Yardening Fall #3 2013

Jill, if they used a bucket truck to trim I'd be tempted to charge trespass and report it to police!

Is your back lot line correctly marked and surveyed now? Post "No Trespass" signs asap.

Don't know what Maryland case law is on trespass of air space...

I agree -- I'd post really prominent "no trespass" signs. You'd think after the first instance, it would not have recurred. Now I'm not so sure. Plus I'd send a formal letter to the company responsible, with photos, certified, return receipt requested. And I'd ask your insurance company if you have a claim (though I agree the developer should be solely responsible).

Jill, having Dan tidy up the hack job before the damages are assessed and documented by a Licensed Arborist it is like moving cars in an accident before the police arrive. Makes it he said/she said.

I would suggest instead that Dan give you a written estimate for any work deemed necessary back there, but not do any of the work until 'liability' is assessed. Do get everything in writing.
Do notice the developer, Landscape Co, etc and Planning and Zoning.

Never mind the rest of this post -- it has been solved.

In cleaning up yesterday, I found 2 small pots with the same shrub or woody perennial growing it in. I think this must be something I rooted or got at a swap, though I can't be sure. Both are unlabeled. It is 12" tall now -- but that is fairly meaningless, since I have not clue how big it would grow if planted out. More growth is visible at the crown (see the 5th photo). The most distinctive feature is that the new leaves are a velvety texture, and gray-green in color (see the 4th photo). The older leaves are plain green. There are the remnants of some kind of bloom on one of the stems (see the 3rd picture).

I'm pretty sure it is Buddleia davidii Nanho Blue.

This message was edited Nov 11, 2013 2:48 PM

Thanks. I'm gearing up for a fight, never fear. I don't think they strayed over the actual property line last week, as they were working from the other side of the silt fence (1 to 3 feet from the line). Legally, they can trim overhanging branches, but NOT if it seriously damages the health or aesthetics of the tree.

Dan is a licensed arborist, but his company doesn't get into damage assessments because a court case can tie up their people for a week or more, and they're not a big enough company to cover that and keep to the schedule of their other work. He has given me some advice, though, including dropping some buzz words or phrasing on me. :-)

I do want to go ahead with the work we have scheduled for tomorrow. I hear what you're saying, but I also want to do whatever I can to improve the health of those trees so they can withstand the construction, recover from having some roots cut, etc. I don't want them to fall over while I'm waiting for the developer to settle with me. I'll rely on photos of the damage.


Happy, yeah, I'd guess Buddlea.

Yes, I'm sure it is Buddleia -- I went and compared it to mine. I must have been rooting it for a swap. Now I think I'll plant it -- I'm bridging my awful front hill to my neighbor's. She got inspired and just had her terraced - it looks great.

Critter: Take lots and lots of photos. In case it would be helpful, we have an arborist who we have used many times and like - I think he charges $90 to walk around your yard and answer any questions and assess each tree's health and need for pruning. He doesn't do the work himself (at least he didn't in the past), so there was no conflict of interest. We have a very very old and tall white oak we are trying to keep in good health, and a number of trees that, if they fell, might hit the house, so we have him out every 3 years or so to check out everything. If you like I can send you his name -- but it sounds as if you have everything covered.

This message was edited Nov 11, 2013 2:44 PM

Thanks, Happy. I'm hoping to avoid litigation and the need for professional damage estimates, but we'll see how that goes. Dan said he could help me find somebody reasonable if I needed that.

BTW, I actually found Dan & Bartlett Tree Co. because of an offer from PHS (Pennsylvania horticultural society; they put on the Philly Flower Show)... coupon for a free assessment at Happy describes. When I made my appointment, i knew I'd also want an estimate for work that needed doing, but we looked at everything that first day.

I'm so behind in my yardening that I'm starting to feel a bit worried. I was away this weekend and couldn't take advantage of the beautiful yardening weather, so I still have a full day's work left to do outside. I may have to wait until this weekend when the temps get back in the 50s.

All of my cannas are still standing, petunias and begonias still blooming, and the elephants ears are still going strong. I need to clean up!

My "yardening" today was hours and hours......until it was getting dark.
First--i took in all the concrete bird-baths, took in all the liquid garden sprays
and such--(he shed can freeze too) Brought in the 3 small, pink Cannas I bought
to snooze in the ship--as well as the "Maya" brug. Both all cut back.

