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Message |
    
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 257
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:15 pm: | 
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I'm building up a privacy screen around my side yard. I already planted four rhodadendrons. They're big rhodies that create a screen at eye level, but they're all sticky below and you can see street traffic below. So, I want to plant something in front of the rhodies to fill it in.
It's sunny and the rhodies are supposed to bloom white. My house is brick, so I'm not looking for red or pink flowering plants.
Any gardeners out there with advice and experience with local plantings?
J.B. |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1471
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:33 pm: |
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You might consider cypress golden mops. Orange Nursery carries them. If you do use them, be sure to prune them. Otherwise they get quite large, but if pruned, they can almost give you a bonsai effect. And guess what, they're deer resistant. I think I'm going to plant some this year. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:43 pm: |
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you might wait to just make sure the rhodies actually DO bloom white - in the event you plant something say...yellow and it's a completely different shade.
Are you looking for evergreen or perennials or annuals?
Assuming they do bloom white, and you're not looking for red or pink, well, that leaves you with white, blue/purple or green. I tend to stay away from yellow in sunny locations because it can look either great - or very washed out.
I don't know how much space you have (so some of these may be way off) but off the top of my head, my suggestions woud be boxwood, azaleas, coneflowers,black eyed susans, or daylilies.
Come on warm weather! |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1472
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:48 pm: |
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The cypress mops come in a lot of colors. Some are a lot more green than gold. |
yabbadabbadoo
Citizen
Username: Yabbadabbadoo
Post Number: 325
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:52 pm: |
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hostas
FF |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 260
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:55 pm: |
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Elizabeth,
I was thinking about alternating boxwood and hydrangeas. I wanted to see if anyone suggested them. I'm worried about boxwood's slow growth. I'd have to drop a fat dime to buy big ones or wait, like a million years, before they look right. I was hoping for blue hydrangeas in between them. That'll look nice with white rhodies, right?
No to black eyed susans for color, although maybe for a central feature with a fountain, but that's for next year, or maybe the year after. Coneflowers, and daylilies? I'm interested.
J.B. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 264
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 1:11 pm: |
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FF, I'm afraid it's too sunny for Hostas. They are great though, and I may chance it if the ones I planted last fall nearby don't die.
J.B. |
BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 665
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 4:11 pm: |
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Did you plant mature rhodies? I am surprised that you can see throught the bottoms...usually that means that you should trim them on the top and they will fill out in the bottom...
Just a thought...My hostas do very well in full sun by the way...
Good luck!
BGS |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 15
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:55 pm: |
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I would've suggested hydrangea, but if you have sun, they'll get to the top of the height range (6' if the cultivar you get is a 4'-6' variety. If you have more shade, they'll be closer to 4') and I thought that might be a little too high for what you were trying to accomplish. Boxwoods can also go 3'-5' but they're more easily controlled by clipping. The leaf shape and texture on a hydrangea is also significantly different than a rhododendron, (yellow/green and highly textured vs. bluey-green and smooth) which to some people can be a little off-puting. And be sure to check the Ph of your soil so they stay blue and don't turn pink on you.
There is a boxwood-like shrub which grows a little faster and looks similar whose name escapes me right at this minute. Inky something. Which might be another alternative.
Daylillies come in 1001 colors. Coneflowers come in yellow, purple, white and orange. You could also try Phlox which come in purple or white.
I'm an instant-gratification gardener, so I would put in boxwoods with an appropriate amount of mature-size spacing, and fill with perennials. As the boxwoods grow, the perennials would need to be divided anyway, so I'd just gradually move them out of the boxwood border and into other gardens around the house.
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Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 265
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 10:37 pm: |
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Damn! I knew someone would mention pH. I've been reading about it in every book and flower website and trying to ignore it. I keep just looking for the stuff that "grows well in any pH..."
But if my blues turn pink, I'll be disappointed.
BGS, trim my rhodies? How would you do it? |
Newsteadmom
Citizen
Username: Newsteadmom
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:18 am: |
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A great online gardening site is:
http://www.rce.rutgers.edu
Rutgers Cooperative Extension has offices and agents in every county in NJ, and our local one is the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland. There you can purchase soil testing kits that you fill with your soil sample and mail in. The results will be mailed in a few weeks. Or you can drop them off in person at the Soil Testing Lab located on the Cook College campus in New Brunswick.
