Features Of The Overplanted Border 1: Trees and Shrubs

[plantaholic]

Our small yard is home to three nesting families: a cardinal, a chickadee, and
the common finch, which I didn't think it could handle. The four cardinals shown
are one family. Other birds show up at the feeder from elsewhere.


Here are a couple of winter views of the East border taken this morning.






The flowering shrubs [lilac and Nanking cherry] are gradually
taking on a groomed look, and I have expectations of those
irises shown poking through the snow.

[plantaholic]

Now's a good time for pruning the lilac, when I
can see what I'm doing.

Here I'm lowering this bush so as to have flowers at
eye level and to keep it shorter than the yew hedge
and the lower branch of an apple tree just behind it.
They bloom at about the same time.

Neat concept, eh?

Before:




After:





The overall result.


It'll be maintained at around five feet, which is about three years away.

[plantaholic]

I may as well confess that I've had the
matsu zukuri style in mind
from the start, when I set in this tree while it was a potted Christmas tree years ago. Back then,
though, I didn't know the name of that style -- Ionly that I liked what I saw while in Japan
in the service.
I'll mostly be trimming off as many upright-growing candles
as I can reach by stepladder and with an adjustable angle pole pruner,
to keep the tree to a manageable size, as well as an attractive specimen.

[plantaholic]

In my next available time slot, I'll do the Nanking cherry
with hedge shears.

[plantaholic]

Did the cherry bush this morning, and here's the net
effect.

Both bushes-the cherry and lilac- were cut back to 38 inches and will be
left alone until this time next year:



The cherry bush required heavy loppers instead of hedge shears
after all, in order to be cut back to the height of the neighboring
lilac, in order to permit that lower pine branch to clear it.

[plantaholic]

And here's a placid late winter view from the dining room
window - pre-dawn spring, if you may, and the crocuses won't show for
over a month.



This spot has been muched with shredded maple leaves. I hope a
fern I set out last spring makes it through.

[plantaholic]

Went over the pine lightly to finish my pruning for the year.


click photo to enlarge

The yew hedge should make a good backdrop for the blooming shrubs
to the front of it.

[plantaholic]

Now here's a glimpse of my south border, taken this afternoon: a pruned
Nanking cherry prunus tomentosa in bloom; a severely pruned-back
magenta-flowering lilac; primulas- alternating reds and yellows; along
with irises- BB'Mostest'- up front:

click photo to enlarge

I'm kinda hoping that, through intensive grooming the flowering shrubs will
leaf out down to the ground, so as to provide a close-fit leafy backdrop, and
dramaticallyshowcase the yellow irises in the manner that yew hedge is supposed
to showcase them.

Stay tuned.

[plantaholic]

An up close look at that rejuvenated lilac. Interesting as
to how its color is shown on those early buds. It won't bloom
this year,however; next year, perhaps.


photo enlarges

[plantaholic]

The west wall lilacs as of today:


enlarge

I'm not too sure as to when to shear lilacs and get flowers the next year. Does anyone here know? The border's in
full bloom now.

[Linda P]

I prune mine as soon as they are done blooming. In fact, I need to do it right now..they have just finished up a very long bloom season.

Linda P

[plantaholic]

The east border as of this morning. Not
an award-winning garden yet, but give me a couple
of years. It's been a good year.


enlarge

[plantaholic]

Took some time today to touch up an apple tree out back, nipping
back this year's growth to maintain a manageably sized flowering ornamental malus; we had a sunless day,
so,sun-in-the-eyes wasn't a problem. The beauty of the pole pruner w/telescoping adjustable handle
is in being able to do all this without a ladder:



And the maple came on beautifully this year in glorious Old Gold:

[plantaholic]

This morning the flowering crab received its annual coiffure - a light trim, if you may-
to maintain a cared-for appearance. Few flower buds were lost; mostly new growth
was removed.


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Its branches tend ro grow leggy and present a tangled appearance if left unattended
for just one year. My Fiskars adjustable pole pruner enabled
me to do this safely without the use of a ladder.

[plantaholic]

The East Border as of around eight o'clock this morning,turning
dormant: winter weather is just days away.



I'm not really sure if the irises are happy; they get only half a day's sunlight. Am pondering as to what
to do about it - hate to lose them. The front yard may be a better place. May is the time to decide, I reckon.

[plantaholic]

I'm leaving the flowering bushes alone for now; maybe the Nanking cherry'll bloom - the lilac won't, for sure. Needs another year.

They'll be done in the summer, just enough to maintain a compact size. The yews
and that pine branch frame them nicely.

Hopefully those irises -yellow- together with two bands of primulas will complete the landscape scheme
for the east border.


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As seen from the back door.

Our cat is a serious mouser, and she routinely patrols the premises, bringing
in a trophy to the door occasionally.

[plantaholic]

The east border as of today.



A flowering bush cherry Prunus Tomentosa is the season's opener.
Just maybe that lilac may send out a flower despite its being lopped back
last year.

[plantaholic]

The west wall as of today,with about four years to go for that remaining gap in the left foreground to fill in by my estimate.
.


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[plantaholic]

My bush cherry prunus tomentosa opens the
season's flower show along with the invasive blue scillas.