Question:
I'm looking to plant an evergreen hedge, but I can’t find what the planting distance should be in my gardening books. How far apart should either Photinia or Pittosporum Nigricans be planted?Answer:
- This information should be available online. You’ll need to google the botanical or common name and go from there.
- With hedges and foundation shrubs, two to four feet is very expectable but then again so, is three to five feet. It’s going to depend on the species.
- Often, the final decision ends up being a resource issue as it requires more plants to fill in an area when planted closer together. The tradeoff is time, as hedges take longer to develop when planted farther apart.
- Also, they’re more likely to develop gaps or spaces in their canopy. Why, because hedges are allowed to grow taller before the lower section has filled in.
- Ideally, you develop the bottom portion of the hedge first by keeping it at a static height and shearing it often.
- Once this is developed, you raise the height of the hedge. Unfortunately, the opposite is the norm. The hedge’s purpose, screen, barrier, divider, etc., drives this impatience and the underlying sense of urgency.
- If this were my hedge, I would plant one-gallon plants two/three feet apart, shear them every other month during the growing season and fertilize after every other trimming to encourage the new growth with an all-purpose fertilizer.
- With five-gallon plants, I’d increase the spacing to three/four feet apart. Ultimately, it’s a judgment call on your part. Also, don’t expect a lot of new growth this fall as the growing season will come to an end in six weeks.
Question:
What are the odds of a poinsettia plant still being in bloom today and have lots of new growth at the same time. Does this commonly occur?Answer:
- It’s very unusual for a poinsettia to be showing any amount of color other than green at this time of the year.
- I should point out that the colorful portion of a poinsettia is not the bloom but a modified leaf bract. The leaf bract turns color with short days and long nights.
- The actual bloom is the tiny yellow and/or red structure found in the center of these bracts. The structure is referred to as an incomplete flower as it has no sepals or petals.
- Bougainvillea is another example of a plant with colorful leaf bracts that are called flowers. The white cross like-structure in the center of the bract is the actual flower. Bougainvilleas naturally change color with the change in seasons.
- Poinsettias need help because the indirect light around most homes interferes with the blooming cycle. You trigger the blooming cycle starting in October with short days for color in December. The plants are covered at dinnertime with a box, and it’s removed at breakfast. You repeat this for the next six to eight weeks or stop when the leaves start to show a maroon color.