Pruning Dwarf Nandina

Jeff,
Could you please tell me how and when to prune dwarf nandina?
Dot S.
Batesville

Dot, Dwarf Nandina are tough plants that require little attention. That is something I really like! We like to use them in landscapes because of their winter color.

If the Dwarf Nandina plant looks good, then I would selectively thin out 1/3 to 1/2 of the canes close to the soil line. Then give them a little fertilizer in the spring and watch 'em grow. The pruned canes will produce new growth this spring and will give you a nice full plant.

Dwarf Nandina can handle rejuvenation pruning or severe pruning of all the canes. If you feel this is needed, I would prune all the canes down to the soil line late winter or early spring, and then fertilize in the spring.

Thanks for your comment!
Jeff McManus

What would you do to this crape myrtle tree? Would you move it, cut it back off the roof line, cut it down about half way? Let me know what you would do.

Pruning for value

Are you pruning your beautiful landscape investment correctly? Think of the great joy those plants bring year after year and the confidence you will have when pruning correctly.

Join us at the Oxford Library Saturday Feb. 5th at 11am for a live pruning class and lots of demonstrations. Bring your clippers, your questions and your insight! I hope to see you there. Mention this blog to me Saturday and get a free prize. Remember we are always planting to grow! Jeff

Are you excited about spring time coming? Me too. Do you know what you should be pruning this time of year? Did your plants not bloom last year? What do you think happened? If you prune your azaleas now in January, you are cutting off the blooms that will be the flowers this spring. Timing is very important.

There is a time and season for everything, especially in the yard landscape. Join me February 5th at 11 a.m. at the Oxford Library as I will discussing and showing you how and when to prune.

Rain, blooms and fire ants

Most of us in the Southeast saw a very wet September. Hopefully most of you were able to get those sprinklers off, unlike my neighbor who ran his water all through the rain. When I asked him, he said he had no idea how to turn it off. I guess I'm going to have to volunteer to show him the off switch. If you don't take the time to turn it off, don't get an irrigation system, it makes us all look silly running irrigation during the rain storms. Gee whiz. I've had a hard time keeping some of my seasonal color from getting rot. The encore azalea and Hardy Gardenia azaleas are looking good with color breaking this week.

I've been ordering trees for fall planting and have found growers in a good mood on some trees as far as prices. I got most of my bulbs order 2 weeks ago. Cool temps today has got me in the mood for fall.

This is a great time to get out fire ant bait. Ants are foraging as they know winter is coming. I've been using Over'n out this year and like the results. Let me know what works for you. I recently had a guy ask me if coke worked for fire ants. I had to clarify if he was giving them lunch or wanted them to go away. There are lots of wives tells on fire ant control like grits, sugar. Baits are good for long term control and liquid and aerosols provide good quick knock down for those hot spots. Remember to read and follow the labels.

Martha Hill, award winning Landscape professor

You're in for a real treat! On August 18, 2009 I conducted a podcast with Landscape Professor Martha Hill from Hines Community College in Raymond, MS. She will get you fired up about doing landscaping right! Her passion for teaching comes through in the podcast. She gives us great advice for design, budgeting, and how to pick a contractor. She also gives us information about how to save the wonderful, established, trees in our yards. She is the 2003 Educator of year from Associated Landscape Contractors of America, which is now entitled PLANET. That is a big deal, folks! Martha's enthusiasm is contagious so hold on and get ready!

Unfolding the design process, Dr. Gary Keever

Recently I was able to sit down with Dr. Gary Keever, professor at Auburn University, to discuss how the landscape design process affects our home. He gives us some great "nuggets" of wisdom on what we should do before we rush out and start purchasing our favorite blooming plant. Dr. Keever helps walk us through the process of landscaping by teaching us to decide for what purpose we would like to use our space, and to develop a future plan or goal. This is important even if your budget may not allow for it currently. Dr. Keever sent us the powerful message that, a good plan is well worth having! Dr. Keever unfolds the details that play into the design process, as well as sheds some light on when to call an expert or when to do it ourselves. I hope you enjoy his insight. He is one of the best design experts in the country!