Ugh. I don't like waiting until the last minute to get work done. Last year was a deadly year for us here in Tucson with a historic freeze that would kill everything. This year, it has been mild and I waited for awhile before making a decision. An educated and experienced gamble. But still a gamble nonetheless....
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| Our Summer Bougainvillea Bonanza |
Landscapers, gardeners, plant enthusiasts......have you done this? Well I will admit that this is the first time I've done this on our property. I pruned our plants like Bougainvillea and Crape Myrtle back. I wanted to get a head start and this winter has been a mild one compared to last year's killer cold temps. The plan is to prune, fertilize, and clean up around the plant areas in a sequential manner. Every weekend I've been outside working on planter areas adding little by little to the empty planters. And it's all coming together quite nicely.
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| In winter, they look like this. |
But it's a still a gamble. If freezing temps arrive before the official March 15th date, I could possibly jeopardize my plants.....or will I? The root systems on these plants are strong and have been around for years. I think this spring is going to be an amazing one and I can't wait to see all the growth. Last year our plants were stunted from the freeze and everything was delayed by about a month and a half. Several never developed blossoms like the Jacaranda. Thankfully, I saved the Jacaranda from death and this year it, along with my neighbor's Jac, will hopefully develop those beautiful purple flowers. I'll have pics in early summer of these incredible blossoms. For now, it's prepping for the big spring show. Stay tuned for more in the El Presidio garden. So have you gambled in your garden? And if so what did you do?:) Did it work?
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| In February and March, they look like this:) |
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Oby podjęte przez Ciebie ryzyko przyniosło efekty i pnącze, które uwielbiam, rosło wspaniale. Pozdrawiam. *** May you have taken the risk really work and growing, which I love and grew great. Yours.
ReplyDeleteYour bougainvillea is beautiful. I hope your pruning turns out to be a lucky. I can not wait for spring to see my plants springing up, nothing here yet. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThat first one, bougainvillea looks already very good and lush, why do you have to prune it heavily. I am so sorry for it. It might not be able to reach that growth in a long time!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, the first pic is what it looks like in summer but right now the plant doesn't look like this at all. It's empty branches which have very little growth on them. When I prune it back, the plant grows back like the first pic. It's very painful...physically...because the plant has thorns on it:)
DeleteAs a newer follower I am so looking forward to seeing all of your blooming plants!
ReplyDeleteI plan to start pruning this week as it doesn't seem like Tucson is going to get anymore freezing weather this season. I see what you mean though, about it being a gamble. Good luck with your Jacaranda. :)
ReplyDeleteooh. you reminded me. i never trimmed our crape myrtles this year. (or last year!) i better check to see if i can still do some...
ReplyDeleteoooh be careful! Crepe Myrtle should never really be trimmed but a landscaper awhile back committed Crepe Murder! And the trees looked terrible. I cut one back last year to see what it would do and it has come back nicely so I followed with the other 2 Crepe Myrtles and hopefully in the next couple years they'll look healthy and natural again.
DeleteIt's so difficult to hold back on the pruning this time of year. Your gamble will probably pay off with a fast start where you are. Here in San Antonio more experienced gardeners have told me there are two reasons to hold off. The old foliage protects the new growth and moisture can get into the newly cut stems and kill the roots if we get a late freeze after a rain. This did happen to one of my gardening friends years ago so I follow her advice now.
ReplyDeleteA late freeze is more likely here than where you are and I don't think a few frosty mornings are the problem.
The Bougainvillea looked so beautiful and will again after your hard work. I confess I thought at first it was a climbing rose ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, you have reminded me how much needs doing in my garden...
I brought back some Jacaranda seeds from South Africa a few years ago and never tried to plant them...i think they are too old now and anyway it takes years to grow and have flowers! It is one of my favourite trees, it is just stunning. Bougainvilliers (i use the French word cos it was brought back by Mr de Bougainville...can't stop to do history...sorry!)are very popular in the south of France where the climate is milder! It's a great bush and i like the diversity in colours! Can't wait either for Spring time, my first daffodils opened today! yeahhh!
ReplyDeleteHad gamble with one of my lavenders Rohrerbot, I left it out all winter, knowing that anything around -10C would kill it ( -10 here is rarely reached) However I lost the gamble as temperatures plumetted a few weeks back -12 was recorded, so my lavender is on its last legs - it might just be salvageable :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope everything goes with your gamble.
ReplyDeleteFreeze or no freeze Bougainvilleab always know how to show off when the time comes! I miss ours already...
ReplyDeleteYou are a busy, busy man! Do you ever sleep? LOL. I love the Jacarandas. A couple of our neighbors have them, and we had one in our other house. Now I get to enjoy them without having to clean up!
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