Finally . . . it blooms!

I have watched and waited all Summer and most of Fall to see this Confederate Rose (hibiscus mutabilis) finally bloom! A friend gave me a cutting from his plant two years ago and the verdict has been out (on whether to keep the bush or not) until now. It's loaded with buds and my fear is that we'll get hit with an early frost. But, so far, so good.  The plant itself looks a lot like something that would grow on the side of the road - or in a garden  (think okra!). But, when there's not much else blooming - it comes as a welcome surprise just before November hits.

Propagation by cuttings root easiest in early spring, but cuttings can be taken at almost any time. When it does not freeze, the Confederate rose can reach heights of 15 to 18 feet with a woody trunk; however, a much bushier, 5 or 6 feet plant is more typical  of this area and provides more flowering. These plants have a very fast growth rate. The Confederate rose was at one time very common in the South (which is how its common name was derived). It grows well in full sun or partial shade, and prefers rich, well-drained soil. However, I have one of my two plants in a red-clay hole and it's doing just fine!


 

Plant Pansies Now for Lasting Color

Walter Reeves (garden guru) says there are only a few things you need to know when planting these colorful annuals:

Begin with SOFT SOIL. If you just stick pansies into our Georgia Red Clay, you will not see much growth! In order for pansies to do their best, their roots must establish themselves quickly in your soil as it begins to cool. A good rule of thumb to follow is using at least 25 percent composted material mixed with your native soil. A good recommendation is to pour one bag of soil conditioner over 10 square feet of bed and mix it into the soil eight inches deep.
Go BIG or Go Home! When you hit the garden center, you’ll find 3 inch pots, four inch pots and six-packs of pansies from which to choose. It pays to know which size performs best in your area.  Planting the six-pack plants in the colder parts of North Georgia will probably yield fewer blooms until the soil warms again in March. If you live further
Do NOT forget to FERTILIZE. Since pansies will soon be growing in cold soil, their fertilizer needs will be quite different from flowers that grow during the summer. Summer fertilizers have urea, ammonium nitrate or some other source of nitrogen for the plant. That’s fine during the summer when the soil is warm. But in the winter, nitrate sources of nitrogen are better for plants. Look on the label of your fertilizer – if it says some of the nitrogen comes from nitrate, your pansies will benefit. Right now, you can use any of the water-soluble, powdered fertilizers (Miracle-Gro, etc.) to drench the soil around each plant once it is in the ground. When you fertilize monthly from November through March, nitrate-containing fertilizers would be best…..but if you can’t find a product with nitrate, anything is better than nothing.
Offer them Some Protection. Pansies protect themselves during cold weather by temporarily wilting. The dry leaves are not damaged by cold; they recover nicely when warmer temperatures appear. But if the soil is frozen while dry, frigid winds howl across the leaves, pansy roots are unable to transport water back to the leaves. For this reason, keep a bale of pine straw handy during the winter. If a Siberian Express is forecast, cover all of your beds with a thin layer of straw. It will hold heat in the soil and it will shelter pansy leaves from the harsh winds.

A Beautiful, and Uncommon, Blooming Tree

I planted a Japanese snowbell many years ago under a tall canopy of mature trees. The arching branches are loaded with small "bell flowers"  creating a beautiful landscape scene. The small tree will grow to be 20 to 30 feet tall. Its habit is low, horizontally branched and broad with a rounded crown. This tree will thrive in light shade and full or partial sun. 

There is a need for evenly moist, organically rich, acid soil to make Japanese snowbell really happy. Its roots shouldn’t be allowed to dry out.  So, for all you Southern Gardeners - keep this in mind when planting. Do NOT plop it in to a hole of red clay - it will surely drown!  If clay is your only option, then be sure to dig a wide, wide hole and amend the soil with organic rich conditioner. Keep watered on a regular basis - especially during it's first growing season. I recommend using this small, ornamental tree as an "understory" to other large mature trees. 

The tree is at its best when sited to ensure her blooms are admired from below. Pruning other than to remove crossing or wind-broken branches is usually unnecessary. Prune if you must after the blooming interval.

One of the most impressive of all landscape snowbells for this region is S. japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’.