THEN, when all the frost precautions were done--my goal was to rake up
all the leaves before they get wet. Dry is so much easier....
Had 4 large piles which I sucked up and bagged with my "Shredder vac"...
That took a long time--as I had to hand-rake all the edges of every bed clean
of leaves--as well as in-between all kinds of pots and bricks and walkways
before i could rake them in piles.
Ended up with 3 bags-full of the shredded stuff--now tucked under some
shrubs behind my grill. NOT much space there!

Cut back all the leaves on all the cannas--and wanted to show you what I
have to deal with with digging up 3 Canna roots from wind's red ones.
This is insane!!!! I am, seriously, concerned that I will be able to do so.
I remember last year's saga....The clumps were so heavy, I could barely lift one.
Glad all this stuff is done....lots more to do--fear not!

Take a look....1&2&3--shiny red roots.....

Pic. #4--my little Maya Brug all trimmed back and ready to bring in.
You watch! Next spring--I will give it a good root-pruning/re-potting
and she will double in size...
Against my better wishes--I DID take 3 cuttings of the NOID pink--
but i am NOT bringing the mama in for the winter...Not crazy about it.

Gita

I am behind also in securing some of my plants for winter, so today as time grew short I raked leaves in a lite layer over some groups. I collected 6 bags of oak leaves put out for collection on my route this afternoon and . depending on the forecast of the extent of this cold snap, I can shake them over and around various plants after the rain tomorrow afternoon. Not trying to protect or prolong above ground growth but to ease the transition into dormancy as we have warmer days ahead. Ssgardener, I'd be tempted to dump some leave on top of those EEs til the weekend.

Glad I did deep water everything so that plants can go into dormancy with proper moisture for roots.

As far as the Powdery Mildew on my JMs, I am thinking I may try to capture as many of the falling leaves from them as possible to decrease as much of the overwintering of spores as I can. Even though I did the hydrogen peroxide treatment on Sat, today I can't tell live PM from dead!

I also cut back 3 of my Acalyphas, cut out thre bottom of some black
nursery pots, put them over the Acalypha stems/roots and filled the
pot with leaves. Later, i will mulch around the base pretty heavily.

This will be an experiment--to see if they can overwinter....
Not holding my breath. G.

Gita and Coleup, sounds like you were able to make fantastic use of the day and get lots done! I got some mulching done but didn't quite finish (2 heuchera and my hostas left). tomorrow it's back to work and with these short days it's difficult to do anything useful in the yard on work days...

Cat, Coleup and anyone else---

I would like to have your opinions of mulching--or NOT mulching over the winter.
i KNOW the benefits of mulching--but I seldom do it.
Your opinion if you plan to leave leaves on your beds as mulch.
There are two trains of thoughts on allowing leaves to lay all over everything.

One--(+) it does act as a [protective cover mulch and it does de-compose (eventually)
to benefit the soil. Leaves can be used to help more tender perennials survive.

Two--(-) Leaves can provide cover for all kinds of overwintering bugs and fungus
in the soil and it is best to rake them all off of beds to leave a clean soil.

I, personally, like to leave clean beds for the winter. Not much time in the spring to
do all kinds of raking and clean-up.

Your opinions--please. Gita

I'm on the side one, I have always used the fall leaves for covering over flower beds, but then when I lived up north, I had only clay soil and needed all the leave matter I could gather. My plants loved living under them until spring. And most of the time the leaves had broken down enough to just be moved out of the way when the spring growth started, I never had to do anything, but add my horse manure and maybe some more shredded leaves with it.

Good luck to ya on what ever way you decide to go.

Jan

Meadowyck, that's exactly what I do In my little woods of a yard!
Nature doesn't go naked for long. Oak leaves are the best as they don't mat down like some. Shredded leaves breakdown faster and don't blow all over the place. I personally have no lawn (my entire yard is covered by a variety of 'groundcovers') but I've heard that mowing the leaves into the lawn with a mulching mower is as beneficial as returning clippings for most lawns. My leaves are free. They conserve moisture, eliminate frost heave and moderate temps of soil. My earthworms love them. They are also easy to work with and I can quickly add or remove some according to weather and plant as some plants like sedums don't like to be covered very much. They are also great insulation stuffed around my 20 - 30 large container grown JMs. and other trees, shrubs and perennials which I gather in several more protected spots for the winter until I fan them out again come spring.

It is amazing to me how much great soil has been made in my yard from my leaves just laying all over every thing! Not much different than 'sheet composting' me thinks.

This message was edited Nov 12, 2013 6:18 AM

So far I have been cleaning the leaves up, but this could always change. ;-)

I'm partly too lazyy to be wiping everything clean on a half acre lot
8 ^O
I like the added organic matter.

