SPRING INTO THE GARDEN

Click on title for link to Courtyard garden centre.

Photo left: Aucuba Japonica 'Rozanne'

Photo right: Berberis 'Orange King'

Centre: Clematis armandii 'apple blossom'

SPRING SHRUBS

If you read most of the Donegal newspapers you will be aware of the Courtyard Lifestyle Centre that recently open on the Letterkenny road in Newtowncunningham. I was down there on the open day amongst other things, to see what plants were on offer. Most of the display was of very hardy varieties and although the names are familiar around Inishowen, some of the specimens are somewhat new and different. Most of the plants on sale are “of the season” so you can see them in flower or bud, which really helps to make a choice.

Lets have a look at some of the varieties on offer that are in their full springtime glory.

Rhododendron “Christmas cheer” This is an early flowering variety with pink to white flowers. It only grows about three feet in ten years so it won’t take over the garden.

Kerria Japonica “pleniflora” This upright shrub will grow practically anywhere. It has bright yellow flowers and reaches a height of around three to six feet tall.

Leptospermum “martinii” This is a very versatile plant. It can grow up to six feet tall (2m) and can be used as a specimen shrub or as an informal hedge. It has pink with a touch of white flowers in autiumn to spring. It has a neat habit and like well-drained soil.

Aucuba Japonica “Rozannie” (Japanese laurel) You might be more familiar with the variegated laurel. This variety is definitely worth a space in the garden though. It has dark green leaves with small clusters of red berries from April too May. It is a compact bush, which makes it ideal for a small shady spot. It will eventually grow to about three feet (1m)

Clematis armandii “apple blossom” This was probably my favourite climber of the visit. The plant is vigorous and will grow up to 20 feet (7m) it likes full sun and will produce lovely pink blushed blooms from March to May. The plant is evergreen with shiny green , slightly bronze foliage, which makes it an ideal plant to cover a wall or small building. You get the added benefit of the fragrance as well, its vanilla.. yum!

PRUNING SHRUBS

Many spring-flowering shrubs can be pruned as soon as their flowers have started to fade. Any shoots that have carried flowers can be cut back, shortening them to shape the shrub and control its size and vigour. Forsythia can grow large and ungainly if left to its own devices, so prune to give the shrub a definite shape and form. This and other shrubs, such as Berberis darwinii, are sometimes grown as hedges, so can be pruned to give a more formal structure. All the flowering stems of Prunus triloba can be pruned to their woody base, while selective pruning on philadelphus and weigela stops them getting large and woody. Make sure that there are no signs of birds nesting if the shrubs are large. If the signs are there then leave pruning until the birds have flown.

Horticultural