Stratton Landscape Design

APT Pruning Tips --- Know Your Plants ... Timing is the Key ------- The main Pruning Guideline I try to follow are those of Mother Nature. By observing the habits of plants and understanding how and when they grow, flower and produce fruit and berries, you begin to learn the best ways to grow and contain them. Flowering shrubs are, perhaps, the most confusing when it comes to pruning. Its all about when they form their flower buds for next years blooms. TIMING is the key. ------- Take, for example, the macrophylla hydrangeas, the ones that have big mop heads or lacecap blooms and create stunning displays in midsummer. They form next years buds from late July through September. Many folks wait until the leaves fall off these large-growing varieties before giving them a hard pruning to keep them more compact. By doing so, they eliminate most of next years blossoms. The best time to prune, while still ensuring the development of new buds for next year, is the end of July, even though they may still be flowering. The newer varieties, like the Everlasting Series I wrote about in July, also produce on new growth so they can be pruned later and still have blooms next summer. --- All the arborescens types of hydrangeas, like the old Annabelle and the newer Invincible Series, set buds on next years growth, so no problem pruning in late fall and winter. The same is true of all PeeGee hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora) that have those big, beautiful, cone-shaped flowers; so again, no concerns if you prune in fall and even in early spring. ------- By November the flower buds are already formed on winter/early spring flowering shrubs such as viburnum Pink Dawn, evergreen and deciduous azaleas, corylopsis, witch hazels, rhododendrons, camellias, forsythias, flowering quinces, daphnes, kerrias, flowering currants and lilacs to name just a few. So, dont prune. Typically, you prune them just after the blooms are finished for the season and when the new growth begins. --- Late-flowering shrubs like buddleias, deutzias, hibiscus, beauty bushes, flowering elderberries and spiraeas all set bud and bloom on new growth and can be pruned even when the new growth begins in early spring. ------- Rose pruning is a little different. For the more tender hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras, all you do is tidy them up for winter by cutting them back about one-third their size, removing old, dead and diseased wood and applying mulch over the bud unions to protect the growth just above the graft. This prevents winter winds from damaging them and keeps heavy frosts from freezing them down to the graft. --- Tree roses need to have their stems protected up to and around the grafts with a protective wrap with insulation inside. Hardy roses, like rugosas, can be pruned now, but I always wait until the close of winter as a precaution. --- Climbing roses will look far better and bloom more profusely next spring if you choose four to five of the best canes that grew this year, attach them to an arbour or fence at six foot lengths, and then cut back everything else. ------- On all flowering trees cherries, plums, crab apples, cercis, redbuds, dogwoods, magnolias, Japanese snowbells, styrax and stewartias etc., the flower buds are already set. I know that sometimes the only window you have for pruning is in winter when these trees are dormant, and you can do so, but you would lose many of the beautiful blossoms. The tree, however, would still be fine. --- Medium-sized and larger deciduous trees, although they provide privacy and shade, also need to be pruned, both for strength in wind and ice storms and to control diseases. Its important to maintain the natural shape of the tree while keeping it at a manageable size. --- The other anomalies are birch and walnut trees. Just by their nature, the very best time to prune them is in mid-July. ------- Most evergreens can be pruned anytime of the year except during extreme heat or cold. Pine and spruce trees, however, are usually pruned after the buds and candles pop in late May and June. When pruning cedars, try to keep them slender to minimize snow damage, but at the same time stay within the green wood because they dont send new growth out of older, hard wood. --- Fast-growing broad-leafed evergreens, like laurels and photinias, can be pruned October or left until spring. Azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias are all budded now and are generally pruned after they flower in spring when the new foliage growth begins. --- As our herbaceous perennials begin to look tired and their green foliage has turned brown, its time to clean them up by simply cutting them off at ground level. To add a little brightness to your late fall garden, you may wish to hold off pruning the late-bloomers like asters, heliopsis, schizostylis and orange-berried arums. This is where evergreen perennials, like euphorbias and hellebores, can keep the colour coming into winter and beyond. ------- Ornamental grasses like fescues, carexes and acoruses, are supposed to carry us into winter. I love the straw colours of many ornamental grasses, like miscanthus, calamagrostis and panicums. Let them add that prairie look to your garden until winter rains or snows knock them down and then cut them back. ------- Vines, too, should be tidied at this time of year, especially any wild late summer growth. The woody stems of wisterias, climbing hydrangeas and early-blooming clematis like the montanas, now have their buds set, so just a tidy-up is required. --- Late-blooming clematis can be pruned back 12 to 24 inches, while the twice-blooming varieties are generally pruned about one-third. Late-flowering trumpet vines (campsis) should be pruned hard to improve their appearance. ------- Personal Note --- Two guidelines I stick to are... 1) When in doubt... Don't Prune 2) Never prune during Leaf Up or Leaf Down --- Dont be afraid to make the odd mistake. 'Just doing it' is one of the best teaching tools that I know. -------