One concern I DO have is that I think voles love a leaf layer. they love a place they can make semi surface tunnels. Or something does- because I do find little tunnels on the ground surface but under loose boards, under bags of leaves, or in leaves. Now given that, my veg garden area in the back corner is plagued with voles, but my other bed to the right they don't seem to bother (lots of tree roots) . So I think they also go for places where the soil is loosened better.

and a healthy population of snakes etc may make a difference in the vole problem too.

Couldn't resist sharing one GardenWeb poster's method for shredding leaves!

"Back to the question of how to chop the leaves up.

1. Take 2 9-10-yo kids (twins work well for this). Have them rake the leaves up into one very large pile. Leave them alone with said pile for about 4 hours. Have them rake the remains back into a much smaller pile and move to your composting location.

2. Rake the leaves into a fenced corner. Toss a tennis ball into the pile of leaves and let the neighbors' Labrador Retriever(s) go after the ball. When the dogs bring it back to you, throw it into the leaves again. Repeat until the dogs are tired (HA!) or the leaves have been reduced to a much smaller pile.

3. Combine 1 and 2 and have the twins throw the ball for the Labs. "

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg0813592713937.html

Some good posts on that thread including one who layers OPBL (other people's bagged leaves) with
Starbucks coffee grounds for super quick leaf mold mulch that smells faintly like coffee!.

This message was edited Nov 12, 2013 9:09 AM

coleup

Love this method for reducing leaves to smaller size....roflol

Thanks for sharing

Jan

Love those ideas!!!

I also remember the bike riding challenges my brothers and I used to throw down. There actually is a size and height of oak leaf pile that none of us could ride through! I also personally love the jump from a swing method in Pic 1.

Do any of you remember how wonderfully Elm leaves would CRUNCH on a side walk?

And, speaking of leaves, I just love this picture from the www because it tickles me to think how we used to gather together in the Fall. So many of the faces seem so similar to our 'adult forms' as we continue to become a band of old friends we just haven't met til now!

love the photos of the leaf piles, I remember oh so well, we would rake up then spend time running, jumping, rolling.... then when they got so small we would move to another yard.... My long hair was a mess, then mom would braid my hair to cut down on the mess..LOL

thanks for sharing the photos to bring back some long forgotten times.

Jan

My daughter always comments on leaf piles when we drive by, how fondly she remembers playing in them when she was little! However, I admit to being glad she is no longer seriously tempted as I have never enjoyed the cleanup afterwards! ;-)

Yards full of leaves are great for epic leaf tag trails before raking them into piles. I'm thinking that the yard will be perfect by Thanksgiving week. yAY!!!!

Paul, I was thinking Gumpo, Ramabo or PJM as I have seen these as Home Depot offerings in Spring most years while I haven't seen Roseum.

Looks like we all will have a chance to do some yardening this weekend as the weather relents.
Since aire and season has been so dry I will be focusing on watering Here are some tips I came across.

Follow these guidelines when watering plants in freezing weather:

* If your soil stays frozen all winter, then fall is your prime time – make sure everything is well watered before the ground freezes.
* If you experience freezing weather only occasionally, and you have had insufficient rain or snowfall, water deeply a day or so before a freeze is forecast. Be sure to water the entire root system – a good rule of thumb is to water an area the size of the plant’s drip line.
* Be extra attentive to newly planted trees and shrubs. Not only are their roots less established, but the churned-up soil can allow cold air to penetrate deeper to the roots.
* Water when the air temperature is above 40° F, and don’t water if there’s snow or ice on the ground.
* Water early in the day, so the plants have time to absorb it before the temperature drops at night.
* Don’t wet the foliage. Commercial growers sometimes use sprinkler irrigation to protect plants from frost, but it requires constant sprinkling and should only be done under specific conditions.
* Be careful not to over water. Once or twice per month should be sufficient – the plants will not be absorbing water as fast as they do during the growing season, and the cool soil can easily become soggy.

coleup

those are excellent guidelines for watering. thanks for posting, I'm just glad I no longer have to live by them....LOL Not trying to rub anything in folks, just a statement.


