Horticulture Hotline 04/08/24
Bill Lamson-Scribner
With the night time temperatures still very cool now is a good time get organics and preemergent products out in your yard if you have not already. I was talking to one of our commercial customers yesterday who uses a lot of Cotton Burr Compost. In our conversation, he mentioned that the yards he uses this product in are much fuller, lusher, and have less fungus than the yards that he treats with regular synthetic fertilizers and fungicides. I think you will really see the benefits of using a combination of synthetic and organic products.
Many plants can be pruned, sheared, or run over with the lawn mower this time of year. Liriope, Monkey Grass, and Ophiopogon can be sheared or run over with the lawn mower (set on a high setting). Cast-Iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) and Holly Fern can be sheared this time of year to get rid of any torn and ratty foliage. This kind of pruning may seem brutal at first, but you will be rewarded with nice, young green foliage. If you have any climbing fig, you can shear off any winter damage.
Plants that flower on new wood are ok to prune now. Oleanders, Mexican Heather, Lantana, roses (if you missed Valentine’s Day), and Crepe Myrtles are all good plants to prune at this time. Prune crossing, dead, or diseased limbs on your Crepe Myrtles. Cassia, Butterfly Bush, and Vitex can all get a bit wild without regular pruning. These plants would be ok to shape up at this time. You can also cut back your Pampas Grass.
Some plants that you want to avoid cutting back would include; Azaleas (if they have bloomed it is okay to prune), Gardenias, Indian Hawthorne (Raphiolepis), Hydrangea, and any other spring flowering shrub or tree. Hydrangea bloom on old wood so if you cut off those dead sticks that you see in your yard now, you will be cutting off the blooms for this year. Endless Summer is a newer variety of Hydrangea that blooms on new and old wood.
After your spring blooming plants flower, pull out the pruners, and prune away! Camellias should also be pruned after they finish blooming in the spring time. Having good air movement through and around a Camellia seems to lower the amount of scale.
Remember to use sharp pruners and disinfect them with alcohol especially if you are pruning diseased plants. With the mowing season upon us, check your mower blade as well.
Take time out to enjoy the beautiful city we live in with a walk in our city, county, or state parks, downtown or out in one of the many gardens or public plantations in the area.
