Originally published 5/30/2011 Clematis are part of the Ranunculaceae family. I very much like my Miss Bateman Clematis, a deciduous perennial climber. I planted two last year in my Colorado garden and both are faring well. They have reached a height of about 3 feet and are growing vigorously. They need a better attachment to… Continue reading Miss Bateman Clematis
Category: Pruning
From maintenance to art, plant pruning is fun
Bonsai boy care instructions for juniper Nana
Bonsaiboy.com The dwarf juniper is the most popular evergreen in the united states. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a juniper procumbens nana. it is very hardy, long lived, and tolerates many adverse conditions. Juniperous procumbens is a low growing juniper native to southern Japan.… Continue reading Bonsai boy care instructions for juniper Nana
Pruning the peach and forcing branches indoors
After spending an hour last night reviewing how peach trees are pruned I set to work today on pruning my peach. With the oscillating temperatures in January buds have begun to form and now is the time to get pruning. It’s a very chilly 27 degrees, hopefully not too cold. I start by pruning out… Continue reading Pruning the peach and forcing branches indoors
Roses in the garden
Planting a rose in a Colorado garden. Roses do great in Front Range Colorado, partially due to the dryness of the air which discourages the fungal diseases you see in eastern roses like black spot. You just need to ensure you have your clays well mixed with organic matter to create space for air and… Continue reading Roses in the garden
A five-year-old peach’s shape four months after a big buzz
Does this peach look right? Not the look I was going for. But perhaps from this we’ll get and even better shape for a very loose espalier. Definitely looking bushy. But underneath I might just see the fan I was hoping for. Below is where we started. Spring trimming 2020
Ideas for training lilacs into trees
Lilacs are native to the Southeast Europe. A plant I have loved, loved since childhood, its scent is like no other. Our first lilac grew huge in the middle of our haphazard back yard on the edge of the front range plains. It was a bright spot among the false starts, weedy grass, and scattered… Continue reading Ideas for training lilacs into trees
Prunus virginiana: A pruning job I actually like
I’ve been known to butcher shrubs. It only makes sense knowing that in my family tree are at least two butchers! But I digress. What I would like to show you is a native chokecherry pruning job I’ve managed to keep tidy for many years. Keeping this shrub that can grow up to 25 feet… Continue reading Prunus virginiana: A pruning job I actually like
Peaches get a buzz cut for spring – espalier no more?
Spring weather dictates what winter imaginings are actually done. This weekend was balmy. Sixty degree temps rid us of the last February snow. It was a good time for trimming the 4 year old peach trees. The days of training into an espalier are gone. If I had found Ian Sturrock’s video on espalier earlier,… Continue reading Peaches get a buzz cut for spring – espalier no more?
The silver maple comes down, well mostly
Who cries when a tree is cut down? Yep it’s me. Today I say goodbye to the silver maple. It is so hard to make a decision about cutting down a 40 year old tree. Its been ailing for a very long time. Every big wind some large limb comes down. And still, I have… Continue reading The silver maple comes down, well mostly
The Peach Tree Espalier
Originally posted on 5/15/2016. I will be planting two of my peach seedlings along a back fence. This has been a long forgotten part of the yard. But one that would lend well to small fruit trees. My seedlings are ready for their permanent home and while that part of the yard is not in… Continue reading The Peach Tree Espalier