Question:
Last winter, I planted several bare root blueberries. They’ve done very well, and nearly doubled in size but have grown very leggy. Should I prune them back now to encourage branching or wait until January?
Answer:
Blueberries are very popular today, as they’re easy to growth requiring little care to be successful. However, an annual pruning is recommended in order to maintain their size, shape, and productivity. While they could be pruned today, I’d wait to do them in mid to late January. In the first two years, pruning helps train blueberries into the desired shape for fruit production. So, yes I’d prune back the leggy branches to shape the plant. You’ll also want to remove any crisscrossing branches to allow more sunlight into the center of the plants, increasing the air circulation along with any branch whose berries would touch the ground. In addition, remove any damaged canes or twigs, and the soft basal shoots that develop late in the season. It’s recommended to remove two of the oldest and usually least productive canes each year. After pruning make one application of an acidifier to keep the soil on the acid side. True Blue from GreenAll is one of several available at your favorite garden center. And finally, apply an Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron fertilizer monthly starting in March.
Question:
I’d like to plant an evergreen shrub in a redwood planter that is eleven inches wide, twelve inches deep and forty-six inches long. It needs to screen off a neighbor's porch so I'd like it to grow to six feet. What would you suggest?
Answer:
I would not recommend planting any shrub is a rectangular planter of this size. It’s simply the wrong answer to your privacy issue. The planter is much too small for any type of permanent planting to thrive long term. The plant(s)will quickly outgrow the available root space, and struggle to survive. Long narrow planters are best used for shallow rooted annuals, perennials and vegetables. Basil, parsley, strawberries, radishes, carrots, pansies, violas, marigolds and impatiens are a few examples of plants that would do well. My suggestion would be to purchase several containers about the size of a half of a wine barrel. Besides wood, I’d consider plastic, some type of container from recycle material or decorative pots. I’d place them next to one another to start with and move them apart as they grow. I'd consider planting Sasanqua Camellias, Escallonia, Dodonaea or Nandina. The nursery professional at your local garden center may have other suggestions. Going forward, the critical issue is the watering schedule. While it's not a problem today, it will be as the plants grow because there will be less and less soil and more roots. So, the containers will need to be watered more frequently each year. Also, fertilize the containers twice a year, March and July, with Osmocote, a time-release fertilizer. With nutrients and moisture, the plants will remain lush year round and the vegetative screen will meet your expectations.
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