February 2 , 2012
Spring has sprung, what to prune|drought strategies|fungi friends
Narcissus ‘ Erlicheer ’ takes a cue from the U.S. Postal Service , “ Neither snow nor rainwater nor heat nor gloom of dark stays these messenger from the fleet completion of their appointed rounds . ”
No matter what conditions throws our way , they stick around for years , reminding me every spring that it ’s all going to be okay . My genus Viburnum , including ‘ Spring Bouquet ’ do , too .
So , about this pruning poppycock that ’s on all our minds . The viburnums want pruning , but I ’ll look until they land up flowering . The pink wine are going nuts already , like Mrs. Oakley Fisher ( among many others ) .
What to do about them ? In two weeks , I ’ll gather a vase of them all , and then start clipping . We really do want to mould our pink wine in February for form and height and to promote newfangled growth before the heat descends !
My Turks caps are already pushing unexampled leave on stem I had n’t cut back . I went ahead and cut them back last weekend . Even if we get a harsh freezing , it wo n’t offend these tough natives .
I swerve back most of the zexmenias ( Wedelia texana ) .
One is still flowering ( that ’s microclimates for you ! ) , so I bequeath it for the hungry wildlife who head for it on fond day .
Even though I ’m clipping back some chrysanthemums to their rosettes , I ’m not pruning any with a bud or a flower . ‘ Butterpat ’ is just not give up !
Rules , rules , rules ! I ’ve learned that the only ruler is nature and we just have to make up care . And get to know your own microclimates and your plants . But for some “ cutting border ” information , check out this Texas A&M internet site .
To illustrate how we can work with nature alternatively of against it , this weeksustainable garden designer Adams Kirkpatrick ofSunflower Designmeets with Tom .
Get some of his strategies to deal with drought through well-situated , sustainable practice : water retention , the 7 - layer woods in our own garden , and how to keep up the vital duff layer .
One scheme that Adams promotes is respect for the good fungi in our dirt . This calendar week , John Dromgoole explain how to pump up mycorrhizal fungi that are working for us underground .
Benefits : Enhanced plant efficiency to absorb weewee and nutrients , increased drouth opposition , and increase pathogen electrical resistance . get out fungi from Texas A&M.
On tour in San Antonio , see how Don Clowe adopt these strategies as he get rid of lawn grass , merging his rage for plant life and impression from world travels with the rude consideration of his garden . On their tree theatre deck in front , he and wife Gail have Japan in one view , and in another , the sculptural peach of the Southwest . specially significant is their dedication to beloved , departed family line through Stone of remembrance .
See you next week ! Linda
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