Category: Shrubs

Clay soil

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Fruit, Horticulture, Shrubs

There are a number of factors to consider dealing with compact soil (medium that’s difficult to penetrate and work over). It can often be waterlogged. The plant might find sourcing food difficult, the roots to develop too. The surface “crust” may make it difficult to allow air in.

These problems can be alleviated by working over repeatedly, improving the movement of air; encouraging worms to condition the quality.

The soil particles ideally need to be finer, sand can be added to make it more free draining (since not many plants cope in excessive moisture). However, under this surface “crust” it can also be thin and lacking lustre, nutrients and bulk.

In this instance, the soil can be nourished with manure, organic matter, any rotted compost that might be ready. There will be worms in this certainly, these will populate the designated area and treat. It will still be on the heavy side but much better. It may need adding to periodically with humus rich matter, since all soil becomes tired.

There are plants, without these steps, that will tolerate clay conditions despite no action being taken. This is not a comprehensive list, there are many others.

Fatsia japonica is a resilient evergreen with very attractive foliage. It prefers a fertile soil and perhaps some shade if anything. As long as it is relatively sheltered it will thrive. This shrub will bear black berries aswell as flowers but its really recognised for its leaves. It has an anti-pollutant quality too.

Garrya elliptica (Silk tassel) prefers a sheltered spot but generally is forgiving of most conditions. It doesn’t require any maintenance – to do would cause more harm. It flowers very early in the year, provides a food source for birds and bears attractive catkins in spring.

Sarcococca confusa (Christmas box) is an evergreen shrub which like a few flower in wintertime. It will provide delicate scented flowers from winter to spring. It keeps it shape well by habit. It is very resilient to drought, needs little support. A shrub good in a shaded, neglected spot. After it flowers, it will bear black fruit.

Lavatera (Mallow) an annual, a perennial, and warrants the term “shrub” aswell. A large specimen that flowers mid summer, it’s very resilient and can cope with an exposed site with salt laden winds. Keep spent growth on until spring and then remove. It protects it for the future year.

Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen with glossy leaves. It prefers a well drained soil with humus matter. It bears fragrant flowers throughout summer. Its roots system is relatively shallow so can cope with partially compact soil. Having said this, be mindful that any roots protruding from the surface are coveted to avoid unecessary drying out.

Magnolia stellata, a very different variety (starry flowers) but equally impressive. It offers spring flowers that are scented but not heavily. It does prefer a more sheltered spot although roots are very so good close to the surface. It does not need planting deeply albeit protected though. It prefers a heavy humus rich medium. If it’s in a sheltered position, it is protected from both the wind and sun.

Weigelia is decidious, so over the dormant is non descrpt. However, W. florida “variegata” does provide you with the most wonderful cream edged leaves and fragrant flowers from late spring to summer. A resilient shrub, it can cope in most aspects, exposed or sheltered. It also attracts beneficial insects too which always a bonus.

Rhododendrons/Azaleas are together since they are so closely related. Both flower from spring to summer. A variety of colours, some scented and others not. R. occidentale offers orange/yellowish flowers which are fragrant in early summer. This is decidious so will lose its leaves. R kaempferi (which is an Azaelea really) flowers late spring to summer but is evergreen, so will provide you with foliage all year round. What is certain, however, of this family is the soil must be acidic soil to perform well. This is something entirely for a different post.

It can also be said that an Azalea is a Rhododendron but a Rhodendron is not an Azalea. This is something else entirely too.

Shrubs for Beneficial Insects

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Perennial, Shrubs

Whilst we enjoy the scent and colour of our spring, summer and autumn shows, it is worth considering the benefits certain shrubs have in encouraging bio diversity and providing insects with essential food.

Buddleja (Butterfly Bush) A woody shrub that needs quite hard pruning to keep its growth vigorous. In spring, it needs to be taken down to 2 or 3 leaf nodes and it will benefit hugely.

Philadelphus (Mock Orange) A scented shrub providing white flowers and attractive foliage in summer through to autumn. It is drought tolerant and very resilient in quite harsh conditions. However, it loses its leaves and is non descript at other times of the year.

Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom) is popular in urban areas since it absorbs pollution. It doesn’t require any pruning per se and provides fragrant flowers. It does need some shelter and not suited to exposed sites. Early summer is the time it flowers, however, the leaves are attractive in themselves and its an evergreen.

Skimmia japonica offers fragrant leaves and white flowers in mid spring and berries in winter so a very beneficial shrub. Skimmias do not sit well in full sun. The more shade the better. The shrubs are drought tolerant and require almost no maintenance. The soil need not be humus rich. Their nutritional needs are low.

Potentillas are certain to attract wildlife and you have the added benefit of the lasting blooms. The shrub prefers full sun but a little shade helps the plant not over exert itself – it flowers for longer. it like most plants prefers a good soil but will tolerate poorer quality as long as it’s well drained.

Virburnums are a reliable choice too due to the fact that some can flower in winter through till spring and some even throughout summer. A hardy shrub of an informal habit will provide berries in the dormant months and highly scented pink and white flowers. A straightforward shrub that requires little maintenance save a clip here or there. It generally adapts to most soils as long as its free draining. It does well in sun but will tolerate some shade.

Spring Flora

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Shrubs

Admittedly I haven’t planted any plugs or sown any seeds. Having said that, there are a number of spring flowering shrubs that offer an abundance of colour at this time of year.

Forsythia can tolerate partial shade and offer a startling spring show. It can become quite invasive though if left, so as soon as its flowered, cut it back to maintain its shape. Forsythias are fine in partial shade, not particularly drought tolerant – so prefer a moist medium but free draining too.

Camellias can perform in full sun although tolerant of shade. The aspect, however, must be sheltered and coveted from strong winds. The plant is an acid lover so the Ph is important. They’re are not drought tolerant either so in very extreme heat – the camellia will need additional water.

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ is probably the most commonly used since it’s an evergreen. It does need a little shelter, however, but provides heavily scented flowers from late winter through to spring.

Roses should be have been cut to a third or however much you thought necessary. All dead, diseased and damaged branches need to be removed. The old growth cut back to a bud / leaf node. This avoids branches suffering any dieback.

Deutzia is related to the Hydrangea as another spring flowering shrub. Deutzia is scented, Hydrangea is not. Hydrangeas have an insatiable thirst, Deutzias do not and if anything prefer well drained soil in full sun.

Virburnums too prefer a well drained location and are heavily scented. The shrub can flower from late winter to spring so may have already done so. Virburnums are relatively robust and withstand an exposed area. Virburnums prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It’s an informal shrub and not meant to look trim.

Azaeleas are acidic loving and flower in the spring. The shrub is not drought tolerant though and will require sufficient moisture. The soil needs to be as water retentive as possible so organic matter needs adding to give it substance.

Choosing a hedge

by zoe100675, posted in Foliage, Fruit, Hedges, Horticulture, Shrubs

Unconventional hedging is becoming more common providing colourful foliage and suitable habitat for wildlife. In addition to this, most of these plants offer berries as a food source in the winter period. The overall effect and the purpose of the hedge (a boundary line, a deterrent, providing shelter, a food source, windbreak or winter interest) are certainly important to consider. The flowers, habit, growth rate and maintenance need to be looked at before this is achieved.

Elaeagnus, Photinia and Portuguese Laurel are relatively new to hedging offering colour, fragrance and resistancy – Elaeagnus can cope in very poor soil offering interesting foliage, flowers and fruit. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) is tolerant of almost all conditions bar sitting in wet soil. While these remain popular, they can’t outshine some of the more traditional species.

Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is undoubtedly the 1st choice. While some may think its blandness offers nothing. It provides effective shelter for wildlife, it tolerates pollution, poor soil, is fast growing, the list goes on. It flowers but only when left unpruned. It’s a winner with its hardiness, ability to regenerate after being pruned quite severely.

Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica) (not to be confused with Laurus nobilis – a Bay tree). The shrub offers interesting foliage and a food source for wildlife. The variegated ‘Crotonfolia’ bears berries when a female is located close to a male. A hardy evergreen that effectively acts as a specimen plant or as hedging. It is tolerant of shade and able to cope with demanding neighbours (other large shrubs, trees).

