Ask Danny | Ep. 6: The right way to Plant Shrubs, and Pruning Methods

On this week’s episode of “Ask Danny,” Sid Sexton is again to inform us tips on how to plant shrubs and provides some recommendation on pruning crape myrtles.

Sid is the founding father of Sexton Garden & Panorama in Daphne, Ala., and is licensed in turf and decoration spraying, panorama design, and setting of panorama crops.

About Sid Sexton

Because the founding father of Sexton Lawn & Landscape, Sid is a down-to-earth, trustworthy businessman with a love for garden care, panorama design, and delivering the most effective merchandise to his shoppers.

Beginning at age 16, Sid spent his summers working for a neighborhood panorama firm and the native nation membership and golf course in his hometown of Muskogee, Okla.

After incomes his bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration with a minor in horticulture, Sid joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Hawaii, the place he met his future spouse, Jourdan.

Sid was our visitor for the primary episode of “The Ask Danny Podcast,” and he’s again! Take heed to “Ask Danny Episode 1: Improving Your Lawn’s Health” to catch up, or learn on for extra details about this second interview with Sid.

Planting Shrubs: Ideas for Success

What are a few of the steps our listeners ought to take when planting shrubs?   

Sid: Earlier than you plant shrubs, comply with these three steps:

1. Have a plan. You want the proper sort of plant in your setting in the proper location. Take into consideration area, daylight and water, then ask your self these questions: The place will the crops go? Will the world have an excessive amount of or too little water? Are they the proper crops for the proper place for the daylight they want? 
2. Lay out the mattress. Use spray paint to stipulate the mattress line, then hire a sod cutter to take away the turf and vegetation. 
3. Add soil: Ensure to construct the soil up. You need to use prime soil, bagged soil or an natural specialty mix. The primary aim is so as to add some type of modification to the prevailing soil so your crops can have the diet they want. 

When digging holes in your crops, go large. The outlet must be 3 times the width of the container. Giving it that area to develop out is way more vital than how deep the opening is. 

Nonetheless, you don’t wish to dig the opening too deep to the place water settles round it. Plant it degree to the bottom or a few half inch above the soil degree. You need water to empty away from the bottom of the plant.

Then add pure mulch, like pine straw, bark and hay. It can create a mat that can stop weeds from rising. Weeds sprout from seeds that may be unfold by the wind. In the event you create a thick layer of mulch, it can stop the seeds from reaching the soil. 

Panorama material additionally does this, however personally, I don’t use it due to the local weather I reside in. It stays scorching nearly year-round in south Alabama, so panorama material tends to entice warmth underground and harm roots. Additionally, it might probably push water to low areas and result in root rot. 

Mulch additionally insulates the roots, stopping them from getting too cold and warm. And it retains moisture within the soil from evaporating too shortly. As pure mulch breaks down, it provides natural matter to the soil.

Greatest Time to Prune

What are some basic tips on pruning? When is the most effective time and are there completely different steps for various crops?

Sid: All crops require some pruning to maintain them in form and promote wholesome progress.

There’s plenty of nuance in pruning however a basic rule for flowering crops is you wish to prune the plant after it blooms. 

Study which approach to make use of when in our Basic Shrub Pruning Techniques article.

Pruning Crape Myrtles

Many individuals have robust opinions on trimming and pruning crape myrtles. What’s your opinion?

Sid: A crape myrtle blooms off new progress. So, some individuals hack away on the branches to stimulate this new progress. However this isn’t mandatory — you’ll be able to nonetheless produce new progress and maintain the form of the plant with selective pruning.

Choose pruning eliminates an unpleasant knuckle from forming and maintains full foliage. Right here’s tips on how to do it. 

First, prune cross branches — branches which are rubbing collectively and rising throughout from one another. You need the tree to develop up and out, so trim the branches which are rising towards the center.  

Then, prune damaged branches and any department that’s smaller than your pinky.

Learn our information on How and When to Prune Crape Myrtles for extra particulars.

Sid’s Ideas

• Be sure to have a plan. In the event you fail to plan, you propose to fail. 
• In the event you’re unsure what to do, seek the advice of with a neighborhood skilled, like a nursery or panorama architect. 
• Do it in levels so it’s not overwhelming in time and finances. 

Additional Studying