Jan

Typically I find that someone refers to a rhododendron they are referring to a large leaf rhododendron or elepidote which is why I suggested Roseum Elegans which may not be as popular commercially today but was/is a very popular rhododendron due it's high rate of rooting through cuttings.
Can you guess which plant is the Roseum? http://www.hersheysazaleafarm.com/page7

The lepidotes (small leaf) such as PJM or Ramabo (there is now a PJM elite) are wonderful plants. They offer fall color and are smaller which suits a smaller landscape. I know I've mentioned it before but 'Landmark' is wonderful hybrid with PJM heritage that has wonderful color. 'Olga Mezzitt' is another PJM with beautiful fall color.
Landmark, lepidote rhododendron of the year: http://www.rhododendron.org/roy05mw.htm
A picture of landmark at Behnkes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behnkes/8534769522/
Landmark or Olga Mezzitt? fall color: http://www.landsystemsnursery.com/img1F.jpg

And the Gumpo series are azaleas, no? All azaleas are rhododendrons but all rhododendrons are not azaleas. That sentence is why the azalea society split from the american rhododendron society.

Just my two cents. I am not in the trade, just a hobbyist. There are certainly others more knowledgeable than I on current cultivars. I yield to Judy for that, as I haven't been plant shopping (other than online) since spring. I bought a red/pink pieris japonica "valley valentine".
http://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/view/1170



This message was edited Nov 14, 2013 1:08 PM

Paul, I agree with what you said except for the widely available part!

I acquired a 'valley pink' Perris because of flower color but the 'valentines all looked like better plants in growth and form and leaf color.

How do you like your Mountain Laurel 'Little Elf'? Or haven't you gotten it yet from Happy?

Mine is doing really well, so far (and Paul has his).

Judy- I went back two to three times before I pulled the trigger on the VV JP. The last time I went they were almost gone so I grabbed the best looking of the handful that were left. Typical to industry my purchase was two plants for one. They both look great.

It is great, a beautiful Mountain Laurel. I love the foliage. Thank you for shopping that.

The photos of the Pieris japonica "Valley Valentine" make it look lovely. I generally really dislike Pieris japonicas. To me they just seem sloppy (I know I am in the minority here). But Valley Valentine is striking. Does it look as nice as the pictures?

I'm still salivating over jan23's honeysuckle which was so stunning at the spring swap. My attempt to root a cutting was unsuccessful. It is definitely on my wish list for 2014. Jan -- do you know what cultivar yours is? Here are photos of a number of the cultivars: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2095/

Paul, thanks for mentioning that Olga Mezzit is a PJM! That helps me with placing it... as you said, they're more compact than "regular" rhodi's or many azaleas. I think I have 4 Olgas that I've been moving around in their pots, trying to figure out where they should go now that the canopy has been raised (or should that be razed?).

Am I right in thinking that azaleas like a little more sun than large-leaf rhododendrons? And that deciduous azaleas would like as much sun as they can get?

Thanks!

My Little Elf is doing well also! It seems to like its spot.

Happy- mine has two stems for each plant so I can't testify to the growth habits of it. I'll keep you posted.

Critter: Deciduous - as much sun as you can get, rhodos (large and small leaf) - full to part, filtered shade, azaleas - partial

For each type they will survive in shadier locations but they won't flower as profusely. I have a number of deciduous azaleas planted in too much shade. They are a favorite of mine not to mention native!!
Evergreen azaleas planted in full sun will get stressed, and stress leads to lacebugs.

Thanks, Paul! Azaleas will be in at least filtered shade, even where low branches have been removed, so I think that will work out well. I'm not sure there's any *deep* shade left for the rhodi's & hellebores, but they should adapt. :-) There's now a much sunnier corner behind the orchard that I'm already making plans for... cornelian cherry, bush cherries, honeyberry, and various other "weird fruits" that do well with partial sun. Trying to make lemonade with this situation!

Critter you're quite welcome - I don't know how fruitful lemon will trees. If you have a hardy lemon tree LMK. Hardy Har-har.

Happy, you've seen a Valley Valentine pieris at my place. Let me see if I can find a picture... It didn't bloom this year, probably because it was planted late last fall.

Gita and Paul, I actually had a nice Roseum Elegans -- before I killed it. :( I think it was purchased at a big box store, either HD or Lowe's.

I'm still looking for a pink deciduous azalea for my backyard. I like the ones that are tall and have a loose form to them. I saw one at the Friends of the Arboretum sale, and I'm kicking myself for not picking it up then!

Pics 1 and 2 each has a pieris, and one of them is Valley Valentine. In the first pic, it's in front of the taller hydrangea and next to the Caramel heuchera. In the second pic, it's between the Japanese conifer and Citronelle heuchera.

Just for fun, Pic 3 is Fall of 2012, right after we had the fencing put in. Catmint, this entire area was sheet mulched last year to kill the weeds and grass.





This message was edited Nov 14, 2013 8:00 PM

I'll try to remember in the morning to go check the tag.