September Gardening Smarts
Lately, several folks have been asking, "If not ficus, what can I use to make a nice hedge?"
Here is a list of a few plant choices. Some of the plants listed, flower and some do not.
Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet) grows to a maximum of 8-10 ft. and looks just like ficus. I've been noticing that some neighbors have been using this next plant successfully in their yards.
Thunbergia erecta (no joke) can grow to about 8ft.; it has small leaves and a deep purple flower. If you chop it frequently then it won't flower as often. If you selectively hand prune it; it'll do just as well. This plant can be used formally (like a sq. hedge), or informally as a shrubby hedge.
Many of us are already using dwarf Schefflera arbicola in our landscapes. It is a shrub whose foliage is yellow and green. The "Luseane" variety can make for an easy to care for hedge.
Don't forget that Cocoplum a native species can also make an interesting hedge, it does like room to grow.
Ilex vomitoria is another hedge type plant with tiny, tiny leaves and can be trained into pom poms or squares.
Other folks have been using Podocarpus macrophyllus as a column plant on either side of the garage; it can easily form a hedge. The last mentioned plant is evergreen and has flat, narrow almost needle like leaves.There are several varieties of each plant; ask questions before you purchase a plant for your yard. Remember flowering plants need roughly 6 hours of sunlight to flower.
I do have some, " pass along plants." Please don't hesitate to call 994-1346.If you have some to share, I'd like that too.
Happy Gardening
JOY