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APT Plant Profile --- Campanula persicifolia - Peach-leaved Bellflower ... ------- Peach-leaved Bellflower - Campanula persicifolia --- Native Range: Europe, northern Africa, northern and western Asia APT Classification: Herbaceous perennial Zone: 3 to 7 Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: June to July Bloom Description: White to blue Flower: Showy, large, outward facing, bell-shaped flowers Foliage: Medium to dark green leaves, (cultivar 'Kelly's Gold is yellow leafed) Exposure: Full sun to part shade Moisture Requirements: Medium Maintenance: Low Tolerates: Deer ------- Cultural Requirements --- Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants prefer cool summer climates. They are generally intolerant of the extreme heat of the deep South, and do not perform well south of USDA Zone 7. They appreciate some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Plants need regular and even moisture. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom and curb any unwanted self-seeding. Cut back flowering stems to basal rosettes when stem leaves begin to fade. In optimum growing conditions, plants will spread both by self-seeding and offsets. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years. Propagate by seed, cuttings or division. Seed may be planted in the garden in late spring for bloom the following year. ------- Noteworthy Attributes --- The species Campanula persicifolia, commonly called peach-leaved bellflower, is a rosette-forming, upright, glabrous perennial that typically grows on stiff sturdy stems 1.50 feet to 3 feet tall. It is native to open woods, shrubby slopes and mountain meadows in Europe and Asia. Plants in this species have escaped gardens and naturalized over time in a number of areas in North America including the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. Large, outward facing, broad bell-shaped flowers (to 1.5 inches long) in shades of white to blue bloom in open, slender, terminal racemes atop erect, unbranched, nearly leafless stems in late spring to early summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, leathery, bright green leaves (4 to 8 inches long). Rosettes are semi-evergreen to evergreen in warm winter climates. Stem leaves are much shorter (to 4 inches long). ------- Pests, Pathogens and Problems --- No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails are occasional visitors. Watch for aphids. ------- Garden Design Applications --- Campanula persicifolia (Peach-leaved Bellflower) provide colour and contrast to the perennial border or rock garden. Plant in borders or cottage gardens. Also effective in lightly shaded woodland areas where plants can be left alone to naturalize. ------- Cultivars of Interest --- Campanula persicifolia 'Alba' - 'Alba' is a white flowering selection of peach-leaved bellflower. The sturdy flowering stems will reliably reach between 2 to 3 feet tall. 'Alba' will self-seed readily in the garden, but deadheading can discourage this. Zone: 3 to 9 Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: June to July Bloom Description: White Exposure: Full sun to part shade ------- Campanula persicifolia 'Chettle Charm' - 'Chettle Charm' is a rosette-forming, upright perennial which grows on stiff stems to 1.50 feet to 3.00 feet tall. Features large, outward-facing, bell-to-cup-shaped flowers (to 1.50 inches long) which are creamy white edged with lavender blue. Flowers appear in slender terminal and axillary racemes atop erect, unbranched, leafy stems in late spring, with a respectable rebloom to the end of summer. Zone: 3 to 7 Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: June to August Bloom Description: Creamy white edged with lavender Exposure: Full sun to part shade ------- Campanula persicifolia 'Grandiflora Caerulea' - 'Grandiflora Caerulea' is an upright, clump-forming cultivar which grows on stiff stems to 1.50 feet to 3 feet tall. Features large, outward-facing, blue, bell-to-cup-shaped flowers (to 1.50 inches long) which appear in slender terminal and axillary racemes atop erect, unbranched, leafy stems in late spring to early summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, medium green leaves (4 to 8 inches long). Rebloom may continue throughout the summer. Zone: 3 to 7 Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: June to August Bloom Description: Blue Exposure: Full sun to part shade ------- Campanula persicifolia 'Kelly's Gold' - Kellys Gold is a golden-leaved cultivar of peach-leaved bellflower. It is a rosette-forming, upright perennial that typically grows on stiff stems to 2 feet tall. Features large, outward facing, bell-shaped flowers (to 1.50 inches long) that are white tinged with blue at the edges. Flowers appear in slender terminal and axillary racemes atop erect, unbranched, leafy stems in late spring to early summer, sometimes with a respectable rebloom at the end of the summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, glossy, bright golden leaves (4 to 8 inches long). Zone: 3 to 7 Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: June to August Bloom Description: White with blue-tinged edges Exposure: Full sun to part shade ------- Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' - 'Telham Beauty' is a rosette-forming, upright cultivar which grows on stiff stems to 2 to 4 feet tall. Features large, outward facing, bell-to-cup-shaped flowers (to 1.5" long) which are lavender blue. Flowers appear in slender terminal and axillary racemes atop erect, unbranched, leafy stems in late spring to early summer, sometimes with a respectable rebloom at the end of the summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, glossy, bright green leaves (4 to 8 inches long). Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet Bloom Time: May to June Bloom Description: Lavender blue Exposure: Full sun to part shade ------- Campanula persicifolia Pride of Exmouth - The flowers of this beautiful variety are well cupped with a second inner cup that is pleated, giving a definite double impression. The colour is a strong violet/blue which, coupled with a relatively dense habit and closely spaced flowers, makes for a most striking variety. Height: 2.50 to 3.50 feet Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet Bloom Time: May to June Bloom Description: Strong violet/blue Exposure: Full sun to part shade -------

Happy Canada Day everyone! Raise the flag with pride today!!Happy Canada Day everyone! Raise the flag with pride today!!

Congrats Raptors we rule!!!! Time to celebrate Yes We Did!!!Congrats Raptors we rule!!!! Time to celebrate Yes We Did!!!

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