Comments on: layering

By: ricki

ricki — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:04:33 +0000

Grace: I don’t mind pruning either, but have been liking the Lonicera growing every which way.
I tried to sign up with Blotanical once, but it kept kicking my attempts back at me. I’m pretty sure I can successfully add 4 and 3, but they did not agree and I gave up after a few tries. Maybe it is time to give it another shot.
Picked up a half price ‘Helena’s Blush’ the other day. Hope it will be as pretty as yours.

By: Grace

Grace — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:14:03 +0000

I can vouch for this, Ricki. Years ago wisdom came in the form of British matriarch Margery Fish. In one of her oft witty gardening tomes she wrote about how she created evergreen hedges on the cheap using Lonicera nitida. [The green species. I don’t think the color variants had been developed yet. This was circa 1930s.] Anyway, I undertook the challenge a few years ago and it worked. Her method: in spring, snip off a semi-hardwood nine or so inch cutting, stick it in the ground and stick another one about six inches away, and another… then wait a few weeks and you’ll see baby leaves. Prune as necessary. The only drawback is that they need to be pruned several times throught the spring and summer. I don’t mind this. It’s my therapy. But some might find it annoying. My hedges stay green all year and aren’t the slightest bit thirsty during our dry months. I know hedges aren’t for everyone but I like them in certain areas of my garden.

Are you a member of Blotanical? Thought about joining?

By: ricki

ricki — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:56:57 +0000

Loree: Thanks!
Joco: I’ve heard about the willow thing. Actually, something like that is coming up in my next propagation post.
Megan: Lots of ways to turn one plant into many. I’m planning to do a few posts about that…only way I will ever be able to come up with “drifts”.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:45:37 +0000

Very crafty. I’ve thought about propagating my own plants, but never actually followed through. Sounds manageable the way you describe it. Maybe next year.

By: joco

joco — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:01:40 +0000

They are so bright and cheery, these honeysuckles. Actually, as a change from layering, you can simply stick branches in the soil, and make a whole row of them where you want them. They grow like mustard and cress.
I am in the process of turning one shrub into a treelet, by cutting away all lower branches. probably a failure.
Do you have a willow tree handy? To make willow-water with. That might speed up the process.

By: Loree / danger garden

Loree / danger garden — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:35:14 +0000

WOW…that is some very impressive work Ricki!