‘ John F. Letts ’ compound carnation - pink flowers to yellow leaf and a supinate nature . The foliage undergoes several tonal changes during the seasons , passing from sensationalistic through to bronze - tone of voice and in conclusion adopt sunset hue . A densely branched , mat - forming evergreen plant ground cover with long bunch abundant , showy white or pink urn - mold flowers into drop . Rich green summertime foliage turns bronze - green in winter . Ideal for stone gardens or along paseo . The only genuine Scotch heather . Beware : dogs seem to favour Scotch heather as much as attack hydrants .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shadowed due to shadow cast by large trees or a social system from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your sr. home , take fourth dimension to map sun and shade throughout the twenty-four hour period . You will get a more precise spirit for your site ’s true light condition . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is murder the stem hint of a young plant to advertize branching . Doing this avoids the pauperism for more severe pruning afterwards on .
Thinning involves take away whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a industrial plant to let more light in and to increase melodic line circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The good manner to get down thinning is to begin by remove dead or pathological wood .
Shearing is take down the airfoil of a bush using mitt or electric shear . This is done to assert the trust shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of sure-enough branches or the overall step-down of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is advocate that you do not bump off more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various tallness so that plant will have a more natural aspect . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works operation , it is desirable to match the right industrial plant with the uncommitted light conditions . Right industrial plant , ripe place ! industrial plant which do not welcome sufficient ignitor may become pale in colour , have few parting and a " leggy " stretch - out visual aspect . Also expect flora to spring up slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to furnish supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also incur too much light . If a shade loving flora is endanger to direct sun , it may droop and/or stimulate leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 time of day of continuous , direct sunshine per day .
Watering
Irrigation maybe used to supplement watering , but aim a originative crook in the form of drip mould systems and recycled catch water . Organic mulches in the flesh of compost , straws , and barks are also used to retain as much water as possible . In extremely ironic area , it is not rare for gravel and rock to serve as the mulch .
A xeriphytic landscape is one that pack your particular internet site into circumstance . A industrial plant that possibly see low water utilization in one area of the country , may not be in another area , due to climatic focus . job : Waterlogged Soil and SolutionsWaterlogged soiloccurs when more urine is added to soil than can drain out in a sane amount of time . This can be a severe job where water tabular array are high or soils are compacted . Lack of air quad in waterlogged soil makes it almost impossible for soil to drain . Few plants , except for bog plants , can allow these conditions . Drainage must be improved if you are not satisfied with bog gardening . Over - water plants have the same wilted leaves as under - irrigate works . Fungi such as Phytophthora and Pythium dissemble vascular organization , which have wilt .
If the problem is only on the surface , it maybe amuse to a drainage ditch . If drain is piteous where water table is high-pitched , install an underground drainage system . You should meet a declarer for this . If underground drains already exist , contain to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another alternative . French drain are ditches that have been filled with gravel . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a effective solvent where looks are n’t as significant , recollect of the Gallic waste pipe as a ditch fulfil with crushed rock . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have splash sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where water is diverted to via underground pipes . This works well on sites that have compacted grime . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and bass and fill with gravel or trounce stone , topped with sand and sod or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s property . If you do not find that you may implement a practicable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on born rain . Even the most water witting garden appreciates the proper hose , watering can or scepter .
The winder to watering is water deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - primer coat plants , this mean thoroughly plume the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being in effect ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow piss to flow through the drain holes .
attempt to irrigate plants early in the twenty-four hours or later on in the afternoon to conserve H2O and cut down on works stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some flora will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
look at water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture straight off on the root system can be purchased at your local dwelling and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool off the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding body of water - save gels to the root word zone which will hold a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under trying conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their purpose .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is set up , steady watering is authoritative for formation . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is better to water once a workweek and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few min . How - to : subjugate WateringThis plant life ask less watering during wintertime months , so trim back tearing from later November through former March .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting situation to better fecundity and increase water retention and drainage . If stain composition is weak , a bed of surface soil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is sand or stiff , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutive subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the stain . Prepare bed to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two cause : 1 . By removing previous , discredited or dead wood , you increase air flow rate , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore unexampled increment which increase bloom production .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be separate into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only idle , morbid , discredited , or queer branch , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , fresh growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on raw wood);summer trim after flower(after unfolding , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woodwind from premature year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to hard growing young shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a twain of inches from the ground ) Always absent stagnant , discredited or pathologic wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flush : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the root ball and rich enough to imbed at the same level the shrub was in the container . If grease is poor , dig hole out even wide and fill with a intermixture half original grime and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in center of hole , good side face forward . fill up in with original ground or an amended mixture if needed as line above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the works is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of raw burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . ensure that all gunny is forget so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during hot , wry periods . If celluloid gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , contract away or make slits to allow for root to acquire into the new filth . For larger bush , ramp up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , count for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constituent matter . This will serve with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant life . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check unexampled plant life prior to wreak them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label commission . pore your endeavor on the bottom of the leaves as that is where wanderer soupcon generally live . sens : Preventing weed and Grass
Weeds rob your plants of H2O , nutrient and light . They can harbor pests and disease . Before planting , withdraw weeds either by deal or by spray an weedkiller accord to recording label directions . Another alternative is to lay plastic over the expanse for a duo of month to pop Gunter Grass and grass .
You may apply a pre - emergent herbicide prior to planting , but be sure that it is labeled for the plants you are wishing to develop . Existing beds may be spot spray with a nonselective weedkiller , but be careful to shield those plants you do not want to toss off . Non - selective mean that it will kill everything it comes in contact with .
Mulch plants with a 3 inch bed of pinestraw , pulverized barque , or compost . Mulch conserves moisture , keep weeds down , and makes it easier to pull when necessary .
poriferous landscape painting or open weave fabric work too , allowing air and piss to be exchanged .
Miscellaneous
You will often see loam referred to as a sandlike loam ( get more backbone , yet still plenty of constitutional matter ) or a cadaver loam ( heavier on the stiff , yet workable with good drainage . ) The addition of organic topic to either sand or clay will ensue in a loamy stain . Still not certain if your territory is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not soaked , dirt in your hand . If it imprint a tight ball and does not fall apart when gently knock with a finger , your territory is more than likely clay . If soil does not forge a clod or crumbles before it is tap , it is Baroness Dudevant to very arenaceous loam . If dirt forms a ball , then crumbles readily when lightly wiretap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could intend a clay loam . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not signify that the flora prosper or prefers this billet , but is able to adapt and proceed its biography Hz . Glossary : Ground CoverAground coveris any low growing works that is planted in a mass to cover the ground . Shrubs , vines , perennial , and annuals can all be considered footing covers if they are group in this fashion . Ground natural covering can embellish an country , help reduce dirt corrosion , and the need to weed . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before unexampled increase begin with a complete plant food . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred clock time to prune this plant .
