Where is the Shade?

We have gotten a brief reprieve from the summer heat, but it will be back by the weekend. And we'll all be looking for the shade in the yard to help keep us cool.

This week's Plant of the Week, Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’, celebrates

shade with a natural beauty that will enhance any landscape.

The crimson king maple is in the Norway maple tree family, and it has become a favored tree because of its unusual beauty and ease of growing. This particular maple tree stands out among maples because of the rich maroon- or purple-colored leaves it dons throughout the summer. It is not unusual to see crimson kings lining streets and other public places, especially in northern states, where most maples turn green in the summertime.

Maple trees have always been popular because they grow hardily in zones 4 through 7 and they make a beautiful enhancement to any yard. The crimson king maple stands out because it looks so different from it cousins. There are a few other maple trees that have some gorgeous color in the spring, but all except the crimson king turn to green as summer approaches.

Crimson king maple trees will grow to magnificent height of 50 feet or taller. This makes them wonderful accent trees for yards with many other trees, but they also work well as a stand alone because of their unique beauty. Their size and more than adequate leaf growth makes the crimson king a superb shade tree as well. As this tree matures, it develops a wonderfully shaped crown and will usually turn into a favorite shady spot over the years. any yard. The crimson king maple stands out because it looks so different from it cousins. There are a few other maple trees that have some gorgeous color in the spring, but all except the crimson king turn to green as summer approaches.

Keep in mind as you choose a location for this type of maple tree that the crimson king maintains a fairly shallow root system. That means that it can be difficult to mow the lawn under these trees because the roots will be very close to the surface, possibly even bulging out. It also means that they should not be planted too close to the house or any other structure. This shallow root growth is not a good idea close to the sidewalk, and they should be planted at 5 feet away from the edge of the walkway.

Since they are such good shade trees, the crimson king does wonderfully as an accent in a woody backyard garden area or a little distance away from a patio for an amazing shady spot to relax those summer days away. Again, planting these trees approximately 5 feet away from the edge of the patio is a good idea.

One of the best things about the crimson king is that is can adapt to many different soil types. This tree will grow readily in dry conditions as well as soils that are very acidic or more alkaline. Crimson kings even do well in clay or sand. This flexibility is what makes them very attractive as plantings along city streets. In fact, many feel that this type of tree is overused on tree-lined streets, especially in the northern part of the country.

The most care for this type of maple tree is to tending the branches to make sure the leaf growth is not too heavy. If the leaves grow too thickly on a branch, it may begin to droop As the tree gets larger, it is also recommended to trim the lowest branches so that there will be plenty of room to relax under the delightful shade this tree will provide.

Another amazing treat that comes with the crimson king are its springtime blossoms. There are few things as welcoming as flowers in the spring, and this maple tree shows off a lovely display of blooms each March or April. The only drawback to this pretty springtime show is the seeds that drop from the tree in the fall. They can become a problem if not dealt with, but cleaning them up is not a difficult fix and can be done right along with the end-of-summer yard cleaning.

Withering Plants in Need of Water?

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." - Russel Baker

Managing your Landscape during Dry Weather

Follow basic landscape maintanence principles.

• Regularly weed hardscaped areas as weeds can soak up valuable soil moisture that could otherwise be used by landscape plants.
• Do not sheer prune shrubs. This can cause them to be less water efficient and open up their canopies to sunburn.
  
• Apply organic mulch (shreaded bark or compost) around the base of plants to help maintain soil moisture and reduce temperature.

Prioritize landscape water requirements by assigning monetary and functional values to your living landscape.

• Give trees a higher watering priority than grass or flowerbeds. Most grass areas can tolerate long periods of drought and if damaged can be replanted and will rejuvenate in a matter of months. Trees, however, are more difficult to replace. They take much longer to grow and can be costly to remove.
  
• Give functional grass areas a priority. Grass in the back yard nearest the patio should be given first priority. Grass in the front or side yards should be the first to lose water. Consider replacing grass with desert-adapted groundcovers, such as trailing rosemary or acacia.

Trees are the single most important living element in a landscape. They require consistent care regardless of conditions, and therefore the highest priority should be on their maintenance and watering:

• Check frequently for drought stress including wilting, yellowing, and browning of leaf edges, defoliation, and branch-die-back. In a continued drought, leaves may be smaller than normal and drop prematurely. Although drought stress may not kill a tree outright, it could set it up for more serious diseases or insect infestations in following years.
  
