Tag Archive | shrubs
Still Time For Anti-Desiccant
I’m a big fan of anti-desiccant. That’s why I post a reminder every fall. It’s clean, easy to apply and protects evergreens very well. Best of all you don’t have to wrap burlap around most trees and shrubs protected by anti-desiccant. Although it’s November already, you can still apply anti-desiccant. Just don’t pick a day […]
Summer Shrub Care
The dog days of summer are upon us. I’ve never taken the time to research where that term came from, but I suspect that it refers to the way our furry friends find a cool, shady place to lie down and rest on these hot, humid days. We humans could take a page from the […]
June Is For Pruning Conifers
June is usually when conifer (cone bearing) trees and shrubs are ready to be pruned. This year may be an exception, however. Our cold, wintery May has delayed many plants’ growth and flowering. And it is growth that determines whether conifers need to be pruned at all. This year, let the tree or shrub tell […]
Repair Shrub/Tree Winter Damage
Shrubs can take a beating in winter. The wind can break branches. Snow piled on top of them can bend branches over, even to the ground. Overly saturated soil can cause the whole shrub to lean while frequent freeze/thaw cycles can cause them to come right out of the ground. Evergreen shrubs may have brown […]
Don’t Forget The Anti-Desiccant
When checking your fall to-do list, be sure anti-desiccant is on it. This wax-like spray-on material is the most economical, effective protection for winter vulnerable evergreens. If you’re not familiar with anti-desiccant and the way it protects your evergreen trees and shrubs, here’s a quick introduction. Deciduous trees and shrubs (those that drop their leaves […]
Choosing Shade Loving Plants
Some people say there is no such thing as shade loving plants, only shade tolerant. I beg to differ. If you’ve ever tried to grow hostas or rhododendrons in full sun, you know what I mean. But if you haven’t tried… they don’t grow in full sun. Planting them in full sun is a great […]
Check New Growth Before Pruning Evergreens
June and July are the best months in which to prune evergreens. That’s when new growth forms. However, like everything in nature, there are no absolutes, no definitive dates to start pruning. New growth forms at the ends of branches. When the new needles or leaves first appear, they are a lighter green than the […]
Pruning Spring Flowering Trees & Shrubs
Spring’s spectacular display of color is coming to an end. Granted, later blooming plants will continue to show color to some extent but the green curtain will close on trees and shrubs like dogwoods, cherries, rhododendrons and lilacs. They will now be attractive foliage plants until next spring,. Throughout the winter and spring, I’ve been […]
Keeping Evergreens Green
We’ve been having a classic Great Lakes/Finger Lakes winter so far. Fluctuating temperatures, frequent freeze/thaw cycles, days with plowable snow and days with bare ground are typical of a Great Lakes winter. They’re also the perfect combination of conditions that cause winter burn on evergreens. I hope you had us spray your evergreens with antidesiccant. […]
Time For The Burlap Coat
We live in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and have some Zone 6 pockets. This means that, although we aren’t in the coldest zone, many of our trees and shrubs need extra protection from winter’s extremes. Tender trees and shrubs, especially young trees that you just planted this year, may need a burlap coat. Wrappings are […]