MOROCCAN MINT (pg. 106) PESTO PERPETUO® BASIL (pg

Curled Parsley Curled Parsley

Rosemary Rosemary

Purple Sage Purple Sage

EVERLEAF GENOVESE BASIL Ocimum basilicum ‘Everleaf Genovese’ HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE:  Bred for season-long performance and continual harvesting. Perfect for pesto and adding to sauces. PESTO PERPETUO BASIL Ocimum x citriodorum ‘Pesto Perpetuo ’ HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE:  New listing for 2022. Upright basil with green-white variegated foliage. Tastes of basil with just a hint of lemon. GOLDEN OREGANO Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’ HEIGHT: 12” (30 cm) EXPOSURE:  Bright yellow foliage, very aromatic. ITALIAN OREGANO Origanum vulgare ‘Italian’ HEIGHT: 12” (30 cm) EXPOSURE:  Rounded, green foliage is highlighted by pink flowers, intense flavour. HOT AND SPICY OREGANO Origanum vulgare ‘Hot & Spicy’ HEIGHT: 18” (45 cm) EXPOSURE:  Rich green round foliage boasts an intense, strong flavor. CURLED PARSLEY Petroselinum crispum HEIGHT: 8” (20 cm) EXPOSURE:  Popular herb with extremely favourful, intensely ruffled foliage. Used dried or fresh. ITALIAN PARSLEY Petroselinum crispum HEIGHT: 8” (20 cm) EXPOSURE:  Also known as flat-leaf parsley, green serrated leaves with a slight peppery taste. ROSEMARY Rosmarinus ‘Arp’ HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE:  Gray-green, needle-like foliage with clusters of small, light blue flowers, aromatic. BARBEQUE ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbeque’ HEIGHT: 36” (90 cm) EXPOSURE:  Long, upright stems are perfect for skewering and roasting vegetables and meats on the BBQ.

HONEY MELON SAGE Salvia elegans ‘Honey Melon’

HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE:  Gentle sage flavour with sweet melon scent. GOLDEN SAGE Salvia officinalis ‘Aurea’

HEIGHT: 12-16” (30-40 cm) EXPOSURE:  Light green leaves with golden edges. Lavender-blue flowers. PURPLE SAGE Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’

HEIGHT: 16” (40 cm) EXPOSURE:  Purple foliage with small, mauve-blue flowers. Used for medicinal purposes. TRICOLOR SAGE Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ HEIGHT: 18” (45 cm) EXPOSURE:  Tricoloured foliage with blue flower spikes. Useful either fresh or dried. OLIVE HERB Santolina viridis HEIGHT: 12” (35 cm) EXPOSURE:  Compact rounded shape, has a unique aromatic foliage that gives off an amazing scent of olive. Useful for pizza, salads, pasta. SWEET LEAF STEVIA Stevia rebaudiana HEIGHT: 18-24” (45-60 cm) EXPOSURE:  Sweet leaves of this plant are a nice alternative to sugar. Useful either fresh or dried. ENGLISH THYME Thymus vulgaris HEIGHT: 6-8” (-1520 cm) EXPOSURE:  Dark gray-green aromatic leaves, pale pink flowers.. Useful either fresh or dried.

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HEIGHT: 20-30” (50-75 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 6 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Finely textured grass has an upright, V-shaped habit. Foliage is a copper-red to light brown.

BABY TUT GRASS Cyperus involucratus

HEIGHT: 10-12” (25-30 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 10 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Baby Tut is a mounded, green foliage grass, with firework like shoots. Prefers moist conditions.

KING TUT GRASS Cyperus papyrus ‘King Tut’

HEIGHT: 4-5’ (120-150 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 10 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Quick growing grass with deep green foliage, large spiky flower heads. Prefers moist conditions.

PRINCE TUT GRASS Cyperus papyrus ‘Prince Tut’

HEIGHT: 18-30” (45-76 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 10 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers A compact form of King Tut but with the same large spiky flower heads. Prefers moist conditions.

FIBER OPTIC GRASS Isolepis cernus

HEIGHT: 10-14” (25-35 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 8 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Thread-like foliage is light green and is covered with silver pea-like flowers on the end of the stems.