• Water deeply and slowly. Apply water so it moistens the soil in the root zone to a depth of at least 12 inches (the recommended watering depth is 24 to 36 inches.)
  
• Do not fertilize a tree that is under drought stress. Fertilizers can stimulate growth, which results in additional foliage for the root system to maintain.
  
• Be careful when pruning. Pruning can open up canopies and cause sun scald on branches. Remove broken, dead or crossing branches because leaving these weakened branches could set the tree up for secondary infections.

How should I manage our grass during a drought?

• Water as infrequently as possible without causing undue stress. If you walk across the grass and leave foot prints, it is time to water.
  
• Make sure to still water to a depth of at least six inches.
  
• Avoid fertilizing which will increase the growth rate.
  
• Be willing to accept a less-than-perfect turf and tolerate a few brown or yellow spots.
  
• Set your mower to remove only 1/3 of the blade of grass at a time and make sure your mower blade is sharp.

Best Time of Day to Water

Water early in the morning, when less water is lost to evaporation and wind drift. In early morning, the air is cooler and there is less wind.

How to Water

Water established plants deeply and less frequently. Deep watering improves drought resistance in established plants by promoting deeper and more extensive root systems. Newly installed plants need just the opposite: light frequent applications. Many new plants need daily water to thrive.

How Long Should I Run the Sprinkler?

To determine how long to run your sprinklers for deep watering of your lawn, place empty cans throughout the spray pattern of your sprinkler. Keep track of the amount of time it takes for 1 inch of water to accumulate in the cans. (Check all the cans because some areas of spray pattern may not receive as much water as other areas.)

Now you know how long to run the sprinkler to give your landscape a deep watering without wasting water. Keeping that amount of time in mind, read these general guidelines:

· In sandy soil, 1 inch of watering soaks soil to a depth of about 12 inches.

· For grass and bedding plants, apply ½ inch to 1 inch of watering (soaks soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches).

· For perennials, shrubs and trees, apply 1 inch of water (soaks soil to depth of 12 inches).

Watering Frequency

Extend the number of days or weeks between water applications to the longest possible interval. Water lawns only after 30% of the lawn starts to wilt (grass blades curl when wilting). Water trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals after they start to wilt. Some trees do not wilt; they simply drop interior leaves in drought.

Fertilizing

Don't fertilize during drought--fertilizer promotes plant growth, which increases the need for water.

We hope this helps to keep your lawn and landscape as healthy and happy as it can be in dry times so that when the rain comes, it will grow in full bloom with little or no loss. As always, we welcome your questions and comments!

Living Outdoors is In

There are so many ways to celebrate summer and expanding your living area to the outdoors is one of them. After being cooped up inside during the dreary winter months, it's time to come outside and live in the sunshine - or shade, depending on your preference. Two ways to enhance your outdoor experience are an outdoor fireplace and a water feature. Both are sure to relax you with their mesmerizing sounds and lovely appearance.

The fireplace feature for the week is this lovely stacked stone free standing fireplace, accented with historic barn wood and a partial stucco finish to give it an authentic aged appearance. Flanked on both sides with colorful plants, this is a haven for the weary on a lovely summer evening, a crisp autumn night and well into winter for outdoor entertaining!

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If you are looking for something on the other side of the spectrum, why not consider a water feature. Studies have proven that the sounds of falling water are an instant relaxer for the mind. Today's feature is a rustic piece given new life, making it a recycled green project and an interesting mix of form and function -

We're Trying Something New!

We wanted to share more than we are able to on Facebook, so we've started a blog. This will give us the opportunity to show more photos of all the projects and plants we're trying to describe. We hope you will enjoy it and please feel free to let us know what YOU would like to see posted here!

Kicking off the blog will be The Plant of the Week - Leucanthemum 'Becky'

An oldie but goodie, the Shasta Daisy is a classic.

This stunning variety of Shasta Daisy is later and larger than all the others. From July to September, it becomes a living bouquet of huge (4in) daisies that stand 3–4ft tall. Even at this height, staking isn't required, and its long, strong stems are excellent for cutting. When growers cut back the plants during the growing season, or deadhead them, I have seen flowering into the month of October. The foliage is always attractive and will remain evergreen in Southern states. It is both heat- and cold-hardy and can be grown under full sun to partial shade in an average to dry soil. This Shasta daisy performs well as a cut flower and attracts butterflies in the garden. For compact plant growth, cut back foliage before flower buds are visible. To encourage re-flowering, cut them back after the initial flush of bloom is finished. Enjoy these simple beauties!