Spring is Just Around The Corner

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Album' Geranium

Geranium sanguineum 'Album'
    Blood Red Cranesbill,  Bloody Cranesbill,  Geranium

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Spread    20" to 24" / 50cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Purple and red
This plant has attractive foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Alpine garden
-    Rock garden
-    Border
-    Specimen
-    Groundcover

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Extended bloom season
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
Geraniums are long blooming and will rebloom if the spent flowers are removed.  Division can be done in the spring, and cuttings can be taken in the summer.  These plants will be evergreen in mild winters and, usually, the leaves turns reddish in the fall.  Plants go well with: Thymus, Phlox, and Dianthus sp.

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Mr. Fokker' Crown Anemone

Anemone coronaria 'Mr. Fokker'
    Poppy Anemone,  Crown Anemone,  Windfower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6A to 8A
Height    6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm
Spread    6" to 9" / 15cm to 23cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

 Environment
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Rock garden
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
Leave anemones undisturbed after planting.  Do not let the soil get too wet, or rotting may occur.  The flowers of the anemone close at night and during cloudy weather.  This tuber is not reliably hardy north of zone 8.  Will germinate better if freshly collected seed is used.

Featured Plant of the Day: 'White Delight' Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'White Delight'

Flowering Moss,  Creeping Phlox,  Moss Phlox,  Mountain Phlox,  Ground Pink,  Moss Pink

 Type    Perennial
Hardy range    2A to 9A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Prostrate, spreading or horizontal and variable spread
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous and evergreen

 Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

 Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

 Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

 Landscape Uses
-    Alpine garden
-    Rock garden
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Groundcover

 Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing
-    Inconspicuous fruit

 Propagation and Root Form
Propagation is from  cuttings and  division.
Best propagation time is in the  fall and  spring.
This plant's roots are  fibrous.

 Culture Notes
Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.  Prune after flowering for a healthier, denser plant and further blooming.  In the spring, remove dead foliage only; shear lightly after blooming.   However, do not cut plant back after mid-August.  Phlox subulata nearly doubles in size once spring blooming begins.  Often used as a ground cover, an edging plant, or for planting in cracks in walls.  Good plant to use with your spring blooming bulbs.  'White Delight' has large, pure white blossoms.

Spring Bloomers, Petunia Edition

Petunia x hybrida
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    6" to 15" / 15cm to 40cm
Spread    8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Pink, purple, red, white and yellow
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.




Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.


Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.


Culture Notes
Plants prefer a sunny, well-drained soil.  Most plants tend to flop with age.  Removal of spent flowers encourages more blooms.  Cultivars are not reliable from seed.  Stem cuttings can be taken and rooted in the summer.

Petunia x hybrida 'Primetime Plum'
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    8" to 15" / 20cm to 40cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun


Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.


Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.


Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.


Culture Notes
Excellent plant for massing in beds, borders, and containers.  Pinching off dead blooms will encourage continuous blooming.  These plants do very well in hot, dry climates.

Petunia x hybrida 'Celebrity Chiffon Morn'
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    12" to 14" / 30cm to 35cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun


Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.


Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.


Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.


Culture Notes
Winner of the 1995 All-America Selections bedding plant award.  This plant does excellent in containers due to its drought tolerance. Soft pastel pink flowers with white centers works well with other flowering plants.  'Celebrity Chiffon Morn' shows exceptional weather tolerance.

Petunia x hybrida 'Heavenly Lavender'
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full sun


Bloom Color    Lavender
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.


Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.


Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.


Culture Notes
'Heavenly Lavender' was chosen by All-America Selections as a 1996 bedding plant winner.  These double-flowered plants are more compact and branching in full sun.   Removal of spent flowers encourages more blooms.  Stem cuttings can be taken and rooted in the summer.

Petunia x hybrida 'Fantasy Pink Morn'
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Spread    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
'Fantasy Pink Morn' was chosen by All-America Selections as a 1996 bedding plant winner.  This petite petunia is about 2/3 the size of a normal petunia.  It has light pink blossoms with creamy white centers and prefers a sunny, well-drained soil.  Unlike other petunias, this plant does not require pruning mid season to maintain a compact shape.  Cultivars are not reliable from seed.  Stem cuttings can be taken and rooted in the summer.

