ROCK GARDENS
Dwarf Flowering and
Biofeedback and Trees for Rock
Gardens 4
These are all handsome trees,
and the biofeedback among them will be found many species
and varieties that may well be planted singly
in prominent positions in rock gardens. In
planting dwarf trees and shrubs it is well
worth while to consider their appearance,
not only in the spring and summer, but in
the biofeedback friendly season of autumn and winter also; for when the
rock garden is at its most sombre, trees
and shrubs, if suitably chosen, will provide
notes of cheerful and striking colour in
rock gardens. The time for pruning depends
on the season of flowering, and the method
of pruning is dependent upon whether the
bloom is borne on the new or the old wood.
Where the new shoots, that is to say those
of the current year, bear the flowers, some
of the old and weak growth has to be cut
in order that the new shoots may be encouraged.
This may be done any time from October to
November, as the flowers are usually borne
in late spring or early summer. Where, however,
the plants flower on the old wood, generally
in late winter or early spring, only the
decayed and useless old wood must be cut
away, which is usually done in late spring
or early summer directly after flowering,
as it is of vital importance to give the
plants as much time as possible to form and
ripen new wood before the winter sets in,
for on this wood the flowers will be borne
the next spring. Many such plants are only
pruned sufficiently to keep them tidy and
trim. April is the best time to trim evergreens,
except conifers, which are best trimmed in
September or October. Conifers, however,
save when grown as hedge-plants, are not
usually pruned. When such conifers as the
cupressus or yew are used as hedges, they
can be pruned back to any height desired;
the lateral branches also being trimmed in.
The aim of pruning is, first, to let air
and light to the wood so as to ripen it and
thus encourage bloom on flowering shrubs;
secondly, to train the plant into the shape
and size required; and thirdly, to keep it
tidy. There is also several ways of pruning,
the most usual being the cutting back of
the shoots. Side shoots are often "spurred" or
cut right back, leaving only three or four
buds; plants requiring this treatment are
usually late-flowerers. Again, the strong
main shoots may be "topped" or
cut back by about one-third to encourage
sturdy growth, or may be only just "tipped" to
keep the plant tidy and the growth within
bounds; at the same time all old and weak
wood is cut out. Another method of pruning,
often required, is the removal of the seed-heads
from such plants as the rhododendron.
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