BIRMINGHAM GARDENING TODAY... with
JOHN FLOYD
Perfectly Pruned
Japanese Maple Tree
Flowering Crabapple Tree
Bring a sense of artistry to your garden with a variety of sculptural trees and shrubs. All you need is some creativity, a little elbow grease, and these tips from gardening expert John Floyd.
t
he cold months for gardening are here. This is the time of year when the small things in the garden become more noticeable. Any plant that blooms in winter stands out among the deciduous landscape and gray skies in the background. The blooms display a brightness you don’t often see in other seasons. And while winter’s floral landscape may be limited to only a few annuals, perennials, and shrubs, the sculptural qualities of our shrubs and trees also take center stage in this period. One of the most sculptural small trees—and a favorite of mine—is the Japanese maple. The tree must be pruned regularly in order to maintain its beautiful shape. Excellent examples of sculptured Japanese maples in all stages of development can be found in the Japanese Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. If you want to start sculpting yours at home, keep in mind that it takes time—and a bit of artistry—to get them to look like the ones in the Japanese Garden. First, I remove all
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John Floyd has been gardening in the Birmingham area for more than 30 years. In addition to his day-today experience, John has degrees in horticulture from Auburn and Clemson Universities and was editor-in-chief of Southern Living. birminghamhomeandgarden.com
