you must move the plant when it is growing, water well for several days before, prune off unnecessary lush growth and do not allow the roots to dry whilst moving.
After Care
Keep your shrub well watered and mulched until it settles down.
Do not stress the plant by striving for excessive blooms in year one
Revitalise the soil around the old hole for your next plant. Humus and nutrients will be needed.
