Best pruning advice: HAVE PATIENCE!
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Best pruning advice: HAVE PATIENCE!
- From: M* B*
- Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 21:11:18 -0700
>Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 21:09:04 -0700
>To: Grdnpeach@aol.com
>From: Michael Barclay <opga@wenet.net>
>Subject: Re: Need Pruning Advice
>Cc:
>Bcc:
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>
>>Hi All,
>>
>>The snails offer a bit of unwanted help. There are no bunnies or deer to
>>help me prune, which is good because I prefer to the job myself. I've found
>>books that tell HOW to prune, but I haven't figured out when to prune some of
>>my plants, especially the ones that have barely noticeable flowers.
>>
>>Last year, I followed advice to cut Coprosma pumila 'verdi vista' way back.
>>It has shown hardly any growth for the year. Would anyone tell me when, and
>>how often I should prune Coprosma, Scaviola 'mauve clusters,' Convolvulus
>>cenorum, Plumbago auriculata SYN P. capensis, and various varieties of
>>Lantana?
>>
>>Because of the mild winter, the Lantana have been in flower the entire
>>season. Should I cut them back now to promote new growth and flowers?
>>
>>TIA,
>>Nancy
>>Los Altos, CA
>
>Hi, Nancy, 03/07/00
>
>I feel we're beyond a possible freeze on the west side of the Berkeley Hills
>but most people wait until the ides of March to begin real spring pruning.
>I wait until daytime temps are in the 70s and the rain is coming to an end---
>no sign of that right now,
>
>I have never needed to prune the only coprosma I grow 'Coppershine' and
>when pruning C. shrubs we've waited till late spring and followed with a
>balanced fertilizer. C. cneorum is a short lived sub-shrub whose life may
>be extended by pruning mid-summer. DO NOT FEED. Scaevola 'Mauve Clusters'
>can probaby take pretty hard pruning as the weather gets warm but a light
>feed (cotton seed meal) and regular watering should take place over the
>first two months after a hard prune. One waits for the hottest weather
>and dryness to prune lantanas of any kind and Plumbago auriculata would
>probably like a hard prune in May.
>
>The real garden tasks of this rainy season is constant clean up, control of
>molluscs as the early perennials emerge and perhaps planting some
>new perennials
>and hardy annuals for early color. Snapdragons can go in while the rain
>continues and its an ideal time to split up and replant large shade
>perennials.
>
>Roses should have been pruned and perhaps fed a second time, dead head
>rhodies and camellias the moment the blooms go over and cut fruit branches
>to force indoors---apricots, cherries, apples, quinces(!), etc..
>
>Wait another month to plant veggies---it's just too soggy top give them a
>good start. This is the dream time to plant bamboo and cool season grasses,
>bare root woodies and mixed summer show containers---be sure your potting mix
>is light and the pots up on pot feet or 1" x 1" for excellent drainage
>during the downpour.
>
>Good gardening!
>Michael D. Barclay
--
Michael Barclay, D.Lett. opga@wenet.net
Opera Education International/OEI
400 Yale Ave, Berkeley, CA 94708-1109
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