- Author: Betsy Buxton
Yesterday, the sun came out with a vengeance just when I wanted to pot up my fuchsias and the last of the 4” ferns that came in the mail. Now the heat never bothered me before, but standing on the hot concrete patio in the full sun was just not for me! I have been working everyday out in the “back forty” in the sun and I've had enough!
Getting ready to have the fence replaced has meant lot of pruning: privets, photinias, bottlebrush bushes, pomegranates: all have either had their canopies raised above the fence edge OR had a few multi-trunks removed. Not only can the existing fence be seen – easily – through the bushes, but the surrounding houses as well. I didn't know that the one house had removed their rather sickly tree! Wow, I wonder what else has changed around here? The shrubs had all been chosen for their hardiness and their ability to grow more than 15 feet tall. When one has a neighbor who can easily look for a 6-feet fence when standing on an elevated deck, one tends to plant tall shrubs (and when the houses around one on 6 sides are 2-story) for privacy.
Unfortunately, privacy is one of those things that skunks, possums, raccoons, and rats like as well, so cutting thing back, “raising skirts”, etc. can work against a gardener. I have found spare animal “bedrooms”, snack sites and poop sites; so it's time to reclaim MY space. No one except the jays complained, so ok so far! I've also found and removed 40 young palm trees, 25 privets of a variety that I have never planted, 3 live oak trees – saved one 12-footer, and numerous pecan trees; yes, pecan trees that have been plants by whichever bird will bury food. I don't know who is feeding the birds pecans, but I'm constantly finding the trees and spare pecan shells on the ground. There's a ‘heavenly bamboo' blooming under the oleanders which also got thinned out and their “skirts raised”; my beloved “Christmas” holly with its prickly leaves, and a rose I thought had died long ago. Amazing what I am finding after 25 years out there!
I had planned on totally finishing my pruning chores with the removal of a large (6-inch diameter) branch on the mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), but discovered that the branch was the one thing holding up that fence section! The same thing has happened with a lemon bottlebrush tree – the “nub that I was going to remove is holding up THAT section of fence! I can only wait until the back fence is removed and rush in to cut those parts as the fence contractor “does not do landscaping” or cutting plants down. He and I have already had a major discussion about my purple smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple'). The gist of the conversation was basically, I'm not cutting it back; it's taken 15 years to get that big; destroy it and you buy me a new one THAT size. We truly understood each other after that!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hot weather basics: lightweight, light colored clothes; plenty of fluids; take shade breaks frequently; use that sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat; and if you are feeling too warm, are dizzy, or not sweating GO INTO THE COOL HOUSE! There is nothing to do outside that's worth your health!
Also, in temperatures over 80 degrees please no power tools. The humidity is low and all it takes is a spark from hitting a rock or other hard surface to start a grass or weed fire! Work hard out there BUT work safe!