FIREWORKS FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum rub. ‘Fireworks’ HEIGHT: 18-24” (45-60 cm) BLOOMING TIME: August to October PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 The foliage has mid-veins of burgundy with hot pink margins. Great for container gardening.

FIRST KNIGHT FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum purpureum ‘First Knight’

HEIGHT: 48” (120 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Burgundy-green foliage intensifies to deep purple-black in summer. Upright form.

GREEN FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum

HEIGHT: 24-36” (60-90 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Green, narrow foliage with arching leaves and showy plumes from early summer to fall.

PRINCE FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum ‘Prince’

HEIGHT: 4-5’ (120-150 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Very upright growing variety has wide, dark purple foliage. Excellent for large containers.

PRINCESS CAROLINE FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum ‘Princess Caroline’ HEIGHT: 3-4’ (90-120 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Back by popular demand. Brilliant purple foliage with a sturdy plant habit.

PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum var. ‘Rubrum’

HEIGHT: 24-36” (60-90 cm) BLOOMING TIME: August to October PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 Deep burgundy foliage with pink plumes make this variety a showpiece in any yard or pot!

SKY ROCKET FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum setaceum ‘Sky Rocket’

HEIGHT: 24-36” (60-90 cm) BLOOMING TIME: August to October PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 Grassy green foliage with prominent white striped margins, smoky pink, arching plumes turn cream as they age.

VERTIGO FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum purpureum ‘Vertigo’

HEIGHT: 4-5’ (120-150 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 8 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Broad, strappy leaves stay deep purple throughout the growing season.

Red Rooster Sedge Grass Red Rooster Sedge Grass

Fibre Optic Grass Fibre Optic Grass

Fireworks Fountain Grass Fireworks Fountain Grass

Little Ruby Joseph’s Coat Little Ruby Joseph’s Coat

Makana Silver Artemesia Makana Silver Artemesia

Berry Canary Foxglove Berry Canary Foxglove

LITTLE RUBY JOSEPH’S COAT Alternanthera ‘Little Ruby’

HEIGHT: 6-12” (15-30 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 10 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Deep burgundy foliage with a compact, spreading habit.

RED THREADS JOSEPH’S COAT Alternanthera ‘Red Threads’

HEIGHT: 10-12” (25-30 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 10 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Attractive, deeply, cut red-burgundy foliage is a great accent plant in containers.

MAKANA SILVER ARTEMSIA Artemisia ‘Makana Silver’

HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Soft, silver foliage forms a billowy mound. Works great in a mixed container.

BEGONIA Begonia

PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9

Cultivar Description: I’Conia Miss Montreal cream coloured blossoms, edged with a thin edge of coral-pink I’Conia Portofino Citrix double, bright yellow flowers, dark green foliage I’Conia Portofino Hot Coral double, coral flowers, dark green foliage

I’Conia Upright Salmon single, salmon flowers, dark green foliage, upright form

BERRY CANARY FOXGLOVE Digiplexis Illumination ‘Berry Canary’

HEIGHT: 18-24” (45-70 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 8 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Spikes of hot pink flowers with creamy yellow, burgundy speckled throats are borne on stems above the large, glossy, dark green leaves.

CANNA LILY Canna x generalis

HEIGHT: 24-36” (70-90 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 7 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Cultivar Description: Cannova® Bronze Scarlet large bronze-burgundy leaves, dark red-scarlet flowers Cannova® Mango salmon-coloured blooms tops lush, green foliage Cannova® Orange Shades spikes of orange flowers with yellow centers, large green leaves Cannova® Red Shades coral-pink flowers with red overtones, green foliage Cannova® Rose spikes of rose flowers, large blue-green pointy leaves Cannova® Yellow bright yellow flowers, large green pointy leaves

COLEUS Coleus

PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 8 Cultivar Height Description:

Dragon Heart 14-28” (36-71 cm) chartreuse foliage, deep burgundy venation Fishnet Stockings 24” (70 cm) striking green and burgundy variegation

