Questions from a customer on the right plants to use for a new designand how to trim older plants in regards to work with the renovation landscape design

Some questions from a customer looking to re-use some of the plants from her existing landscape, questions on their trimming & the nature of them.

1) Question : “A maintenance company for the development are here and willing to cut it but because there’s so many blooms on it he didn’t want to cut it down really low. My feeling is I think we are past winter if we cut it almost in half so the blooms start coming out again while it’s growing season then I’ll be able to actually see most of the blooms”

A) If you cut it, yes , the new growth will begin at where the new level is, including new blooms at the same new level as well.
B) Yes, this will delay the blooms til later in the season by cutting now.2) Question : “or should I just take it down a little bit because of blooms that are starting to come out in the middle?” If you are going to trim it, it will be sticks mostly for awhile. It will be mainly sticks, limbs showing for a time no matter what level you trim it at. My suggestion is, if you are going to trim it — trim it to just below the desired height.

3) Question : “The maintenance company said that when you cut it something about the new growth doesn’t always start at the top? “. Yes, that is true. It should show new growth not only at the tips where it was trimmed, but the branches leading up to those tips as well. This is how a both plants and trees thicken by good maintenance. The more leggy the plant or tree, and the Her frangi panni

Example of blooming frangi panni – 4 – harder the trim ( the more being trimmed off) will help more to rejunivate a bush or tree. They are correct. Customer had a question about design for the front of the house in a small area that has south exposure and gets more heat in the soil because it is a thin bed, against the wall, by the entry walk & HAS STONE IN IT AS WELL. Need a plant that can handle hot, drier conditions… Question : “ I still need something to take the place of that Japanese topiary ugly things LOL. (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not everyone sees things the same). What about a hearty crown of thorn that grows tall. I’ve seen some around that are really sparse and then I’ve seen some that are really thick and tall and thin? Thanks “ Top photo :Rosea Crown of Thorns

Yes, the Crown of Thorn is a good choice because of the rock in the bed area and the space is surrounded by pavers and it is a thin bed against a southern exposure facing wall. All 3 of these factors make the ground warmer than many different type of bed areas. The Crown of Thorn can handle drier conditions and there is a larger variety called a Rosea Crown of Thorn that can come in Red, Yellow or Pink blooms.bAny of these I feel would be a hardy choice for that location.

2nd photo : Dwarf Crown of Thorns (smaller front row plant, both varieties available in pink, red, yellow blooms)

(To note there are a number of plants that can handler drier conditions, especially Agave. A way to adapt is to install bubblers in the planting bed for an area like this and set the watering for heavy one to 2 times a week , adjusting long term. Upon installation, areas such as this would need the daily watering – the same as every other part of any new landscape.)

An Introduction to your Landscape

The following instructions are those we have used for over 20 years to help people establish healthy landscapes from the time of installation, and guiding through a strong landscape maturity. These instructions cover the details of how to water and fertilize from the time of installation - guiding through the stages of your landscapes maturity. Different professionals may use different fertilizer types and different methods - but the framework of how much and when to water and fertilize is general knowledge - and the foundational guide should remain generally the same - no matter the slight difference in details. More…

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