Dealing With Trees In Perennial Borders

Generally trees don't belong in a perennial border, 

but sometimes the circumstances dictate it. Here are some ways for you to deal with it. 

Dig an 18" deep trench around 5 to 7' away from the trunk.

This particular tree is Salix babylonica 'Yatsubusa' 

In the trench lay a root barrier that is impregnated with a chemical that  will keep the roots in check. 

For the complete story head over to Jenks Farmer's blog 

Each year around this time we reduce and thin the tree and also enhance the weepiness of the tree by removing most of the vertical branches and tipping branches which results in weepy new growth in the spring.

Look how much we removed. A good rule of thumb is to never remove more than 30% of the canopy in one pruning.

The finished product

Adenophora liliifolia

Chinese Toadflax seeded in over top Violas, Alliums, and Purple Milk Thistles

Horticultural Excursion

Instead of planting bulbs and cutting back frost damaged plants, I decided to take a trip earlier this week with my friend Jenks Farmer to visit a nursery and a few gardens in and around Athens, GA.

Our first stop was a great perennial nursery called Goodness Grows. They offer a wide selection of perennials and some unique woodies as well.

 One of the first perennials we noticed when walking up was Adenophora liliifolia (ladybells). I was drawn to it for two reasons 1.) It was flowering right now and 2.) it isn't available often. While speaking with the nursery owner Rick, he explained they had recently dug a clump of 

ladybells from their old nursery site and that was the reason these were flowering this late in the season. Another great perennial we bought was Viola pedata 'Eco Artist Palette' (perennial bird-foot violet) a native that flowers during April and May, a time when not to many native perennials in our area flower.  

A few other plants we picked up:

Juncus 'Twisted Dart'

Aster tataricus (tartarian aster)

Eucomis comosa 'Tugela Ruby' (perennial pineapple lily)

Physostegia virginiana 'Summer Snow' (obedient plant)

Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue' (speedwell)

After leaving Goodness Grows we visited The State Botanical Garden of Georgia. 

From there we went to The University of Georgia Horticulture Trial Gardens.  

Here you can compare 20 different cultivars of geraniums that vary in flower color, flower size, leaf color, number of flowers and so on. 

We probably spent an hour taking cuttings of various annuals and mixing them together to see what would make great combinations for the following year.  

One of the great things about this trial garden is the location is right in the heart of campus which is great for promoting horticulture. Another great benefit of this trial garden is all the information they collect is available to the public at the trial gardens website.

Tough Containers

Center: Agave scabra

Perimeter: Sedum japonicum 'Tokyo Sun'

The Sedum was interplanted with a few Plentifall Pansies to help fill space and add color. By this time next year the Sedum should have filled in completely leaving no room for annuals making this container truly maintenance free.

Click here for more great Agaves

Adding Interest To Winter Containers With Bamboo

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'

A great clumping bamboo that is perfect for making trellises.

It's flexible enough that you can bend and braid it and it won't snap.

In the spring we will plant an annual vine in the containers.

Towne and Country Rose

One of my favorite shrub roses

Alocasia x 'Portodora'

Dividing and Transplanting