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The Real Gardeners Book

July 17th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Hi everyone!

I was looking for various online sources of gardening tips and found the Real Gardeners Handbook. I took a look at it and the author looks like a real stand-up guy with an obvious green thumb.

The downloadable book (also provided on an Mp3 book with the download) goes about describing in good detail how a beautiful garden can be gained easily, with little expense and a great deal of satisfaction. All the steps seemed really simple, clear, and easily followed. If you want to see more, get The Real Gardeners Book here

The Loquat Tree - An Ornamental Fruit

January 4th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Origin

When you wish to make use of yard space, one of the very best ways to do it is to plant fruit trees, especially those that are also ornamentals. Before I planted anything, I researched a tree that grew on the ranch where my dad worked during my childhood. The fruits were soft, juicy and sweet. The skins were eaten as well. I remembered the name of the tree and found a man who grew them locally.

The tree? The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl). It’s also known as Japanese medlar or Nispero. It is a distant relative of apples, stone fruit, pears, and others.

The origins of the loquat are in southeastern China. After introduction to Japan, it was cultivated there for over 1,000 years. It has long been naturalized in India. History tells us that the Chinese were the people who brought the plant to Hawaii. In California, the improved variety known as Giant has been around since the late 1800s.

Climate for Best Growth

A sub-tropical or mild-temperature climate is best for this tree. My family lived in the Sacramento River Delta and the tree did exceedingly well there in spite of the cold, foggy winters.

The tree will not bear fruit if the climate is too cold or extremely warm and damp. However, in those climes, the loquat makes a great ornamental tree.

Something called the “killing temperature” for the flower bud is 19° F. The mature flower will die at or below 26° F.

25° F will kill the seed and any fruit growth will fall off.

Very hot summer heat and hot winds will cause leaf scorch.

High heat and sunlight during winter will sunburn the fruit.

Loquats are wind tolerant. Full sun is best, but partial shade may be enough.

Growth Habits

The loquat can be maintained as an evergreen shrub or small domed tree. It will have a short trunk but can grow 20 to 30 feet tall. Most trees top out at about 10 feet tall, however. The roots remain shallow and care should be taken not to damage them when cultivating nearby.

Foliage and Flowers

The dark green glossy leaves are 5 to 12 inches long and about 3 to 4 inches wide, though they could be narrower in some cultivars. The undersides are whitish. They are thick and stiff and usually have small, not too sharp, points around the leaf where the veins reach the edges.

Fall and early winter bring tiny white sweet smelling flowers that grow at the very ends of the branches.

Fruit

The fruits grow in clusters. They may be oval, pear-shaped or rounded. Usually, they grown 1 to 2 inches long and are smooth-skinned, sometimes pale orange or yellow with a blush. The flesh may be white, yellow or orange.

Each fruit has 3 to 5 large brown seeds that hug together in the center.
Thinning of the fruits may be necessary when the tree produces an over-abundance of fruit.

Soil and Irrigation

Loquats can tolerate light sandy loam to heavy clay. They also do well in limestone soils. Good drainage is a must. These trees will not tolerate standing water.

Drought tolerate, these trees will produce the best fruit with regular deep watering.
Definitely water when the blossoms begin to swell.
2 To 3 waterings are needed during harvest time.

Fertilizers, Pruning and Pests

Lightly fertilize with nitrogen; too much can affect flowering.

Severe pruning should happen just after harvest, taking care to promote next year’s growth to allow light into the center of the tree.

Loquats have few pests. In certain areas, they may fall prey to black scale.

In my research, I learned that loquat trees nearly became extinct and were saved by farmers and specialists who knew an eventual market for them would reappear. Today in Hawaii, few people know about loquats. Since my trees are new, I can’t wait for them to fully fruit so I can give people samples of this delicious fruit.

Mary Deal, Pushcart Prize Nominee
Read more articles, short stories and novels
On http://www.writeanygenre.com

Mondo Grass

December 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Mondo Grass - For Better or Worse

Careful planning in where you bed Mondo Grass (Ophiopogan Japonicus) will beautiful your landscaping, or it can become the bane of your existence.

First, let me simply explain that Mondo Grass should be planted in shade or partial shade. As with most plants, it will grow and grow profusely in full sunlight. But in full sun, the blades will turn yellow at the outer ends. Areas like borders up close to the house or fences are good for this plant and offers a certain amount of protection from the elements.

If left to grow without much care, without borders to keep it contained, Mondo Grass will seek nutrients and spread anywhere it can take root. It does this quite easily with tuberour roots and stolons.

A disease of Mondo Grass is root rot, caused by heavy soil and poor drainage.

Mondo Grass

…is drought resistant and needs water in moderation, even less in winter months.

…likes acidic soil and good drainage.

…is disease and insect resistant with the exception of scale. That pest can be controlled with the use of an oil based insecticide specifically labeled for garden ornamentals. Granular bait can also control scale.

…is available in several species. The differing lengths of the foliage run from 12-18 inches down to 1 ½ inches, each suitable for varying locations in the landscape.

…has pale purple flowers that bloom in the center of the plant. However, the tall canopy of green blades may fully cover the flower, which would be difficult to see and appreciate.

Zones

…for easiest management of Mondo Grass is Zone 7 or higher. Sheltered areas in Zones 5 and 6 are also good, but the plant must be protected from the elements.

