"Tell me more!"
That was the response I received from a number of readers to a recent column in which I suggested some landscaping plants that you might not have considered.
In that column, I discussed the merits of Pink flowering Almond, Sourwood trees and colorful varieties of Althea. If you missed it, you can find it archived under the "Plant Man" heading at my Web site, www.landsteward.org Look for the column titled "Unusual plants add unique look to landscape."
So, for those of you who want a few more ideas that are off the beaten path, here are some suggestions to get your creative juices flowing. As before, these are not outrageously exotic plants, but some might not be available from your local garden center. Drop me an e-mail at steve@landsteward.org if you're having problems locating them.
Rosa Rugosa "Alba" - When I see this classic "white hedge" Rosa Rugosa, it always conjures up a feeling of times gone by. I imagine neighbors greeting each other across the hedge as they fetch the morning newspaper form the lawn. Or, later in the day, sharing a pitcher of homemade lemonade in lawn chairs and enjoying the fragrance of the Rosa Rugosa.
I guess it's the ordered, formal look of this Rosa Rugosa that suggests a bygone era. The white blossoms seem almost luminous against the dark green foliage. It can bloom from June almost to the first frost and creates a delightfully fragrant scent.
As a bonus, the Alba does well in just about any soil and is quite a fast grower, topping out at about 6 feet, if left untrimmed. Not always easy to find but well worth the effort!
Japanese flowering Dogwood (Cornus Kousa) - One of the problems with the popular white Dogwood is its susceptibility to disease. If that's a concern of yours, this Kousa variety could be a very good alternative choice.
The Kousa has a greater disease-resistance then the "regular" white Dogwood, has modest water requirements and is moderately tolerant of salt and alkali soils. It makes a great specimen tree, perhaps planted close by your patio, but I prefer to see them in groupings which can be very effective, and the clouds of white flowers look stunning in June.
There is also a pink flowering variety of the Kousa Dogwood. Like the white variety, it is disease-resistant. In addition to its pink blooms, the foliage turns from bright green to a brilliant red in the fall.
Bluestar Creeper (Laurentia Fluviatilis) - A couple of season ago, my wife Cheryl and I laid down a rustic pathway consisting of stepping stones that wind through a somewhat shady area of our garden. The stones looked rather bare and we had been on the lookout for a suitable groundcover to introduce between and around the stones.
We attend a lot of plant shows and at the Atlanta show earlier this year, Cheryl found Bluestar Creeper and we decided this was the perfect solution. It forms a "mat" of mid-green foliage about 2 to 3 inches high and displays small, pale blue, star-shaped flowers in the spring.
It grows well in partial or lightly shaded areas, so it should do well around the stones in our woodland area. If you're looking for a slightly out-of-the-ordinary groundcover, add Bluestar Creeper to your list of candidates!
Crape Myrtle Dynamite - So it's not literally "explosive" (thank goodness) but in the summer, this particular variety of Crape myrtle is covered with giant clusters of brilliant red blooms that resemble explosions that have been frozen in time!
As always, if you're having trouble locating these plants, or if you need advice or specific suggestions, drop me a line.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org For resources and additional information, or to subscribe to Steve's free e-mailed newsletter, go to www.landsteward.org
"Keep Deer and Rabbits Away From Your Tender Plants"
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My family and I all love wildlife. It's a pleasure to take our coffee out on the back deck in the morning and sip quietly as we watch deer (and sometimes more exotic creatures) while they forage. When ground mist is still clinging to the meadow, they almost look as if they are floating gracefully across the landscape.
But much as we love critters, we are a lot less charitable when they are chowing down on our dearly beloved plants! Our garden isn't a free buffet for every four-legged moocher…or at least it shouldn't be.
Because deer are fairly large animals, they tend to be the ones most gardeners and landscapers are concerned about. But other animals, such as rabbits, moles and squirrels, can create problems, too.
If you, like us, need to discourage wildlife from eating or damaging your plants, I have a few ideas for you today. I don't want to injure or kill the critters; simply get them to move on when they feel hungry.
There are two basic ways to deter hungry wildlife.
First, you can plant shrubs, trees and flowers that critters will avoid because they find them distasteful.
Second, you can find ways to protect plants that wildlife would otherwise find irresistible. Ideally, you can combine both methods.
Let's start with deer. There are a number of plants that will actually repel and even more that are resistant to deer, because they simply don't care to eat them under normal circumstances.
Deer repellent plants include: lavender, onion, catnip, sage, chives, garlic, spearmint and thyme. Strategically place some of these plants along your property border, particularly at points that deer are using as entryways, and the odds are in your favor that deer will be reluctant to cross the line. Additionally, you can circle deer-susceptible plants with a ring of these "bodyguard" deer repellent plants for added security.
As for deer-resistant plants, it makes sense to fill your landscape with trees and shrubs that deer don't care to eat, if they are a major problem where you live. These include: Douglas fir, holly, bottlebrush, maple, juniper, rhododendron, carpet bugle, periwinkle, wisteria and blue spruce.
We have found two grasses that seem to be deer resistant: Maiden Grass (miscanthus sinensis "Gracillimus") and Little Bunny (Pennisetum alopecuroides).
When it comes to rabbits, it gets a bit trickier. Some landscapers will tell you that "rabbit resistant" is an oxymoron, like "military intelligence." They'll claim that no plant is truly resistant, but some plants are less desirable than others to rabbits. If bunnies are the bane of your garden, you might want to research various online resources. One good place to start is http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/rabbits.htm and you can click on a hot link when you visit my Web site www.landsteward.org and find this column under the Plant Man heading.
Now for the second tactic: protecting plants from wildlife.
If the idea doesn't offend you aesthetically, a good place to start is a sturdy wire fence around your property. It should be at least 4' high to discourage all but the most athletic deer. If your fence is intended to keep rabbits away, at least the lower 2' or so should include a find mesh, because hungry bunnies can squeeze through regular chain-link fencing. The mesh should extend at least 12" below the soil level to prevent rabbits burrowing underneath.
You can hide an "ugly" wire fence with an attractive hedge, such as the fast-growing cedar "green Giant" or Rosa Rugosa, sometimes described as a living fence.
For an effective and economical way to protect vulnerable young trees, look for tubes or wrappings, such as the popular Miracle Tube which provides a sapling with a lightweight suit of armor.
Finally, if you find most chemical deer-repellents to be evil-smelling, look for a product called Deer Stopper. It has a pleasant smell and is safe to use around children and animals. It's also the only deer repellent approved for use by "organic" growers. The same company also makes similar organic products to repel rabbits, squirrels and moles. If you need shopping information for products like these, simply send me an e-mail.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org For resources and additional information, or to subscribe to Steve's free e-mailed newsletter, go to www.landsteward.org
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