Florida Sun Rose 12-18” (30-45 cm) rose pink foliage with burgundy and green Lime Time 24” (70 cm) chartreuse foliage Heartbreaker 14” (40 cm) beautiful pink foliage pattern, green edges Pinkplosion 14” (40 cm) bright pink centers with yellow and green edges Rediculous 24” (70 cm) red foliage Royalty 18-24” (45-60 cm) deep marroon leaves with hot pink centers Velveteen 24” (70 cm) fuchsia and burgundy foliage Wicked Hot 24” (70 cm) orange foliage with a ruffled edge

BLACKBERRY SPARKLER FIRECRACKER PLANT Cuphea hybrida ‘Blackberry Sparkler’

HEIGHT: 18-24” (45-70 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 8 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers New listing for 2021. Abundant white, red-black tipped flowers all season long, loves the heat and loved by hummingbirds.

VERMILLIONAIRE® FIRECRACKER PLANT Cuphea hybrida ‘Vermillionaire’

Gartenmeister Fuchsia Gartenmeister Fuchsia

HEIGHT: 24” (60 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 9 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers New listing for 2021. This vigorous, upright fuchsia has dark, bronze-red foliage and stems. Clusters of deep coral-red tubular flowers bloom throughout the season.

GERANIUM Pelargonium hortorum

PLANT USES: Annual, Containers EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone Cultivar Height Description: Dynamo Hot Pink 12-14” (30-40 cm) hot pink Dynamo Orange 12-14” (30-40 cm) bright, vibrant orange Dynamo Dark Red Improved 12-14” (30-40 cm)) red Dynamo Salmon Improved 12-14” (30-40 cm)) salmon Dynamo Violet 12-14” (30-40 cm) violet Dynamo White 12-14” (30-40 cm) white

Brocade Fire 12-14” (30-40 cm) bicolour foliage, orange

Wilhelm Langguth 12-14” (30-40 cm) variegated foliage, cherry-red Vancouver Centennial 12-14” (30-40 cm) brown foliage edged with lime green, orange

Blue Spear Lavender Blue Spear Lavender

Laughing SmileyZ Black Laughing SmileyZ Black--Eyed Susan Eyed Susan

STRATOSPHERE PINK PICOTEE WAND FLOWER Gaura lindeheimeri ‘Gaudpin’

HEIGHT: 18” (45 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 5 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Bright pink, 4-petaled flowers flutter above the foliage all season. The flower stems are long, thin wands which blow freely in the wind.

MAHOGANY SPLENDOR HIBISCUS Hibiscus acetosella ‘Mahogany Splendor’ HEIGHT: 36” (90 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 7 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Attractive accent plant features deep burgundy, maple-shaped leaves with serrated edges.

BLUE SPEAR LAVENDER Lavandula angustifolia ‘Blue Spear’ HEIGHT: 12” (30 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 5 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Heavy-blooming variety bearing countless flower spikes of deep purple.

KIRIGAMI ORNAMENTAL OREGANO Origanum hybrid ‘Kirigami’ HEIGHT: 36” (90 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 7 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers A non-culinary oregano with large, purple-green bracts, rose flowers and light green foliage has a delicious fragrance that attracts pollinators.

SMILEYZ SERIES BLACK-EYED SUSAN Rudbeckia hirta

HEIGHT: 20” (50 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 7 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Cultivar Description:

Kissing SmileyZ deep red-brown petals with wide orange tips surround a dark cone Laughing SmileyZ bi-colour flowers with red centers and wide orange tips Sunny SmileyZ vibrant yellow petals surround a dark cone

SALVIA Salvia

HEIGHT: 24-36” (70-90 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 7 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers Cultivar Description: Black & Bloom vibrant, cobalt-blue, hooded blossoms, dark green foliage Ember’s Wish bright, coral-red flowers, glossy green foliage Hot Lips two-toned flowers in shades of deep pink and white Love and Wishes masses of rich, dark pink-purple flowers, glossy green foliage

Wendy’s Wish vivid, magenta-pink flowers, glossy green foliage

METEOR SHOWERS VERBENA Verbena bonariensis ‘Meteor Shower’

HEIGHT: 18” (45 cm) EXPOSURE/HARDINESS:  Zone 5 PLANT USES: Annual, Containers An upright verbena, this variety has clusters of lilac blooms held above deep green foliage. No deadheading required.

ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES

 Achillea  Ajuga  Alcea  Alchemilla  Aquilegia  Aster  Astrantia  Bergenia  Centaurea  Chelone  Coreopsis  Delphinium  Dianthus  Echinacea  Eupatorium  Gaillardia  Helenium  Hemerocallis  Heuchera  Knautia  Lavendula  Liatris  Ligularia  Lupinus  Nepata  Phlox  Rudbeckia  Salvia  Scabiosa  Sidalcea  Solidago  Tradescantia  Veronica

DROUGHT TOLERANT

 Achillea  Aquilegia  Aster  Coreopsis  Echinacea  Gaillardia  Hemerocallis  Hosta  Iris  Lavender  Monarda  Papaver  Rudbeckia  Russian Sage  Sedum  Shasta Daisy

SHADE TOLERANT

 Aconitum  Aegopodium  Ajuga  Anemone  Astilbe  Bergenia  Convallaria  Dicentra  Filipendula  Heuchera  Hosta  Lamium  Ligularia  Polygonatum  Primula  Pulmonaria

DEER RESISTANT

 Achillea  Aconitum  Agastache  Ajuga  Alchemilla  Anemone  Aquilegia  Artemesia  Astilbe  Bergenia  Brunnera  Campanula  Centaurea  Chelone  Convallaria  Coreopsis  Delphinium  Dianthus  Dicentra  Digitalis  Echinacea  Geum  Helenium  Heuchera  Iris  Lavandula  Liatris  Lilium  Monarda  Nepata  Papaver  Pulmonaria  Salvia  Sedum  Sempervivum  Tiarella  Veronica  Vinca

A zone rating is an attempt to match a plant’s survival with a set of environmental conditions. These conditions include minimum winter temperature, frost free period, snow cover, and wind speed. Most zone maps include a list of indicator plant species whose survival depends on certain climatic variables. Remember that zone ratings are only a guideline for plant selection. Plant survival is also impacted by bodies of water, wind protection, snow cover and urban heat islands. For this reason there will always be trees and shrubs that defy the odds and thrive under conditions very different from their zone rating. Nevertheless, there are limits to this flexibility and in most cases ignoring a plant’s zone rating is an invitation for winter damage. Typical winter damage on woody ornamentals includes winter browning, root injury, tip kill and bole cracking. The absence of snow combined with cold temperatures can have lethal effects on the roots of certain species. It is for this reason that rootstock must be carefully selected even when bud grafting hardy varieties. Ideally, seedling rootstock should be sourced from the harshest conditions in the region where the finished plant will be marketed. Tip kill and bole cracking are not only related to winter conditions but, more importantly, the onset of those conditions in the fall. Woody plants need adequate time and suitable conditions to set buds and enter dormancy prior to facing extreme cold. For example, an extreme September frost may be more damaging to a Silver Maple than a bitter cold spell in January. An informed gardener will take note of plant hardiness when making plant selections. However, one should not hesitate to stretch the limits of ornamental species in the landscape through: 1) proper plant placement to take advantage of snow cover and shelter, and 2) careful application of fertilizer so as to allow proper fall shutdown.

These figures provide the pH status of topsoil in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Soil pH is reported as a logarithmic scale so that a single unit change in pH represents a 10-fold difference in conditions.

There is considerable variation in soil pH across each province and tree planting lists for communities should be customized with this fact in mind.

The impact of soil pH on tree performance cannot be overstated. At maturity, trees access water and nutrients from a large area of soil and it is very difficult to modify soil pH on this scale.

