How do you care for heaths and heathers?

Heaths and heathers are straightforward to develop for those who give them the suitable situations. They solely detest clay soil and summer time humidity (though yow will discover exceptions), and you may’t do a lot about these. Aside from that, you may present the situations or discover the species or cultivar that fits your spot. One of the best supply for in-depth info is Gardening with Hardy Heathers by David Small and Ella Might T. Wulff.

Siting:

Whereas exceptions exist, heaths and heathers choose full solar (although partial shade could also be required for golden-leaved cultivars) and moist however well-drained, acidic soil.

Planting:

Getting your crops established means encouraging their high-quality roots to go outward into the encircling soil. In case your crops are rootbound, tease out the roots, and even minimize into the basis ball if wanted. Water them nicely, and preserve them moist. The factor that kills most newly planted heaths and heathers is drying out. To keep away from that, water the crops twice per week (if situations require) for the primary 12 months. Proceed to maintain them watered for just a few years till they’re nicely established.

Winter safety:

Winters might be robust on evergreen shrubs like heaths and heathers. Frozen floor can result in dessicated branches. In case your floor freezes however you’ve gotten regular snow cowl, you ought to be all set. Safety reminiscent of evergreen branches or chopped leaves may also work. The most important hazard for heaths and heathers comes not within the depths of winter however in early spring. A late freeze after the crops have damaged dormancy can do critical injury. Take away any winter safety regularly, and be prepared to exchange it if situations warrant it.

Pruning:

Pruning heaths and heathers encourages fuller branching and higher blooming. Whereas heaths must be pruned often all through their lives, heathers must be pruned yearly. Heathers don’t produce foliage on the a part of the stem the place the flowers have been, so an unpruned plant may have naked patches alongside gangly stems.

Pruning Heathers

The simple a part of pruning heather is discovering the place to chop: anyplace beneath the spent flowers however not into leafless previous wooden. Cuts must be made on your complete plant, not simply the flowering stems, to encourage a extra pleasing behavior. Shearing is okay, and it’s simpler than slicing every stem individually.

The laborious a part of pruning heather is when to do it; your winter local weather and the cultivar are components in timing. In case your local weather options temperatures that often dip beneath freezing, depart the flowering stems on the plant for added safety till spring settles in and temperatures are unlikely to drop. Wait too lengthy, nonetheless, and you’ll add the chance of slicing off an excessive amount of new development. In delicate winter climates, timing is extra concerning the cultivar. In case your heather options colourful fall foliage, wait till spring to prune. If it options colourful spring foliage, prune it earlier than it begins to provide new development.

Pruning Heaths

If you’re rising heaths, prune them yearly for form till they’re just a few years previous. After that, pruning each few years will assist them preserve their form full and their flower spikes lengthy. Winter-flowering heaths must be pruned instantly after flowering, as a result of they rapidly set buds for the next 12 months. Procrastination might end in a 12 months with no flowers.