There is a great weekend gardening course offered in March. The early (discount) registration ends on March 5. I got the brochure in the mail a few weeks ago and there are multiple selections from which to choose.
So check it out. Use and enjoy what your NJ state taxes pay for! |
Newsteadmom
Citizen
Username: Newsteadmom
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:26 am: |
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http://www.cookce.rutgers.edu/courses/current/al0208cb06.html
Dear Jersey Boy,
Here is a link for a class, Intro. To Pruning Techniques, on March 7, 1 to 4 pm. |
annettedepalma
Citizen
Username: Annettedepalma
Post Number: 382
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:30 am: |
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I agree that you should trim the tops of the rhodies, but not until after they bloom in the late spring/early summer. If you trim them now, you'll cut off the buds, which should have set several weeks after last season's bloom.
If you've got a moderate amount of sun, try Baptesia, which is a hardy perennial. The plants mature to about 2 1/2 to 3 feet in height, they have deep green leaves along the stems that arc outward, and they have gorgeous flowers along the stems. Mine have purple flowers (which looks great with white). They are early to mid-summer bloomers, require very little care, and are truly stunning. They also look great planted with peonies. |
annettedepalma
Citizen
Username: Annettedepalma
Post Number: 383
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:35 am: |
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Also, late this month, or early next month you should fertilize around the base of your rhodies. The name of what I use escapes me at the moment, but it's for acid-loving plants and shrubs. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1400
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:01 pm: |
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When is the best time of year to plant hostas -- how early? I am dying for spring, and can't wait to get some in the ground. I seem to recall hostas being one of the earlier things to come up. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 16
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 2:27 pm: |
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Jersey Boy - if you're afraid of Ph (which I think you can get a testing kit at Lowe's or Cheapo Depot) but want hydrangea, look into a white cultivar like Annabele or the "Bluebird" which is a "compact lacecap, up to 4 ft tall, displaying rich blue flowers over a long summer and autumn season". So not a mophead, but also sounds like it's less likely to turn pink on you.
A couple other thoughts would be viburnum or Caryopteris.
As for the hostas, I think you might be better to wait until after the last frost before planting - plant them too early and you'll damage the plants for the year. If you want instant blooms, Brecks has tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and a couple others that are sent to you almost ready to bloom. You could buy some of those bulbs and put them in large pots until later in the spring. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6841
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 3:35 pm: |
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I find that squirrels get 50% of the daylilly bulbs I plant. And they only bloom once during the season.
I love hydrangeas. How do they do in shade/part shade?
Also, isn't it just about time to start indoor tomato seeds? |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 17
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 10:19 am: |
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Hydrangeas are predominantly thought of as part-shade plants. But they don't like no sun. And do fine with full sun. There are specialty hydrangea growers that I'm sure have varieties that do well regardless of your sun. I'm not done unpacking (will I EVER be done???  ) or I'd look some up for you. A good google search should give you a few.
Ah tomato seeds. If you figure out a way to make them grow, please let me in on the secret! Mine always turn out leggy. I just give up and buy plants.
St. Patricks Day is just around the corner - time to think about planting pea seeds! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1145
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 8:54 pm: |
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greentree,
It's odd the squirrels go after your daylillies. They leave mine alone, and we're only a block up the street. They have dug every crocus I planted last year up. All my lillies are intact. I just was wandering around the yard today and noticing all the growth on the perrenials so far. We have some Hydrangeas in the back that do fine in part Shade/Part sun. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 289
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:28 pm: |
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I was just looking out an upstairs window at the garden to be. Most of the snow has melted except for under the Rhodies. The natural shade cast by these plants has drawn its own unmelted snow bedline for a shade garden, or at least where hostas might survive.
Can I count on this being the same during the Spring and Summer? I remember something about the earth rotating around the sun from high school biology. If the shadow's angle will change, does anyone know in which compass direction.
J.B.
