Time To Put Pruning Saws, Shears To Use

Sharpen up those pruning saws and shears, July and August are the pruning months. This time of year, trees are in summer dormancy. By selectively removing certain branches and consequently their leaves now, we limit stored energy that produces growth next year. At the same time, we can give grace and form to trees that more resemble overgrown bushes.

Today I attacked a Paul Scarlet hawthorn. This particular specimen may be outstanding when in full bloom, but it’s notorious for sending up hundreds of wild suckers throughout the tree. This wasn’t a pleasant job, but someone had to do it. Wearing a long-sleeve shirt and gloves of steel (hawthorns meaning Haw-haw, thorns!) I armed myself with loppers, shears and a pruning saw and I went to work.

In order to get to the overlapping, criss-crossing, misplaced branches, I first had to wade through seemingly hours of endless twig removal.

Standing ankle deep in debris, the tree appeared no different than when I had started. I needed reinforcements.

Husband Jim joined me. We started by removing all unnecessary branches that were growing straight up. From there we worked in a circle around the tree. I stood back shouting candidates for removal while Jim performed the surgery.

“I think that middle branch should go. But then again …” Too late. Oh well, one sure thing about a hawthorn, it won’t take long for our mistakes to recover.

When we had finished, we had turned a thick, shrubby tree into a specimen with form and grace. It’s a sure bet that we will get suckering next spring, but by pruning this time of year, the suckering should be much less. On to the Golden Chain, cherry, magnolia …

From the kitchen

Aluminum foil isn’t just for using in the kitchen. It’s a great tool in the garden. Aluminum foil can be used to protect the base of young trees from the gnawing of rabbits and mice. Simply wrap the lower 18 inches of the trunk with loose sheets of foil.

Foil can be used on top of the soil to protect against insects and to stimulate growth. Lay it on the ground between rows of vegetables or as a collar around the base of plants. Anchor it with rocks. The reflected light from the foil can dramatically increase yields from tomatoes and peppers. The bright, reflected light can also keep thrips and aphids away.

You can also make little scarecrows out of aluminum foil to ward off birds. Wrap pieces of cardboard with the foil and hang them from the fruit tree branches.

The reflected sunlight will frighten the birds away. This can be a great project for the kids.

Homemade lawn edging

Keeping the edges of our flower beds clean of invading lawn can be a full-time chore. These borders can also be a challenge for mowing. Here’s a suggestion for creating a homemade concrete edge. Not only will this edging keep lawn from moving into the flower beds but it will also give the wheels of the mower a flat surface.

Begin by digging a trench about 4 to 6 inches wide and 4 inches deep along the bed. Line the sides of the trench with thin planks or bender boards. Mix a bag of concrete and pour it into the trench. Remove the planks when the concrete has set.

For a little added interest, add pea gravel, river rock or colored smooth stones to the concrete as it sets up. The edging can also be colored simply by adding special dyes to the mix. Concrete edging is permanent, attractive and an easy do-it-yourself project.

Mark your calendar

The Friends of Manito and the WSU Master Gardeners will host a free tour of the Ferris Perennial Gardens in Manito Park, Sunday at 1 p.m.

The first of two community meetings to develop the garden restoration and reconstruction master plan of the Corbin & Moore-Turner Heritage Garden Project will be Tuesday. This meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Cataldo Catholic School library, 455 W. 18th (use the Stevens street entrance).

The agenda will include a history of the gardens, 1889 to present; the preliminary master plan, an overview of historic preservation guidelines and community involvement.

The Heritage Gardens are owned by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department and located at 507 W. Seventh. The gardens were recently admitted to the Spokane Register of Historic Places. For more information, call the Corbin Art Center, 625-6677.