Ask Danny | Ep. 6: How to Plant Shrubs, and Pruning Techniques

On this week’s episode of “Ask Danny,” Sid Sexton is again to inform us easy methods to plant shrubs and provides some recommendation on pruning crape myrtles.

Sid is the founding father of Sexton Garden & Panorama in Daphne, Ala., and is licensed in turf and decoration spraying, panorama design, and setting of panorama crops.

About Sid Sexton

Because the founding father of Sexton Garden & Panorama, Sid is a down-to-earth, trustworthy businessman with a love for garden care, panorama design, and delivering the most effective merchandise to his purchasers.

Beginning at age 16, Sid spent his summers working for an area panorama firm and the native nation membership and golf course in his hometown of Muskogee, Okla.

After incomes his bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration with a minor in horticulture, Sid joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Hawaii, the place he met his future spouse, Jourdan.

Sid was our visitor for the primary episode of “The Ask Danny Podcast,” and he’s again! Take heed to “Ask Danny Episode 1: Bettering Your Garden’s Well being” to catch up, or learn on for extra details about this second interview with Sid.

Planting Shrubs: Suggestions for Success

What are a few of the steps our listeners ought to take when planting shrubs?   

Sid: Earlier than you plant shrubs, observe these three steps:

1. Have a plan. You want the best kind of plant on your surroundings in the best location. Take into consideration area, daylight and water, then ask your self these questions: The place will the crops go? Will the world have an excessive amount of or too little water? Are they the best crops for the best place for the daylight they want? 
2. Lay out the mattress. Use spray paint to stipulate the mattress line, then lease a sod cutter to take away the turf and vegetation. 
3. Add soil: Be sure that to construct the soil up. You should use high soil, bagged soil or an natural specialty mix. The principle aim is so as to add some form of modification to the prevailing soil so your crops can have the diet they want. 

When digging holes on your crops, go broad. The outlet needs to be 3 times the width of the container. Giving it that area to develop out is far more vital than how deep the outlet is. 

Nevertheless, you don’t wish to dig the outlet too deep to the place water settles round it. Plant it stage to the bottom or a couple of half inch above the soil stage. You need water to empty away from the bottom of the plant.

Then add pure mulch, like pine straw, bark and hay. It can create a mat that may forestall weeds from rising. Weeds sprout from seeds that may be unfold by means of the wind. For those who create a thick layer of mulch, it can forestall the seeds from reaching the soil. 

Panorama cloth additionally does this, however personally, I don’t use it due to the local weather I dwell in. It stays scorching virtually year-round in south Alabama, so panorama cloth tends to lure warmth underground and injury roots. Additionally, it will possibly push water to low areas and result in root rot. 

Mulch additionally insulates the roots, stopping them from getting too cold and hot. And it retains moisture within the soil from evaporating too shortly. As pure mulch breaks down, it provides natural matter to the soil.

Greatest Time to Prune

What are some basic recommendations on pruning? When is the most effective time and are there completely different steps for various crops?

Sid: All crops require some pruning to maintain them in form and promote wholesome progress.

There’s a lot of nuance in pruning however a basic rule for flowering crops is you wish to prune the plant after it blooms. 

Study which method to make use of when in our Fundamental Shrub Pruning Methods article.

Pruning Crape Myrtles

Many individuals have sturdy opinions on trimming and pruning crape myrtles. What’s your opinion?

Sid: A crape myrtle blooms off new progress. So, some folks hack away on the branches to stimulate this new progress. However this isn’t vital — you possibly can nonetheless produce new progress and preserve the form of the plant with selective pruning.

Choose pruning eliminates an unpleasant knuckle from forming and maintains full foliage. Right here’s easy methods to do it. 

First, prune cross branches — branches which might be rubbing collectively and rising throughout from one another. You need the tree to develop up and out, so trim the branches which might be rising towards the center.  

Then, prune damaged branches and any department that’s smaller than your pinky.

Learn our information on How and When to Prune Crape Myrtles for extra particulars.

Sid’s Suggestions

• Be sure to have a plan. For those who fail to plan, you intend to fail. 
• For those who’re unsure what to do, seek the advice of with an area professional, like a nursery or panorama architect. 
• Do it in levels so it’s not overwhelming in time and price range. 

Additional Studying