Horticulture Ethics

It seems like no matter how many times I write about crapemyrtle pruning still there is an alarming rate of improper pruning on both commercial and home landscapes. What has spurred this article is the numerous home gardeners who call and say I have seen such and such cutting their crapemyrtles with a chain saw at 4 feet high, should I do that now, also. NO!

Let me explain why some commercial sites and home gardeners hack and whack plants such as crapemyrtles. Asking them you will hear the reply, "they are getting too big", "for security reasons the plants need to be shorter", "they bloom better on new wood", "the boss, told me too", "if I don't do it another landscaper will and I want to keep my contract", etc. All these are great "excuses" to mis-prune but none of them hold true.

This in my opinion is what needs to be done. If you are a landscaper and are asked to top, pollard, or do any other improper horticultural practice it is you duty to educate your client. You may still end up doing a wrong practice but if you have tried to educate, then you have done your part. What I would love landscapers to say is "I am sorry, I can't do that because it harms the health of the plant" and walk away but everyone knows there are plenty of landscapers eager to take your job. What I am really afraid of is landscapers who don't know they are improperly pruning. The new City of Wilson landscape ordinance does take these misprunings into consideration and if a new commercial site ends up cutting down plants that are required to be a certain height the company has to replace them. Unfortunately, this only applies to buildings constructed since the ordinance came into effect several years ago.

Pruning, is one of the most commonly misguided horticulture practices I see with improper planting a close second. No tree should ever be topped, no matter what. Removal is always preferred and in the long run cheaper than maintaining a topped unhealthy tree. Most plants do not need pruned if you use the right plant in the right place. Consider mature height and width of a plant for the location before you buy the plant. If you want a 6 foot hedge, buy plants that mature at that height instead of plants that grow 20 feet tall.

As for planting, trees have a natural flair to the trunk near the root system. This flair is to be seen at the soil level. How many trees do you see that look like telephone poles stuck into the ground. Quite honestly it is est to plant high, especially if you are mulching, which hopefully you are.

Mulching has become another horrible misuse of materials. When mulching remember the golden rule "shallow and wide". The wider the mulch ring the better but only if it is 3 inches deep. These volcano mulch mounds not only look bad but cause tree bark to remain wet for potential insect and disease damage and smoothers the plants so the roots can not breathe.

Another scaring thing is the number of gardeners and landscapers who "don't know where to start" when they come up across a problem, such as excessive weeds in the yard. Well, the first place to start with any growing plant is at the roots, soil sample. It is free, take advantage of what the Extension Service has to offer. I feel all home gardeners and landscapers should soil sample each yard, garden, etc. at least once every three years. If your landscaper does not offer this service, ask for it. No one can know what your yard needs unless you sample. You don't know how many calls I get asking how much lime should I put out, how much fertilizer? A general recommendation may be fine to many people, but it is not fine for the environment or you wallet since you may be spending more money than you really need too. Soil test!

Remember seeing something done does not necessary make it right. If you are in doubt about a gardening practice please call the Master Gardeners at 237-0113 on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays from 1-3 PM or you may leave a message for a Master Gardener at any time. You may also email them at wilsonmastergardener@hotmail.com.

Date Created: 3/10/2004.