Help…when do I prune spring flowering shrubs and trees?
The show is over…spring blooming shrubs and trees have put on their much appreciated display. With blossoms just passing by, your plant is already planning for spring 2015. It is hard for us humans to remember that this is the right time to prune those same plants. ...Shear madness
Gum drops, meatballs and blobs: believe it or not, these are typical shrub shapes commonly found in many suburban neighborhoods. Well-intentioned homeowners and professionals alike regularly shear off each year’s new growth, forcing bushes into visions of...My Plant Peeves, or “Are You In There?” – Privacy Hedges
Nosy neighbors, street noise, ugly junkyards next door – there are many reasons why we want privacy. But what is your goal? Privacy or marching soldiers? Fences can provide what we crave, but there’s also a way to accomplish privacy screening with natural beauty. ...Using Sky Real-Estate, or Upright and Uptight is the Way to Go
Ok, so I do have a love affair with upright and uptight plants. In smaller gardens, air space needs some volume – so let’s go up. Let’s compare three similar plants today that grow tall and skinny. I started out using Ilex crenata “Sky Pencil”. This is a...What Are These Birch Trees Going To Be When They Grow Up?
Sometimes you see something and wonder “huh?” What was the landscape designer thinking? Or not thinking…. Probably your first thought was, where are these trees going to go once they reach maturity? If the trees survive past next month (since they are placed under...About Christie Dustman
Christie Dustman is a life-long gardener and owner of Christie Dustman & Company, Inc.