I know this is a tough one. But extra credit will be given to anyone who makes an attempt. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 290
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 7:53 pm: |
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Okay, I got the teacher's edition on this question. You're all off the hook:
http://hea-www.harvard.edu/ECT/the_book/Chap2/Chapter2.html#oots
The short answer is: same shadows, just not so long during the Summer. Compass direction: East/West, of course.
J.B. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 19
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 9:02 pm: |
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JB - you crack me up - I didn't even get a CHANCE to try to respond! 
The shadows won't be as big as they are now, but did you take into account any trees that might be say, on your neighbor's property (or across the street) which might leaf out this summer and cast their shadows on your lawn? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 291
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 10:40 pm: |
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Elizabeth,
Don't worry. Before this garden is done there will be lots of questions for you to answer.
I've been doing some on-line research about this and I've decided it's going to be a white on the Rhodies, then blue as much as possible, with some lavender (I have a wisteria maturing that hasn't flowered yet.)
I discovered something called Lithodora Diffusa (Grace Ward) which apparently is a 18 -24" shrub with blue to violet flowers. Blooming from April to June. If I alternate that with the hydrangeas, which bloom in late Summer. I'll have something blue from April till who knows when. And a white cloud of rhodie blooms above (in Spring, right?)
Does anyone have a reason why this won't work? I know, I know, I will check my soil pH. But can't I just dump a bunch of peat or lyme in a hole and create a local pH to make the plant happy? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 301
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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Come on!
Bump. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 708
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:54 pm: |
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John Nance, are you / were you involved in AALL? I may know you. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 12:25 am: |
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Sorry - was at the garden show in Philadelphia all day and am just checking (BTW, why the heck does Rte. 95 - the major interstate highway linking ME with FL NOT run through Philadelphia from New Jersey but DOES run through Philadelphia from Delaware (yep, saw the Delaware Memorial Bridge today!)? Craziest thing these East Coast highways....)
Your plan sounds beautiful. And yes, you can just dig a hole and plop the hydrangeas in. You might see if your local garden center sells Aluminum Sulfate (they're granuals) and mix that into the planting beds. This will make your soil more acidic (and your hydrangeas more blue).
And if all else fails, my grandfather used to say that the joy of gardening is if you don't like something, rip it out, plant it somewhere else. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 305
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 3:46 pm: |
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Garden, show? Well, I WILL accept that excuse.
I've screwed up that Delaware crossing too. I'm still not sure how it's done.
Next issue: what is your opinion about ordering plants by mail vs. local nursery, and will the Grace Ward be hard to find?
I promise to figure out how to get digital pictures into the computer to report the finished product.
Reallytrying, John Nance isn't here.
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Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 24
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 8:17 am: |
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Did you see that Gurneys' has a buy-one-get-one free lavender sale? gurneys.com
I do both buy by mail and garden center. I tend to buy WAY WAY WAY on impulse at the local nurseries, then walk around my garden looking for a place to plant the gorgeous flowering thing I just bought! Many a new garden bed has been started because I didn't "follow my list". But by the same token, many new gorgeous garden beds.
Buying from mail usually gives you smaller plants, but better variety/selection. The advantage is you don't overbuy (because you can cross things out of your order), you don't generally have the same things as everyone else in the neighborhood, and most catalogues have "sales" whereby you can buy $20 worth of plants for free! (or get $20 off your order) Use enough catalogues and you can get a pretty good variety of plants. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 25
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 8:19 am: |
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The Grace Ward was easy to find:
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/LIGWS.html
Bluestone Perennials is a good mail order company. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 317
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 11:02 pm: |
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Thanks Elizabeth, I should have said, "will the Grace Ward be hard to find in local nurseries? " I found out about it on-line, I may have even been at the Blue Stone website during my search.
I was afraid about he smallness of plants by mail, I'm too impatient for this!
I really appreciate all of your help. I'm totally new to gardening, but have caught quite the bug. After we moved in, I just started watering these plants that had been neglected by the previous owners. A wisteria started growing up onto a trellis arch that was there, like in "Little Shop of Horrors," without he blood.
I'll keep you "posted."
J.B. |
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