Month: June 2010

Martin’s Garden Notes

Creating a separation from neighbors is a goal for many gardeners. This is not really antisocial but just an effect to have your own outdoor space. This can be accomplished in several ways.
Often the request is for evergreens that completely hide the neighborhood year round. This may certainly be desirable in a space that you can see all the time, but if the space is used primarily in the summertime, shrubs and trees that bloom in the spring and summer when you are enjoying the garden may be good choices. Hydrangeas, Chaste Tree, Rose of Sharon, and Sourwood come to mind as very attractive summer bloomers. Try Forsythia, and Weigela, and many sorts of Vibernum for spreading plants that grow 8-12 feet tall.
If evergreens are the best for the space, remember that Spruce, Fir and Pines generally grow 20 feet wide and 50 feet tall. Arborvite will only get 8-10 feet wide and up to 20 feet tall. Some particularly narrow evergreens are Dragon lady holly, and Emerald Greeen Arborvite. Screen in shady places can be acheived with Yew, Holly, Rhododendron, and Mountain Laurel. If yours is an urban yard and space is at a premium, fences can be the most efficient way to create privacy. Fences are particularly effective in showing off the garden which can include many shrubs, small trees, and perennials.

Island Garden Shop, Inc.
54 Bristol Ferry Rd.
Portsmouth, RI 02871

Martin’s Garden Notes

Hydrangeas are a staple of the summer garden and it is a pleasure to have so many varieties to choose from. Many visitors remark on how beautiful these plants are during the summer. Here is a guide to the varieties.
Endless Summer: New hybrid blue mophead blooms late into summer.
Nikko Blue: The large double blue “snowball” type grows to 5-6 feet tall.
Lacecap: lacy light blue outer petals with darker inner buds.
Glowing Embers: Lighter pink blooms will stay pink with a little lime.
Merritt’s Supreme: Carmine red blooms with greenish centers.
Pink Elf: Small mophead grows to 2 feet, pink to purple blooms.
Pink Lacecap: Turns purple in acid soil, lime to keep pink.
Tokyo Delight: White outer florets with purple/pink inner buds.
Arborescens Anna Belle: Pure white, does not turn pink, tolerates shade.
All these types will turn pink with lime or blue/purple in acid soil (use aluminum sulfate).
Climbing Hydrangea: climbs like ivy with white lacecap blooms.
Hydrangea Pee Gee: is an August bloomer with cone shaped blooms turning pink with age.
These also come in tree form.
Kyushi: is a lacy form of PG that blooms earlier and Limelight opens greenish.
Pink Diamond: has pink lacy blooms.
Oakleaf Hydrangea: has white blooms and oakleaf shaped leaves that turn purple-red in the fall.

Island Garden Shop, Inc.
54 Bristol Ferry Rd.
Portsmouth, RI 02871

Martin’s Garden Notes

There are plenty of options for gardens in the shade. Often interesting foliage plants like hostas are excellent for providing structure for your shade garden. Astilbe, with plumes of white, pink or red Pulmonaria offering speckled foliage and pink summer.
Groundcovers are effective in the shade including pachysandra, and myrtle. Be cautious with ivy as it is quite agressive and hard to control when established. One Pachysandra discovered by a nursery in Connecticut
called Green Sheen is slower growing with glossy foliage. Introducing scattered groups of other perennials like hostas in a bed of groundcover adds interest to the space.
Several perennials bloom late in the season in the shade including Toad Lily with speckled blooms in October. EuropeanGinger, Ferns, Andromeda and Japanese Holly also work well.
All these add up to interesting possibilities for your shady garden.

Island Garden Shop, Inc.
54 Bristol Ferry Rd.
Portsmouth, RI 02871