Plants that are especially sensitive to alkaline pH include the following:  Amur Maple  Freeman Maple  Red Maple  Blueberry

pH of Alberta Soils

PRAIRIE SOIL pH MAPS PRAIRIE SOIL pH MAPS

A Dropmore Linden (x 1) Alternates: American Linden, Admiration Oak

B Black Hill’s White Spruce (x 1) Alternates: Select Blue Spruce, Hoopsi Blue Spruce

C Snowbird Hawthorn (x 1) Alternates: Spring Snow Crabapple, Toba Hawthorn

D Ivory Pillar Tree Lilac (x 1) Alternate: Ivory Silk Tree Lilac

E Medora Juniper (x 8) Alternates: Skybound Cedar, Wichita Blue Juniper

F Incrediball Hydrangea (x 9) Alternates: Little Lady Lilac, Dwarf Korean Lilac

G Tiny Wine Ninebark (x 8) Alternates: Summer Wine Ninebark, Center Glow Ninebark

H Hughes Juniper (x 11) Alternates: Arcadia Juniper, Morden Yew

I Pink Beauty Potentilla (x 14) Alternates: Darts Red Spirea, Magic Carpet Spirea

J Perennials or ground cover; use dwarf daylilies or a mix of nepata and coreopsis

K Annuals of choice with spring bulbs

FAMILY BACKYARD

A Silver Cloud Maple (x 1) Alternates: Inferno Sugar Maple, Hackberry B Prairie Horizon Alder (x 1) Alternates: Autumn Splendor Buckeye, Admiration Oak C Baby Blue Colorado Spruce (x 3) Alternates: Black Hills White Spruce D Starlite Flowering Crabapple (x 1) Alternates: Princess Kay Plum, Klondike Amur Cherry E Spring Snow Flowering Crabapple (x 3) Alternates: Snowbird Hawthorn, Showy Mountain Ash F Atomic Amur Maple (x 2) Alternates: Muckle Plum, Double Flowering Plum Topgraft G Showy Mountain Ash (x 3) Alternates: Spring Snow Crabapple, Snowbird Hawthorn H Northern Gold Forsythia (x 3) Alternates: Golden Currant, Festivus Gold Ninebark I Cool Splash Dwarf Honeysuckle (x 9) Alternates: Little Rebel Dogwood, Western Snowberry J Russian Cypress (x 16) Alternate: Morden Yew, Dwarf Mugo Pine K Quick Fire Hydrangea (x 7) Alternate: Alaska Cranberry, Miniglobe Honeysuckle L Annabelle Hydrangea (x 3) Alternate: Alpine Currant, Snowhite Spirea M Burgundy Glow Ajuga (x 6) Alternate: herbaceous perennial groundcover N Mixed perennials including aster, coreopsis, Echinacea, geranium, hemerocallis, iris, phlox, rudbeckia and veronica O Annuals of choice P Vegetables and herbs

A Dropmore Linden (x 1) Alternates: American Linden, Admiration Oak B Black Hill’s White Spruce (x 5) Alternates: Select Blue Spruce, Hoopsi Blue Spruce C Starlite Flowering Crabapple (x 4) Alternates: Spring Snow Crabapple, Snowbird Hawthorn D Purple Spire Crabapple (x 1) Alternates: Emerald Spire Crabapple, Miss Kim Lilac Topgraft E Klondike Amur Cherry (x 1) Alternates: Pink Spires Crabapple, Hot Wings Maple F Mohican Viburnum (x 10) Alternates: Nannyberry, Snowball Viburnum G Goldflame Spirea (x 10) Alternates: Goldmound Spirea, Magic Carpet Spirea H Skybound Pyramidal Cedar (x 9) Alternates: Brandon Pyramidal Cedar, Holmstrup Cedar I Mandarin Tango Potentilla (x 13) Alternates: Pink Beauty Potentilla, Morden Snow Potentilla J Russian Cypress (x 9) Alternates: Compact Plumosa Juniper, Icee Blue Juniper K Chinook Sunrise Rose (x 12) Alternates: Winnipeg Parks Rose, Prairie Joy Rose L Quick Fire Fab Hydrangea (x 4) Alternates: Summer Wine Ninebark, Snowhite Spirea M Annabelle Hydrangea (x 14) Alternates: Incrediball Hydrangea, Lime Rickey Hydrangea N Ground cover O Mixed perennials P Annuals of choice

