DIGGIN鈥� IN
Hold off on pruning rose of Sharon 鈥� for now
Mother-in-law鈥檚 tongue can be moved outside with some care
Q: We planted two rose of Sharon shrubs in front of the two windows in the front yard. We wanted them for a privacy break, so to speak, but boy, they have grown really quickly. They are in full leaf now, and we want to know if we should prune them back now so they aren鈥檛 covering the windows so successfully. 鈥� L.K., sa国际传媒官网网页入口
A: Well, that鈥檒l depend. If you do pruning now, you certainly won鈥檛 have as much bloom to enjoy when the time comes in early mid-summer. So if you are determined to prune now, know that the bloom will be lessened greatly.
What you might do is get between the shrub and the house (windows) and make sure none of that good growth you mentioned is maiming the house itself. You certainly don鈥檛 want any stout branches thumping against the glass or dislodging any finish of the exterior walls. Tidying up the shrub that is house-side might remove a lot of headaches later.
If the shrubs are just too big and you can鈥檛 wait, perhaps consider pruning away about a quarter of the shrubs鈥� outer dimensions 鈥� height and width. Then once this year鈥檚 bloom is complete, get the rose of Sharon pruned down to the size you would rather it be.
Just remember that you should leave at least three sets of true leaves growing below the pruning point. That way the shrub will grow and set next year鈥檚 bloom.
Me? I鈥檇 wait until this year鈥檚 bloom has completed and give the shrub a good pruning then, remembering that you will still need to leave a certain amount of leaf to help keep the shrub healthy.
Meanwhile, I want you to commit to your gardening memory the rhyme, 鈥減rune after the bloom.鈥� Meaning if you have any early spring-blooming shrubs, they need to be pruned now.
Q: I have a mother-in-law鈥檚 tongue houseplant (Sansevieria) that is happily living in an 18-inch pot that I think would look great on my patio. Do you have any thoughts about me moving it outdoors for the summer? 鈥� W.S., sa国际传媒官网网页入口
A: First and foremost, I鈥檒l suggest that you place it somewhere out of the full sun and where it wouldn鈥檛 get buffeted by any harsh winds.
This creature has been living where the climate is gentle and for you to plunk it out in the elements just might be too much for it.
So yes, you could move it outdoors into a semi-sun sheltered location and then gradually walk it into a brighter locale if need be on the patio.
You will want to monitor the waterings offered, because I鈥檒l bet the pot will dry out far sooner outdoors.
Also, if the Sansevieria鈥檚 pot is dark-colored, sunlight will be absorbed far quicker, warming the soil in the pot and perhaps cooking the roots, so be willing and able to consistently monitor the plant鈥檚 health.
As long as you鈥檒l offer the mother-in-law鈥檚 tongue plant a mostly protected spot to live in for the summer, then I guess you can take your chances.
I will strongly suggest that you consider repotting the whole kit and caboodle with fresh soil come late summer just as you get ready to bring it in for the winter months. You won鈥檛 want to bring in any pests that just might move into the plant鈥檚 soil while it鈥檚 decorating your patio this summer.
Good luck and happy Diggin鈥� In!
Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Diggin鈥� In, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, 7777 Jefferson NE, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.
