Living Designs

Landscapes for living in … beautifully

You are currently browsing the archives for March, 2009.


Garden Tips

The Zen of Rose Pruning

(February 2010)

I am not a rose expert.  Truthfully, I have never been a huge fan of roses.  However, I think I may actually owe my current passion for gardening to the three shrub roses that adorn my front yard.

The roses weren’t my idea.  They were suggested by someone who was helping us with the yard after we first moved to this house.  I was at that time a garden newbie and very overwhelmed with two toddlers and a new, old house, both of which took up most of my waking (and “sleeping”) hours.  For the first few years these three shrubs got pretty much no attention other than an occasional watering.  It wasn’t until both my children were in school for at least part of the day that I opened my eyes and realized I had growing things in my yard.

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Spring!

(March 2010)

Always such a welcome arrival, the first day of spring (regardless of whether it starts out with snow!) is eagerly awaited by gardeners and “black thumbs” alike.  It’s easy to get carried away with the impulse to start planting, or at least cruise the garden centers for new arrivals.

A more practical outlet for the gardening ‘itch’ is to get out and do some selective pruning.  There are several shrubs that require attention in late winter or early spring, among them are shrubs that bloom on new wood and cane growing shrubs.  By pruning before new growth appears you will improve the overall health of the shrub, stimulate growth and enhance its appearance for the coming growing season.

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