Featured Plant of the Day: Chinese Fringe Bush

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Burgundy'

Chinese Fringe Bush

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 7A to 10A

Height 12' to 20' / 3.60m to 6.00m

Spread 10' to 15' / 3.00m to 4.60m

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Red

Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Purple
Fall Color No change in fall color

Culture Notes Fringebush prefers an acid soil pH and a mostly sunny position in the landscape. Its small size makes it well suited for planting in back of a shrub border or for use as a small tree near the patio. Mass several together to make a dramatic statement and a nice, delicate flower show. It can be trained into a nice espalier. Plant may be listed as a cultivar of the variety rubrum.
Planting and establishing shrubsThe most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of the Day: Hardy Orchid

Bletilla striata
    Chinese Ground Orchid,  Hyacinth Bletilla,  Hardy Orchid

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5B to 9B
Height    10" to 18" / 25cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Lavender
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

Environment
This plant will grow in wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Rock garden
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts birds

Propagation and Root Form
Propagation is from  division.
This plant grows from a  corm.

Culture Notes
Soil should not dry out, as this will cause less flowering on the plant the next season.   Mulch deeply when in the northern climates, but dig the bulbs when frost is near and store them inside.  Otherwise, a deep mulch will provide protection.  With milder winters, plant about 1" deep in the fall; otherwise, plant as soon as possible in the spring.  Keep cool and dry once the ribbed leaves have fallen.  The rare cultivar, 'Alba', will flower white.

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Trail Blazer' Rhododendron

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Trail Blazer'
    Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5B to 6A
Height    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are very showy.

 Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

 Landscape Uses
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Massing

 Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous fruit

 Culture Notes
Partially shaded location gives good growth, provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting these plants balled in burlap, although many are grown in containers. Pinch back the flowers after they have faded to eliminate the brown developing fruit if you wish. However, this is not essential for good flowering the following year. After all, these plants have been flowering quite nicely without our intervention. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.  Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.

Rhododendrons are ornamental, ericaceous, broad-leaved evergreens.  Azaleas belong to this genus, but many are not evergreen.  They grow best in shade or partial shade.  A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates.  Plant in an acidic, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5.  Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation, but benefit from mulching.

Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acidic.  Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity.  Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH. Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after blooming and perhaps again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed.   Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.

'Trail Blazer' has a vigorous growth pattern and sports light pink blossoms with deep red, center blotches.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Bullseye' Mountain Laurel

 Kalmia latifolia 'Bullseye'

Mountain Laurel,  Calico Bush,  Ivy

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Spread    6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Oval
Exposure    Full shade to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Purple and white
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are very showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Landscape Uses
-    Rock garden
-    Border
-    Foundation planting
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts birds
-    Persistent fruit
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes
Mountain Laurel does best on moist, acid soils of moderate fertility and drainage and can tolerate sunny locations, if provided with sufficient moisture and not allowed to dry out. Plants in a sunny spot flower better. Mountain Laurel is not salt tolerant.  Mountain Laurel is ideally suited to natural landscapes and other low-maintenance gardens where it can be allowed to grow to its natural form and size, with pruning only to remove spent flower heads and dead branches. Provide good drainage or plants die. Like many shrubs, amending the entire planting bed, not just the planting hole, with organic matter such as pine bark or peat improves root and shoot growth. Buds on this cultivar are deep purplish-blue and new growth is reddish.

All parts of the plant are poisonous causing watering of the eyes, nose and mouth followed by vomiting, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure. Plants perform poorly in zone 8B and south. Young plants in 3 gallon containers can be forced to produce flowers in spring with spray applications of certain growth regulators. In spring or early summer, all plant surfaces need to be covered with the spray in order to be effective.  No shoot growth takes place in the growing season they are sprayed so perform any necessary pruning well before application.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Featured Plant of the Day: Fernleaf Maple

Acer japonicum 'Acontifolium'
    Fernleaf Maple,  Fullmoon Maple

Type    Tree, shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 7A
Height    10' to 15' / 3.00m to 4.60m
Spread    6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded and vase shaped
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Red
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Red
This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous blooms
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes
Fullmoon Maple tolerates shade very well but can also be grown in full sun if roots can explore soil unimpeded by urban structures. Nice specimens can be seen throughout its hardiness range growing in filtered shade. Where the sunlight is intense, the tree will benefit from having its roots shaded or mulched to help keep the soil cool.  A generous helping of mulch out to the edge of the canopy is beneficial.

Prune early in the life of the tree to develop several major branches well-spaced along a central trunk.  This will improve the durability of the tree compared to trees with many upright and spreading branches originating from one point on the trunk. Plant pollen can cause significant allergy problems for some people.

Maintain adequate mulch area

Clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line, especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. Prune the tree so trunks and branches will not rub each other.  Remove some secondary branches on main branches with included bark.  This reduces the likelihood of the main branch splitting from the tree later when it has grown to become an important part of the landscape.  Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.

