 |
by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January of this year. Scroll to the bottom of
this page to navigate to other Gardening Q&As. Please contact
Rett via e-mail with questions
or
comments in regard to this column.
Question:
Most of the homes in my neighborhood are very close together. What kind of plants would work well for a screen that are tall and narrow?
Answer:
A majority of the plants we use for screening or privacy will occupy at least a 5-6 foot wide area. You may think that is fine and will not cause a problem. However, screening material should not be planted on the property line. Trees and shrubs that are actually planted along the property line become jointly owned by both neighbors. In addition, when the plant material crosses over the line, you neighbors can do as they please with it. You will be upset one day to find that they butchered or trimmed 50% of the screen because it was in their way or scratched their car. Therefore, screening material needs to be planted at least half the mature width of your shrubs away from the line. This may be as much as 4-5 feet off the line. Now your yard has gotten a whole lot smaller. Small yards require screens that are columnar in form. Consider 'Emerald' arborvitae, 'Steeds' upright Japanese holly, 'Little Gem' magnolia, and 'Kaizuki' juniper. You can maintain their narrow habit of growth by shearing them annually. I won't recommend bamboo and never have over the past 33 years. Because when you tire of it, control involves renting a bulldozer. Don't rule out an attractive fence, once installed, you can party the next night and no one will know what you ate, drank, or wore.
Question:
I followed your recommendation on planting the 'Knock Out' roses. They were spectacular and grew almost 4 feet tall this first summer. When do I cut them back and how far?
Answer:
'Knockout' roses are a bush type rose. Their beauty is in their resistance to leaf diseases, long blooming period, and evergreen habit. If planted in a well drained fertile soil they will grow up to 6 feet height in no time. Therefore, in late February or early March cut the plant back to within about 2 feet from the ground. You do not have to prune them if you prefer more height. We manage the ones at the Agricultural Building by pruning them back each year. This has kept these plants manageable and an attractive part of our landscape.
Fertilize these roses in mid-March.
Question:
I am unfamiliar with the term 'lighter wood'. What is this?
Answer:
'Lighter wood' or 'fat wood' is a term used to describe the resinous wood from the longleaf pine. Longleaf pines are native to the coastal plain of North Carolina but there are some natural stands in the southern Piedmont. Longleaf pines are planted throughout Alamance County but only as an ornamental tree. We do not recommend planting them here for commercial purposes. They are too ice prone due to their long needles. 'Lighter wood' is found in the stumps of these trees. This is where the turpentine will accumulate. Turpentine makes the wood highly flammable. When I lived in Montgomery County, I would always search out an old lighter stump and dig it up. I kept it stored beside my firewood to use as kindling. A few sticks of lighter wood will get a fire started in no time. Longleaf pines played a significant role in our state's economy years ago. It was called the naval store industry that supplied the ingredients for paints, varnish, soap, shoe polish, paper, and ink.
Question:
This year I want to feed more birds than squirrels. How can I do that?
Answer:
In order to favor more birds, you will have to use a feed that squirrels have little interest in. This means giving up those mixes that contain sunflowers and corn. Sorry about that. It may even mean you have to do your own blends. Substitute safflower (Niger) for sunflowers. Safflowers are more expensive but squirrels will not consume them very fast. Add to your safflowers, thistle, and white millet. Milo is a less appealing feed and often considered a cheap filler. Use it if you like. Selecting the perfect bird seed mix is like finding the perfect dogfood. If all this is too complicated, spend the money to buy a squirrel proof feeder. It is cheaper in the long run and a great Christmas gift.
Question:
I would like to give my dad some apple trees like the ones he had when he grew up on the farm. Where can I buy those varieties of apple trees?
Answer:
Old apple varieties are referred to as 'antique apples'. Fortunately for us there is an excellent source just across the county line. David Vernon owns and operates Century Farms in Caswell County. David grafts thousands of apple trees each year for sale. He specializes in our old Southern varieties. Give him a call at 336-349-5709 and see if he has what you are looking for. Another great gift idea!
North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commitment themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&;T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.