Common name (Botanical name): American snowbell (Styrax americanum), Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus), fragrant snowbell (Styrax obassia)

Varieties to look For: Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’

Blooming period: Late spring to early summer for most; American snowbell later in summer

Type: Woody, deciduous or evergreen; ornamental tree, often fragrant

Size: 20 to 30 feet

Exposure: Light shade to full sun; dislikes heat

How to plant: Best planted in the spring as an understory specimen. Plant in acid, moisture-retentive, organically rich soil. Give roots plenty of room to expand. Mulch lightly.

When to prune: Prune sparingly only to remove crossing or broken branches; do so after the plant’s blooming interval.

When to fertilize: Fertilize in late winter with a slow-release fertilizer with micronutrients.

Plant a Fragrant Shrub this Fall

One of my favorite early Spring shrubs is the Korean Spice Viburnum. I remember walking through a Pike's Nursery over 10 years ago and smelling the sweet aroma and wondering what was blooming. I found out it was the Korean Sprice - one of many varieties of viburnums. I purchased one that day and have enjoyed it ever since! I'm convinced this is one of the most fragrant shrubs known to man. The dense flower heads, which measure up to 3in across, produce white flowers from blush pink buds, and the perfume, which is a sweet, rich, spicy vanilla, carries a considerable distance across a lawn or garden. Plant one or two where you take your walks through the yard - or, perhaps by a porch or under a window. You will not regret your decision next Spring!



Another fragrant shrub to consider is the lilac. Many gardeners think the lilac will not thrive in the South, but there are a few that will! I have had the variety "Miss Kim" for several years and although it doesn't reach the heights of it's Northern counterparts - you'll hear no complaints from me.

Though the Miss Kim has a slow rate of growth, it offers numerous advantages. Given its compact and naturally rounded shape, it can be used as a solid foundation in border planting. Although you'll read that it requires 'direct sun' - my shrub gets only partial. It receives shade from the hot afternoon sun and seems to "appreciate it."

September Gardening "To-Do's"

I always enjoy Walter Reeves gardening advice. Here are some of his tips as we prepare for Fall.

Fertilize salvia and chrysanthemums with liquid plant food. They will reward you with lots of blooms later this fall.

Examine your flower beds for tired out perennials like Shasta daisy, black-eyed Susan and purple coneflower. You can cut off dead flowers and brown foliage to neaten the plants for fall

Preserve excess basil leaves by pureeing in a blender with a little water. Freeze the slush in an ice tray and use the cubes in your wintertime spaghetti sauce.


Lightly trim back the tropical hibiscus you kept outdoors for the summer. Make plans for where you’ll place it indoors in bright light.

Divide daylily, iris and monkey grass while you still have several weeks of warm weather to encourage root growth.

It’s a great time to plant peony roots. A good, old-time favorite is ‘Festiva Maxima’.

Spring-flowering bulbs are on sale now. You can buy them – but don’t put them in the ground until soil temperatures are in the 60′s or cooler in early October. 

Dawn Redwoods . . . Go Big or Go Home!

 

When we purchased our lot to build 11 years ago, I planted 3 Dawn Redwood trees. I wasn't familiar with them, but I knew I wanted something a little different than everyone else on the street! Well, these trees came in 5 gallon containers and were around 7-10' tall. Today, they are easily 30-40' and absolutely beautiful. Friends always comment on them when they come over.  They are in the same family as the giant redwoods in California, but will not get the same size. However, they can easily top out over 100'. They love the full sun and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions. And if you plant them in a wet or soggy area, they'll actually form the very cool 'knees' around the base of the tree.They lose their needles in the winter, but turn a brilliant bronze color in the Fall.

"Framing" a View

I snapped this top pic at Barnsley Gardens and thought it might get some creative juices flowing when it comes to planning your garden. If we think about landscaping as being "framed" (whether through a window, an arch, or simply hedges), it helps us to consider where we choose to plant our flowers, shrubs, trees, etc.  Below is a shot on the Berry College campus. Creating a view from a window, doorway or other opening will give you eye a place to focus and enjoy. Think of your yard as small settings which can be "framed" for a view!