Pruning

This is the rejuvenated hedge mid-August.n  The dappled willow is not visible in this picture.

No pictures of gorgeous flowers in this post.  This post is more about the hard decisions needed by the gardener in his or her space.

By the middle of June my privet hedge had still not leafed out.  I decided to give it another week before I would take it out if need be.  The end of that week brought signs that indeed it was still alive, but a drastic pruning would be in order and no way would it be approaching it 2012 or 2013 beauty.

Since then I took it within ten inches of the ground and cut some growth all the way to the ground.  I have since given it a light pruning.  I can now say it is on the road to recovery.

This is my hedge about a week into June.  The good bones and pruning apparent, but little sign of life.  You can see why I wanted to give it every benefit of time as it is major structural component between my garden and the alley way.

I also trimmed out the dead limbs in the dappled willow.  Actually, I had Handsome Son do that.  On further inspection we could see some sort of borer was at work.  I treated both it and the privet hedge, here and in front, along with a lilac and a climbing rose.  I used a broad spectrum systemic spray.  I haven't used any pesticides for over four years.  I didn't spray any plants near anything which was in bloom in an attempt to go easy on the many pollinators using my garden as their primary food source.  I have a feeling this damage may be the result of some sort of larvae of a sawfly or adelgid.    I have allowed the willow to sent up new shoots, but have also taken the old wood, some ten years old, to the ground this year as well, completely rejuvenating this plant.

In many ways this year has been one of rejuvenation and stream-lining my garden space.  That which does not kill us makes us stronger and proves we are alive.

Decisions...Cut Where? Or When?

Clematis 'Blue Dancer'

C. 'Blue Dancer' is putting on quite a show.  It's nice to have something blue in bloom.  This clematis is almost other worldly.  It certainly looks foreign to my zone.  However, it is decidedly hardy after this past brutally cold and long winter. This clematis alpina blooms on old wood.  Don't prune!

The blue color is spot on.  Amazing, huh?

Other things in the garden are still struggling.  After a rain last week, and the slightly more humid nearly 80 degree (F) temperatures perennials are starting to pop.  What looks the worse for the winter are my shrubs, the bones of my garden.

Pruning: It Was a Bloodbath

As the summer heat comes on, containers with succulents take their turn in the sun.

(AP) - Somewhere in Central Wisconsin

As the corn grows high and dogs get fat in central Wisconsin, gardeners everywhere are battling weeds and rampant foliage growth on hedges and vines.

Last week's high temperatures followed by rain these last few days have plants that have been stuck in neutral pushing it into high gear.  Not only are The Plants making up for lost time, but so are The Weeds.

"It was a bloodbath!" The Gardener replied when asked about pruning on the shrub and alley border.

One gardener was quoted, " I don't usually use a hedge trimmers on my dappled willow, but it was so out of control.  I needed to do something quickly to get it in check.  The neighboring wine grapes had scampered across it and up my 'Beauty of Moscow' lilac and my fruit trees.  The hedger made short work of returning the border hedge to some semblance of order."

Some of the plants in The Border were given a bit of latitude this spring due to the protracted winter following last year's heat and drought.  Cloudy overcast days in the beginning of the growing year also made for fast growth of foliage trying to grab any available sunlight for photosynthesis to supply exhausted root systems with the sugars they so desperately need.

"I have a few invasive species and others that can be Garden Thugs," The Gardener said. "The only thing that allows this large a plant collection to co-habitate successfully in such a small space is vigilant pruning."

The Gardener went on to mutter something in low, guttural tones about climate change, and then muttered something like a zealous religious mantra.

"Pruning is The Way.  Pruning brings The Light.  Pruning bring shape and form.  Pruning is The Way..."  The Gardener was heard to say as her eyes grew wide and fixed.

At this time, order has been returned to The Garden and The Border.

Clipping from the dappled willow, lighter in color lying across the ground and the newly pruned privet hedge.

I didn't expect much from this elephant ear colocsia.  It was a half-eaten by raccoon bulb, from my mother, which I wintered over.  Bought Thai Giant this spring and although pre-started, it has not grown.

Peppermint portulaca in a hot dry spot, just hasn't performed as advertised.  Additionally, I did not realize portulaca bloom in the morning and close up during the heat of the day!

Petunia on alley border, a hot, dry spot

Petunias in hanging baskets have fulfilled their promise with this last week's heat.

Planted in the moister, more hospitable long border, the earwigs are keeping the flowering and plant size to a bare minimum.  I am loathe to spray, though with all the bees, dragonflies, and hummers, living there.

Western spiderwort (that pink one), in a plant prison need to be cut back to the ground.  I have this potted in a 5-gallon plastic container eith the bottom removed.  This garden thug is pretty, and will rebloom, if cut back.

Dear Infidel Western Gardener....Proof of Life

"Let this be your Prook of Life Infidel Western Gardener! We have the fair beauty 'Krasavitsa Moskvy'.  Our tendrils have scaled her fair frame in several places blocking her light!"

 Dear Infidel Western Gardener:

We here in The Garden know you have grown fat and lazy with your recent success and acclaim from your capitalist Master Gardeners Garden Walk.  You think you can sit back and read glowing thank you cards and full page write-ups in beautiful full color in your week(ly) capitalist press.   Now is our time to strike!  We, the Wine Grapes, Othello and poor dumb B who is known by a number only, have organized the other thug garden plants.

"We have also clambered onto cherry 'Lapin'.  He is young, we may yet convert him to the True Path!"

"Here we show you we have 'Honeycrisp', too!  Easy prey for us as our hearts are true and our Evil Plan for World Domination will not be denied!"

"We have lived with you for years, fitting into your landscape design, learning your pruning and weeding ways!"

"You may think you foiled our evil plans when you cut off two 25-foot sections of akebia quinata which had taken the arborvitae twins hostage, but we will not give up!  More of our brothers stand ready to sacrifice their tendrils in the name of our Holy Cause!"

"Meanwhile, our brother-in-arms Gooseneck Loosestrife, A.K.A. Lysimachia clethroides languishes in your gardener's prison, contained between your house and a stone path!"

"Wormwood 'Oriental Limelight' A.K.A. Artemesia vulgaris Janlim also struggles in nearly full shade positioned in front of a mirror!  Who has heard of such crazy gardening ways!"

We demand you release our brethren plants!  There are more plants in The Garden which will join our cause!  The seedlings of catalpa overrun your beds and with the last week's heat grow mighty in their resistance to your ways as do grass turkey foot, quack, and our loyal friend walnut! 

Campanula horribilis launches her own evil plan giving us a two prong attack; and her minions are legion!


Lily of the Valley may yet come over and join with us in Our Cause.  Those fancy daylilies may yet see The Light!

We saw you out there on hands and knees ignoring us in your garden beds and borders, hand-pulling our brother turkey foot and crab where your dumb dog has made your lawn weak and willing to allow our take-over of your institutions.  The time you waste mowing the lawn works for us in our Evil Plan for World Domination.


We demand you free our brethren, lay down your pruners and join us on the True Path!!!

Simply continue your lazy ways.  We will yet triumph!

(signed)

The Grapevines Othello and poor dumb B known as a number only