Barberry bush (Berberis) A spring flowering shrub that can be sought in red B.thunbergii Atropurpurea – a decidious variety and green B. darwinii – an evergreen. There is a yellow too. It provides autumn colour but with being decidious, between winter and spring, be mindful it doesn’t offer anything.

Common Box -(Buxus sempervirens). It can be sought already shaped or alternatively as a hedging choice. It’s slow in its growth which is why it is suited to topiary. It’s good in sun but tolerates a shaded position. It does, however, need a well drained environment. Its density thickens the more its clipped.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) offers fragrant flowers in spring to early summer and berries in autumn. It is good in both sun and shade although decidious so lacking interest in the dormant period. A fast growing shrub tolerant of exposed sites. It needs a trim after flowering. If it is done at the correct time this may not need more than an annual prune. It does need some sun so not a shade loving plant.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) a fast growing habit offering flowers and berries. The flowers have no scent and although it offers interest in autumn, it eventually loses all signs of life until the following spring. It is very similar to Hawthorn although can cope in slightly more adverse conditions – this being the soil, air, nutrients and light. It is particuarly resilient in exposed areas with salt laden winds making it drought tolerant.

Pyracantha Saphyr Orange – this shrub flowers in summer and attractive berries are borne throughout autumn into winter. An evergreen, it provides interest at all times of the year including large thorns.

Conifers – encompass a large number of different species with different habits. Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Alumni’ – (False Cypress) is an evergreen that can be used as hedging. A hardy choice offering reliable foliage for little maintenance. Pinus and Thuja are conifers but usually used as an accent plant in a sunny border as opposed to a hedge. Cupressocyparis x leylandii ‘Castlewellan’ is fast growing and considered the typical choice for hedging. It does only require a shave to keep in check. A little every so often is key. A mistake that is made is that this hedge is left to get out of hand and then cut back in one go. This is needs to be clipped periodically rather than cut like privet. It doesn’t regenerate the same way and weakens it making it more prone to disease and fungal infection.

Forsythia x intermedia – a spring flowering shrub and Mahonia, an evergreen providing flowers, foliage and fruits in winter have been used but not particularly associated with hedging. Mahonia, a hardy evergreen tolerant of shade. It does need protecting from exposed areas though. It also flowers off last years growth so when you prune it, you pruning all the flowers away. The growth habit of both is informal, these plants shouldn’t be conditioned.

Silver Shades

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Perennial, Shrubs

One colour can become so striking when offset against silver foliage. If the plant produces a flower, that’s a bonus. But purely for their leaves, these plants are effective.

Perovskia atriplicifolia – (Russian sage) ‘Blue spire’. This plant is ideal in a sunny position in well drained soil. It is highly scented too. It will flower through summer into early autumn.

Lavendula – Lavender offers attractive foliage, flowers and scent. French and English both look different in characteristics. French Lavender is inclined to a lime based soil that has plenty of air circulating around. It doesn’t bode well in compact, clay based medium. English Lavender similarly likes a free draining, light soil and neither keen on sitting in moisture.

Cineraria (senecio) a compact sub shrub. Adds a neutral tone to contrast with stronger colours. A bedding accompaniment more than anything. These can propagated by seed / bought in plugs. These are only really for one year bought in bloom and then discarded as opposed to a perennial.

Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ears) ‘Silver Carpet’ – this plant offers texture and colour to an herbaceous border. It prefers dry conditions and will not tolerate being over watered. It is a hardy evergreen, can cope in exposed conditions. It’s a foliage plant so there are no flowers.

Caryopteris (Blue beard) – a mid to late summer perennial shrub. There are various kinds but there is a silver green ‘Blue mist’. Its performance largely depends on how much light it gets, so a full sun position is recommended.

Helichrysum italicum (Curry plant) – as you would expect a highly scented shrub. It prefers to be in a sheltered position but generally resilient to most conditions. It doesn’t like being wet, so well drained soil is advisable.

Juniperus horizontalis ‘squamata’ or ‘Blue Chip’. An effective source of ground cover. The plant needs little maintenance although the aspect should be in full sun. The soil can be sandy, but not poor. It does prefer a degree of fertility. A very hardy, resilient shrub.