Archive July 2007
Helpful Ideas from Fran, our Tree and Shrub Manager
After a busy spring season, it is time to prepare something of horticultural noteworthiness regarding trees and shrubs for Adams web visitors. Beginning this month, the web article will feature a notable tree and shrub of the month as well as a gardening maintenance question or topic specific to the particular time of year. The month of July features a very colorful, medium sized deciduous shrub known as weigela. It is one of the most prized shrubs for prolonged landscape color in the garden center. Not only does this plant’s tube-like flowers present a beautiful display of various shades of white, pink, and red in late May and June into July but the colorful foliage of various varieties offers a stunning display of contrast in the garden.
For flower color, of special merit are the following varieties: Red Prince, Bristol Ruby, and Pink Princess. The red flowering varieties are especially noteworthy. For colorful foliage and bloom, check out: Wine and Roses, Java Red, Variegated Weigela, and a smaller form, Midnight Wine. Weigela offers a few problems for gardeners except for some occasional winter dieback that can be addressed by pruning and fertilizing as new growth appears in the spring.
Our tree selection of the month is the Japanese Tree Lilac. Prized for its fragrant, strikingly beautiful white lilac flowers (please note: white only), this disease and insect resistant, handsome, upright tree makes a perfect addition to the landscape for those looking for a late-spring flowering tree. The cultivar ‘Ivory Silk’ is a winner. This tree is available as a single trunk form, as well as a multi-stem or clump form.
Three spirea varieties deserve special mention this month for their vibrant flower color, good form and handsome ‘out of flower’ appearance. They are Magic Carpet, Neon Flash, and Dart’s red spirea.
I will use the opportunity to reply to a common question I am often asked when customers purchase young (small) taller-sized shrubs from our garden center.
The answer to the question, “I can keep it cut down, can’t I?” is …probably NOT! All evergreens and deciduous shrubs have a particular form, a size they would mature to as they grow, as well as a characteristic shape. However cute a small young plant may appear when purchased, it is not practical to think of trimming it to that same size for an extended period of time. For example, it would not be practical to think of trimming Althea (Rose of Sharon) which can mature to over eight feet tall and four feet wide.
The yearly removal of all new growth, especially on evergreens, will eventually adversely affect the health and vigor of that plant and eventually lead to its early demise and need for replacement. Knowing the mature size and shape of the landscape plants you purchase will enable you to trim and prune intelligently and afford you many additional years of enjoyment from your landscape trees and shrubs.
The professionals at Adams can introduce you to July’s notable tree and shrub selections as well as answer all your tree and shrub care questions.
Stay tuned…. Next month: Summersweet and Summer Watering Techniques!