The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Category Archives: How-to

Looking over the Fall to-do list

Posted on by Posted in Fall color, How-to .
  • Dedicate some serious time the next few weeks to planting a TON of bulbs. Admittedly, I’m tiring out and losing a little juice when it comes to garden work but I will not live through another spring of “bulb envy/regret”. I have a lot of space to fill on my two acre property so we’re talking mass plantings. I am a huge fan of white daffodils and can plant them fearlessly knowing the deer will leave them alone: 

 

  • Now is the time to pull out and destroy those plants that have officially been deemed “poor performers”. If I wait until spring, I’ll be suckered in by their lush new growth and will give them yet another chance. Time to cut my losses and move the ‘f on:
Geranium ‘Brookside’

Chelone glabra

Phlox ‘David’

  • I must finish digging out the two new garden beds I’ve started AND mulch them before winter. Too often I’ve stopped and let a new bed go unfinished into winter/early spring and the weeds explode, I get frustrated and pretend that bed is not there (or at least hide it from the camera).
  • Start thinking more “gardening outwards”. It has been a challenge battling the poor draining soil, little to no shade and the herds of deer, but it is now time to plant further away from the house. I have an opportunity to incorporate the wooded area at the back of my property and dammit it is time to shit or get off the pot:

  • Enjoy the time with my 9 year old son who wants to toss the football around day and night. This will not last forever so cherish these times. And also cherish the fact that he can wear a New Orleans Saints helmet with an Oakland Raiders jersey:
John

   

Pruning Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’

Posted on by Posted in How-to, Pruning .
UPDATE: After reading this post, you can see where things stand 5 years later. Click here to see that update.
Earlier this spring, I decided to experiment a bit by pruning Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ shrubs in three different ways, so I could study and document the results. You can read the original post here. Here is what I’ve found to date:
1)First up, the “selectively pruned” after a slight haircut:
And how it looks as of today:

It is only a tad bit smaller than it was at this time last year but it looks a lot healthier. I also like the fact that it kept it’s shape.

There were even a few sporadic blooms back in May:

2)The “severe” prune down to about 12 inches:

The foliage that first emerged within a few weeks was a fantastic color, an almost reddish/black:

As of today, the foliage still looks great and has grown to about two feet tall:

While it has remained on the short side, the foliage is by far more vibrant than the other two:

I’ll be sure to not touch this again next spring so I can closely monitor how it looks in year two, post severe prune.

3)The untouched Weigela:

And how she looks today:

Very uninspiring. Foliage has declined as the summer has dragged on and has really never looked good at any point.

Conclusion:

  • “Selective” pruning worked out well, foliage color was outstanding, shrub shape was perfect and there were even a few blooms to boot.
  • “Severe” pruning, while it obviously stunted the growth of the Weigela, it still resulted in outstanding foliage and shape and I assume it will look even better in year two.
  • “No” pruning on a three year old shrub resulted in the same uninspiring size, shape and foliage appearance. While this may also be due to other conditions, I’m determined to stay on top of the pruning of these shrubs to maintain their appearance as their foliage color is incredible among a sea of perennials and grasses.

John