“Flowers are happy things.”
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“Flowers are happy things.”
From all the daffodils that are in bloom, it sure looks like spring. But, we have a freeze warning for tonight. (Sunday) I sure hope it don’t kill the peaches and other fruit again this year. I have seen some beautiful magnolia trees around the neighborhood. There is one North of Caseys right at the edge of town, it is huge and so full of bloom. There is also a very huge one in Kirksville on South Baltimore that is just amazing. It was so disappointing that they all got froze last year.
Several of you may have a hydrangea shrub and are wondering about when to prune it. First off, you need to know if it blooms on old wood or on new wood. If it is one that blooms on old wood it should have been pruned right after it quit blooming. Most hydrangeas sold in North America fall into one of five types: bigleaf, mountain, smooth, panicle and oakleaf. Some form their flower buds on old wood, meaning next summer’s buds are already present on the branches in fall and winter. Others form their flower buds on new wood, once they begin to grow in spring. This is why it’s so important to identify which type of hydrangea you have before you prune: you could inadvertently cut off flower buds and remove all of the blooms for the season. While that doesn’t harm the plant, it’s definitely disappointing.
Examples of hydrangeas that bloom exclusively on old wood include: All oakleaf hydrangeas, big leaf hydrangeas that are not rebloomers and mountain hydrangeas that are not rebloomers.
Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be safely pruned in late fall once the plants have gone dormant or in early spring. Next year’s flower buds won’t be formed until late spring the same year they bloom, so there is no risk of removing the buds if you prune in fall or spring. If you like the look of dried flower heads in your garden in the wintertime, leave them on and prune them in spring. If you live someplace were there is a heavy snow load or if you prefer a tidier look in winter, prune them in late fall to early winter. Examples of hydrangeas that bloom exclusively on new wood include: All smooth hydrangeas and all panicle hydrangeas.
I have had hydrangeas in the past and pruned in the fall most times but on occasion I would leave the dried blooms for winter interest. Which ever way you choose, the important thing is to prune. If you don’t, you will have a very huge plant that may get too large for your spot. If you have in a flower box, you need to keep it short so as not to spread out when it is in bloom. The hydrangea not only grow on new or old wood, they come up for the roots and keep getting fuller with each year. This is the point that I chose to eliminate my hydrangeas. I had them on the North side of house, in my hosta bed and they kept spreading. So said good by to them and replaced with estilbe. At lease the estilbe stays a controllable size and easy to dig.
The dog wood will be making a show very soon. I love the dogwood. I really like going to South Mo. during the blooming season. We have some around here but not like in the Ozarks. There are som beautiful pinks to reds, but my favorite in the wild variety of the white. Dogwoods bloom around the time of the usual last frost and the showy trees are often seen sprinkled through the forests and on the edges of fields. The white bracts look like clouds of butterflies floating among the new spring leaves of nearby trees. These wild trees are often slender, having multiple trunks and without the shape or symmetry of their cultivated cousins. However, they have an authentic charm all their own. The spring blossoms give way to bright red foliage and berries in the fall, making it a great tree for all seasons, plus, many birds and animals love the berries, so it is great for attracting wildlife. This tree is also on many HOA lists of approved plants, since so many of them are requiring natives instead of imported species.
Dogwood trees are naturally under-story trees, most often found at woods edges, growing in the sheltered areas under taller trees such as oaks or hickories. They like a bit of afternoon shade and a rich humus soil, similar to what would be found in the leaf litter of a forest. These are small trees or large shrubs, rarely reaching more than 30′ tall. Dogwoods can grow in full sun, and their spring show is more spectacular when they receive around 8 hours each day. However, the more sun the tree gets, the more moisture it will need, so make sure to supplement water during dry periods. They are susceptible to powdery mildew, so situating them where morning sun can dry the leaves is a good idea. The dogwood borer is a troublesome pest, but protecting your tree from injury deters them, since they enter the bark through cuts and wounds. Take special care with lawn edger’s and weed-whackers, as they contribute a large percentage of trunk injuries to trees.
My dear Hubby knows how I love the dogwood tree and he bought a bundle from the Conservation Dept. a few years ago. I think one is all we have left but, it is growing and thriving due to being planted among the pine trees. It is loaded with buds this year so I sure hope they don’t get frozen as they did last year. I wish that it was closer to the house as I can’t see it unless I take a stroll to the compost pile.
Easter will be here before my next article is due, so wish you all a happy Easter with family. It will be a special Easter for us this year as our great granddaughter is going to be baptized. She is 9 going on 20 and has put a lot of thought into her decision. Praise God for our blessing. Do remember that the true meaning of Easter is about the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ and not about the Easter Bunny. Happy spring you all.
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