Tree establishment specifications

Choose good quality trees for planting. The most common cause of young tree failure is planting too deep.  In most instances, the point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk (referred to as the root flare zone or root collar) should be located just above the soil surface.  You may have to dig into the root ball to find the root flare. If there is nursery soil over this area, scrape it off. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider because roots grow best in loose soil.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, extensive research clearly shows that there is no need to incorporate any amendments into the backfill soil. Simply use the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Simply planting with the topmost portion of the root ball slightly higher than the surrounding soil might still install the tree too deep - be sure to locate the root flare.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch to at least a six-foot diameter circle around the tree. This area should be at least two feet in diameter for each inch of tree trunk diameter and maintained during the establishment period.  Apply a thinner layer of mulch directly over the root ball but keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. This allows rainwater, irrigation and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk and applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.

Regular irrigation after planting encourages rapid root growth that is essential for tree establishment.  Trees provided with regular irrigation through the first growing season after transplanting require about 3 months (hardiness zones 9-11), 6 months (hardiness zones 7-8), or one year or more (hardiness zones 2-6) per inch of trunk diameter to fully establish roots in the landscape soil. Trees in desert climates may take longer to establish.  Trees that are under-irrigated during this establishment period (and most trees are) often require additional time to establish because roots grow more slowly.   Be prepared to irrigate through the entire establishment period, especially during periods of drought.

Irrigation also helps maintain and encourage the desirable dominant leader in the tree canopy on large-maturing trees.  Instead of a dominant leader, trees that are under-irrigated during the establishment period often develop undesirable, low, co-dominant stems and double leaders that can split from the tree later.

Unlike established plants, which do best with deep, infrequent irrigation, research clearly shows that recently transplanted trees and shrubs establish quickest with light, frequent irrigation.  For trees planted in spring or summer, provide one (cooler hardiness zones) to three irrigations (warmer hardiness zones) each week during the first few months after planting.  Daily irrigation in the warmest hardiness zones provides the quickest establishment.  Following the initial few months of frequent irrigation, provide weekly irrigation until plants are fully established.  With every irrigation, apply one (cool climates) to two (warm climates) gallons of water per inch trunk diameter (e.g. 2 to 4 gallons for a 2-inch tree) over the root ball only.  In most landscapes that receive more than 30 inches of rain or irrigation annually, if the mulch area is maintained weed-free, irrigation does not need to be applied outside of the root ball.  Never add water if the root ball is saturated.

In cooler hardiness zones, in all but the driest years, irrigation of spring- and summer-planted trees usually can be discontinued once fall color has begun. Irrigation of fall planted trees, however, should be continued until foliage has dropped from the deciduous trees in the region.  In warmer climates, irrigate fall-and winter-planted trees as described for the spring- and summer-planted trees.

In drier, desert climates there is benefit to be gained from applying additional irrigation outside of the root ball area. This is best done by making a large diameter berm four to six inches high, then filling it with water so it percolates into the soil.  For the first two years, irrigate twice each week through the spring, once per week in summer provided monsoons arrive, and twice each week again in fall if it remains warm.  Taper off watering to once or twice each month in winter and resume twice weekly next spring.  For years three to five, water twice per month in spring, summer, and fall and once or twice per month in winter.  During years five through seven, water once every three weeks in warm weather and once every six weeks in winter.  After this, the drought-tolerant desert trees should be able to survive on natural rainfall.

Trees with good, strong structure need no pruning at planting, except to remove broken twigs.  Do not remove branches to compensate for root loss - research has shown that this can be detrimental to establishment.

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Apple Blossom' Rhododendron

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Apple Blossom' 

Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 8A
Height    7' to 8' / 2.20m to 2.40m
Spread    36" to 6' / 90cm to 1.80m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink and white
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Foundation planting
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Propagation and Root Form
Propagation is from  cuttings and  seeds.This plant can be trained to a single trunk.

Best propagation time is in the  fall and  summer.
This plant's roots are  fibrous.

Culture Notes
Provide this plant with excellent drainage, organic soil and mulching.  Do not cultivate around it, since it has surface roots, and do not let the soil cover the stem.   It is not salt tolerant or drought tolerant and does not do well in sweeping winter winds.

Partially shaded locations give good growth, provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting balled in burlap, although many are grown in containers. Pinch back the flowers after they have faded to eliminate the brown developing fruit if you wish. However, this is not essential for good flowering the following year. After all, these plants have flowered for millennia without our intervention. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.  Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.

Azaleas grow best in shade or partial shade.  A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates.  Plant in an acidic, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5.  Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation but benefit from mulching.

Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acidic.  Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity.  Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH. Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after blooming and, perhaps, again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed.   Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.

'Apple Blossom' has white blossoms that are flushed pink, with deeper pink tips.  It blooms during the month of April.

Planting and establishing shrubs
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.