GARDEN FOR BIRDS

A Hot Wings Maple (x 1) Alternates: Gladiator Crabapple, Ming Amur Cherry B Snowbird Hawthorn (x 2) Alternate: Nannyberry Viburnum C Skybound Cedar (x 3) Alternates: Holmstrup Cedar, Techny Cedar D Little Rebel Dogwood (x 2) Alternate: Little Lady Lilac E Arcadia Juniper (x 4) Alternate: Russian Cypress F Mohican Viburnum (x 1) Alternate: Redosier Dogwood G Snowberry (x 1) Alternate: Viking Aronia H Compact American Cranberry (x 1) Alternate: Nannyberry Viburnum I Purple Beauty Aster (x 7) Alternates: Romany Aster, Solomon’s Seal J Moonbeam Coreopsis (x 4) Alternate: Coral Bells K Purple Coneflower (x 3) Alternate: Globe Thistle L Black Eyed Susan (x 3) Alternate: Grand Parade Monarda M Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower (x 6) Alternate: Catmint N Goldenrod (x 3) Alternate: Globe Thistle O Autumn Red Maiden Grass (x 2) Alternate: Variegated Feather Reed Grass P Blue Oat Grass (x 3) Alternate: Common Fern Q Japanese Painted Fern (x 6) R Cosmos (x 6) Alternate: Coleus S Moss Rose (x 20) Alternate: Impatiens

Pruning is a horticultural practice that alters the form and growth of a plant. Based on aesthetics and science, pruning can also be considered preventive maintenance. Many problems may be prevented by pruning correctly during formative years for a tree or shrub.

REASONS FOR PRUNING

1. Prune to promote plant health o Remove dead or dying branches injured by disease, severe insect infestation, animals, storms, or other adverse mechanical damage. o Remove branches and branch stubs that rub together.

2. Prune to maintain plants; intended purposes in a landscape, such as: o encouraging flower and fruit development, o maintaining a dense hedge, or o maintaining a desired tree form or special garden forms.

3. Prune to improve plant appearance Appearance in the landscape is essential to a plant’s usefulness. For most landscapes, a plant’s natural form is best. Avoid shearing shrubs into tight geometrical forms that can adversely affect flowering. When plants are pruned well, it is difficult to see that they have been pruned! Prune to: o control plant size, o keep evergreens well-proportioned

4. Prune to protect people and property. o Prune branches that obscure vision at intersections. o For security purposes, prune shrubs that obscure the entry to your home.

TIMING OF PRUNING Shrubs that bloom early in the growing season on last year’s growth should be pruned immediately after they finish blooming:

chokeberry golden currant elder forsythia lilac double flowering plum saskatoon early blooming spirea weigela

Shrubs grown primarily for their foliage rather than flowers should be pruned in spring, before growth begins: alpine currant barberry burning bush cistena cherry dogwood honeysuckle ninebark smokebush sumac

Shrubs that bloom on new growth may be pruned in spring before growth begins. Plants with marginally hardy stems such as clematis and shrub roses should be pruned back to live wood.

PRUNING HEDGES: After the initial pruning at planting, hedges need to be pruned often. Once the hedge reaches the desired height, prune new growth back whenever it grows another 6 to 8 inches. Prune to within 2 inches of the last pruning. Hedges may be pruned twice a year, in spring and again in mid-summer, to keep them dense and attractive.

PRUNING EVERGREENS: With few exceptions, evergreens (conifers) require little pruning. Different types of evergreens should be pruned according to their varied growth habits. o Pines only put on a single flush of tip growth each spring and then stop growing. Prune before these “candles” of new needles become mature. Pines seldom need pruning, but if you want to promote more dense growth, remove up to two-thirds of the length of newly expanded candles. Don’t prune further back than the current year’s growth. o Cedars and junipers grow continuously throughout the growing season. They can be pruned any time through the middle of summer. Even though these plants will tolerate heavy shearing, their natural form is usually most desirable, so prune only to correct growth defects.

GREEN WALL® GREEN WALL®