Let’s Talk Gardening

April 25, 2009

Early Ornamental Trees with Martin Borrego: Viburnum ‘Cranberry’, Crabapple ‘Royal Raindrops’, Norway Maple ‘Conquest’, Mimosa ‘Summer Chocolate’, Miniature Dawn Redwood, Willow ‘Scarlet Curls’, Hawthorne ‘Contorta’, Weeping Birch ‘Summer Cascade’, Tree form Korean Lilac, weeping Cherry ‘Snow Fountain’, Smoke Tree ‘Royal Purple’, Horse Chestnut, Weeping Bald Cypress.

Ken’s Garden Tip: Favorite Tree Insecticide; Merit. PBI Tree & Shrub Insect Killer, Bayer Tree & Shrub, Tree & Shrub Plant Starter.

Color Class with Cindy Townsend: Red geranium with Dracaena spikes and Asparagus Fern. Camellia, Huerchera, Coleus, Dianthus, Abelia ‘Calypso’, Horseman’s Cedar, Red Dianthus. Yellow—Dahlia, Coreopsis, Euonymus ‘Moonshadow’, Huerchera, Blue—Aquilea (Columbine)

White—Stock, Artemsia ‘Silver Mound’, Japanese Maple, Huerchera, KnockOut Rose, Golden Deodora, Golden Euonymus, Agastache Summer Sky’.

How to Design a Perennial Bed: Brian Pirtle: First, have fun! Create interesting focal points. Plants listed in order. Boxwood ‘Graham Blandy’ Spiral Boxwood, Magnolia ‘Teddy Bear’, Althea (Rose of Sharon), Plants for under windows: Knock Out Roses, Boxwood ‘Green Velvet’, ‘Saybrook’ Juniper, Spirea, Indian Hawthorne, Nandina ‘Gulfstream’, Nandina ‘Harbor Belle’, Gaillardia, Scabiosa, ground covers, Annuals: Portulaca (Rose Moss), Angelonia, Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, Lisianthus

Marching Orders

1. Feed your azaleas as soon as they are finished blooming.

2. Top dress the azaleas with pecan hulls.

Question: How do I lower the pH in my established azalea bed.

Answer: Feed with Miracid by Miracle Gro and mulch with pecan hulls.

Best of Show: Mary Thompson with color wheel of plants.