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Courtyard Gardens – Planning Tips
With an increasing tendency for empty nesters, young couples and singles towards higher density inner city living, and the desire to spend minimal time on maintaining gardens or other outdoor spaces, most new apartments, townhouses and condominiums...
Irrigation Installation & Maintenance Time Savers
Irrigation Installation & Maintenance Time Savers Article by Jack Stone Copyright © 2003 by ProGardenBiz ProGardenBiz, an online magazine http://www.progardenbiz.com Over the last few years some clever people have come up with some clever ideas to...
Rid Your Garden of Slugs
REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRINT: You have permission to publish this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter, ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if it remains unchanged and you include the copyright and author information (Resource...
The Beautiful Rose of Sharon
Perhaps you were browsing the pages of a catalog and found a beautiful picture of the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Sriacus)? Or maybe you were lucky enough to see a Rose of Sharon in person at a local garden center? Are you wondering whether these will...
Using Landscape Design Software
Using Landscape Design Software
One option for would-be landscapers is to plan out their design
on landscape software. Most of the time this software has great
features that can help you decide where to put different plants,
and how...
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Japanese Barberry ..... A Multi Use Plant
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
DESCRIPTION: Japanese barberry is a compact, shrub with sharp
spines, that commonly grows from two to three feet tall. Its
roots are shallow and tough. The smooth-edged leaves range from
oval to spatulate in shape and are clustered in tight bunches
close to the branches of the plant. There are yellow flowers
which bloom in May and are about one third of an inch wide,
solitary or in small clusters of 2-4 blossoms. The bright-red
fruits mature in mid-summer on the bush and remain into autumn
and the winter. The berries are small and found singly or in
clusters. We sell several cultivars of this species as
ornamentals. These plants have good deer resistance. Small
thorns act as an invisable barrier to deer. Once they encounter
this plant, they nearly have to starve to be found eating them.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: All barberries prefers well-drained
soils, although it has been found in wet soils. Barberies are
typically found in locations of partial sunlight such as a
woodland's edge. Barberies can survive well under the shade of
an oak tree canopy. It is also found along roadsides, fences,
old fields, and open woods. These plants can and do escape and
are invasive.
Japanese barberry was introduced from Japan. It is commonly
planted for ornamental value (its scarlet fruit and autumnal
foliage make it an attractive hedge), as well as for wildlife
and erosion control. It easily naturalizes because its fruit is
often eaten by birds, which subsequently disperse the seeds. The
plant reproduces by seed and creeping roots. Wildlife is known
to eat the seeds and distribute barberies. Branches can root
freely when they touch the ground or get covered by leaveswhich
allows single plants to become quite large.
If your landscape is dominated by a sea of green plants,
barberries
will add striking color options. Besides being tough
and deer resistant, they are easy to transplant. Barberries have
much to offer. Barberries are drought resistant, pest free,and
come in many striking colors. Barberries make excellent barrier
plants. Plant next to windows to keep Peeping Toms away. There
are over 20 varieties.
Plant all barberries in partial shade to full sun. A couple of
inches of compost or well aged bark mulch accompanied by 1-2
pounds of a 5-10-5 fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden area
is recomended. Incorporate it it in the soil deeply.
Since some types of barberries can grow to 6', allow ample
space for the plants. We suggest 3' spacings for the plants.
Most barberries grow the same width as height. Make the whole at
least twice the size of the root ball. Tamp the soil lightly and
water well after planting. You may have to refill more dirt to
the plant as it settles. Mulch with no more than 1 inch of
organic mulch.
The first month and the first year are critical to surviving.
Most barberries die because of dehydration on transplanting.
Moisted well on tranplanting to encourage deep rooting. Don't
allow the plants to dry out durring this year. Moisture is
critical during the first year, especially in years like the
past two. Water deeply when required, training the roots to go
deep. Feed four weeks after transplanting using a slow-released
fertilizer, like an 8-8-8 or 12-6-6 at 1 pound per 100 square
feet of bed space. You can see info and articles about plants at
Bill web site http://www.seedlingsrus.com
About the author:
Bill has been growing plants for over 45 years and writes about
nursery stock, trees, and plants. His web sites include
http://www.highlandhillfarm.com http://www.seedlingsrus.com and
http://www.zone5trees.com Bill owns and operates 23 farms and
ranches across the U.S.
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