Spring cleanup can be a real mess. If you cut your own ornamental grasses, that’s especially true if it’s a windy day and you’re dealing with taller grasses (e.g., Miscanthus, Panicum) blowing everywhere as they’re cut and fall over.
03.05.2024 - 14:18 / finegardening.com
Good things come to those who wait, and this is especially true when establishing young fruit trees. Pruning to encourage proper branching structure and the production of high-quality fruit requires a great deal of patience, proper cultural care, and a keen eye for detail.
Even if the idea of pruning fruit trees feels intimidating, I encourage you to do a bit of research and try your hand at it. The first two to five years of a newly planted fruit tree’s life are especially crucial for developing the structure that will ensure long-term success. You will be sacrificing fruit set the first few years, but your tree will more than make up for this in the decades to come if a strong structure is developed from day 1. Here are some tips for getting your young fruit trees off to a great start.
A fruit tree trained around a central leader, also called a main leader, develops a shape that is a more open and refined version of the tree’s natural habit. One dominant, upright branch is maintained at the center of the plant, and several equally spaced scaffold branches grow out at an angle from this central trunk. The open branching that results allows for even light distribution throughout the plant and encourages the development of healthy, high-quality fruit. Apples, pears, and cherries are well suited for this pruning system.
Peaches, plums, and nectarines thrive when trained as open center trees. To employ this method, allow the central leader to grow to approximately 30 inches tall and perform a heading cut. By removing the growing tip of the main leader, you will encourage dormant buds along the stem to break dormancy, and several new shoots will emerge. Choose four to five new branches that are equally spaced as your new
Spring cleanup can be a real mess. If you cut your own ornamental grasses, that’s especially true if it’s a windy day and you’re dealing with taller grasses (e.g., Miscanthus, Panicum) blowing everywhere as they’re cut and fall over.
When we think about fruit trees, we are all like one had to wait for a minimum of 6-10 years before they could be ready to pick the harvest from. What if we told you there are some that get ready to fruit in no time?
If you have a tree in your garden that’s on the verge of dying, and despite your best efforts, is not showing any signs of improvement, then don’t worry. We will help you revive it!
Today we’re exploring more of Jay Sifford‘s lesser-seen back garden. We’ve toured and featured the award-winning landscape designer’s immaculate stylized meadow front garden, but now we’re wondering why the blooming bogs at the back of his home aren’t getting more attention.
Are you planning to install a pergola to enhance your outdoor space? Whether it's creating a shady retreat in your backyard or adding an architectural element to your patio, installing a pergola can be a great way to improve your outdoor living. But before you start building, there are some key things to consider to ensure your project is successful.
It’s always a treat when award-winning landscape designer Jay Sifford sends in photos of his fabulous home garden in the mountains of North Carolina. Today, we have an extra-special treat:
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7 Reasons Magnolia Trees May Fail to Bloom
Derived from the seeds of Azadirachta indica, neem oil can be beneficial in a lot of ways to keep the trees safe from various pests and diseases issues, which can ultimately help it flower and fruit better.
In 1971, NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa, a former US Department of Agriculture Forest Services smoke jumper, carried tree seeds into lunar orbit during the Apollo 14 mission. The The US Department of Agriculture Forest Services grew those seeds into seedlings, and the distributed the resulting ‘Moon Trees’ to national monuments and dignitaries around the world, with a large number distributed as part of the United States Bicentennial events.
Winter is for enjoying time in your home, and summer is for enjoying time in your yard. But shoulder seasons—fall and spring—are for preparation. In spring, we venture outdoors to nurseries and begin looking to fill our gardens with the best flowers and greenery the year has to offer.
Repotting aloe vera becomes necessary for a few reasons, especially when your plant starts to outgrow its pot. It can also be done when you have a baby aloe plant growing alongside the original. Referred to as a pup, this wee little aloe can be separated and repotted in its own container. Aloe plants require repotting anywhere from every three to five years or so. I often will save two or three houseplants to repot at the same time while I have my soil out and the table covered. In this article, I’ll explain how to repot an aloe plant—and a pup if you have one. Aloe was among my first houseplants when I got my first apartment. Having watched aloe vera gel applied to friends’ cuts and burn