Planting

…should be accomplished after the soil has been prepared. Remove weeds with an herbicide like Roundup® which kills weeds in about 7 days.

…Then fertilize the soil down to a depth of about half a foot.

…Repeat the above two steps a couple of times and the weeds should not return.

…Depending on your soil type, feed it with a good compost or dolomite or lime.

…after preparation of the soil bed, planting can be accomplished by seed planting or with plants already started. If using pre-started plants, the clumps need to be separated. Plant them 4-12 inches apart. Do not plant them deep, just enough to cover the root portions. Pack the dirt around the root.

Maintenance

…Mondo Grass will live indefinitely without much maintenance. However, to maintain healthy plants with beautiful color, light fertilizer may be applied during spring and summer.

…To control new weeds, a post-emergence herbicide can be used. Some are Grass-B-Gon®, Fusilade II®, Ornamec®, and Vantage®. Do read the labels and learn which is best for your type soil and weed problem.

Mary Deal

False Heather (Mexican Heather)

November 28th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

We’ll be discussing various plants and shrubs that may fit into your landscaping.

To begin, let’s discuss False Heather, or Mexican Heather, to border your driveway. This plant is great any place else you may need a border.

In Latin, this Heather is from the Lythraceae (ly-THRAY-see-ee) family; Cuphea (KYOO-fee-uh) genus; and the species is hyssopifolia (hiss-sop-ih-FOH-lee-uh).

This plant is considered an annual or a tropical. The little shrubs grow from 12-18 inches (30-45 cm).

When planting, space the shrubs 9-12 inches (22-30 cm) apart. These will grow and spread, in time, so that the spaces between will fill in. You must also take care to remove any that end up spreading in areas you do not wish.

Hardiness of this plant is as follows (this information is from a landscaper friend):

USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Healthy False Heather is an evergreen, blooms all year, loves full sun to partial shade. It puts out purple flowers. These flowers will attract bees and we need more stimuli to keep our bees healthy and reproducing. If you are allergic to bee stings, check with your local nursery. A hybrid of False Heather exists that does not attract bees. The flowering plant is difficult to determine from the real stuff.

Oh yes, water this Heather regularly, but do not over water. I find the soil can be only slightly damp before water is needed again.

The soil for these plants can be mildly alkaline or neutral. Check with your local nursery if your plants struggle in your soil. They may only need a bit of fertilizer.

False Heather can be started from seeds and cuttings, but it is also readily available at your local nursery, well-started and hearty.

Along my own driveway, I planted Heather and Mondo Grass side-by-side the length of the driveway on both sides. While I love the look of the two together, Mondo Grass has a tendency to crowd out other plants. It has done that to my Heather, which, of the two, I had wanted to keep. In a few months I will remove the Mondo Grass and add more Heather. For a driveway border, I decided I would like more color. Once the Mondo Grass is removed, I will plant flower bearing annuals around the mailbox and in other areas where a clump of blooms will look nice.

That is not to say we don’t like Mondo Grass. It has its place. Watch for an article about Mondo Grass coming soon.

For now, I love the False Heather in my landscaping and it will stay.

Mary Deal

Ideas for Landscaping Your Home and Property

July 20th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Landscaping can be a bit bemusing for someone trying his or her ideas for landscaping the first time around. Some people have a natural eye for ideas for landscaping, but if like me you are not like that, you can still get good ideas from looking at others and then let that spark your landscape design ideas. Once you have an idea for what you may want to do, you can either work them out on landscaping software or you can hire a landscape architect or engineer.

Walls

As ideas for landscaping, walls are an attractive, even decorative item in any garden. Walls, within the ideas of landscaping, are not seen as ways to block or conceal a space. Rather they are used to enhance and highlight an area. Sometimes they are used to divide or logically suggest the beginning and end to one segment of the garden and another. Walls form great backyard landscaping ideas, especially if you can afford the space for a creative design.

Decks And Patios

Decks and patios are an absolutely necessary item in any landscape design ideas. They present locations for gathering, isolated islands in the midst of the garden for viewing special selections in a garden, and they are an oasis of relaxation. It’s a glorious experience sitting on a patio surrounded by floral aromas and simply watching the stars at night.  Decks and patios are generally made from wood but steel and concrete are also used. What medium you choose should be based on the character of your garden and the effect you are trying to create.

Stones For Landscaping

Many landscape design ideas use rocks and stones to create a more natural look. There are a multitude of styles, colors, textures in use today. You can use natural stone purchased from dealers or the same company will probably be able to sell you man-made stone as well.  Man-made stone is purpose made for homes and is often designed to fit specific areas or functions. A landscape engineer will be able to bring your ideas for landscaping your home into reality.

Water Fixtures

Most people enjoy what is commonly called a “water feature.” A water feature is a landscape design idea meant to evoke the softness and calmness of running or flowing water. This can be designed around something as simple as a bird pond and fountain or as magnificent as a roaring waterfall. Your ideas for landscaping are only limited by your needs and by your imagination.

Summing it Up

Many (if not most) ideas for landscaping come directly from the homeowner. No one can tell you what you want. If you can get that idea out in the open, even just a rough drawn image on paper, chances are a landscaping architect can team with you to make your dreams a reality.

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