Creating a stunning garden with flowering trees and shrubs can be an enriching and rewarding experience. Here’s a comprehensive guideto help you choose and care for the best plants to enhance the beauty of your yard throughout the year.
Selecting the Right Trees and Shrubs
1. Crape Myrtles
Description: Crape myrtles are a favorite in the South due to their long blooming period from mid-summer to fall. Their vibrant clusters of flowers come in pink, white, red, and lavender.
Care Tips:
These trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune them in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth and more blooms.
2. Saucer Magnolias
Description: Known for their large, saucer-shaped blooms, these trees provide a striking display in early spring with flowers that can be as large as saucers.
Care Tips: Plant saucer magnolias in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. Minimal pruning is needed, typically only to shape the tree or remove dead branches.
3. Rose of Sharon
Description: Often mistaken for a tree, the Rose of Sharon is actually a tall flowering shrub. It blooms late in the season, providing continuous color from mid-summer to fall.
Care Tips:
This shrub prefers full sun and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions. Prune in early spring to control size and shape.
4. Weeping Cherry Trees
Description: These trees are known for their graceful, cascading branches covered in beautiful spring blossoms. They add a sense of movement and elegance to any garden.
Care Tips: Plant weeping cherry trees in full sun with well-drained soil. Prune after flowering to maintain shape and remove any dead or diseased wood.
5. Hawthorn
Description: Hawthorn trees bloom later in the spring, extending the flowering season in your garden. Their flowers are followed by attractive berries that provide interest into the fall.
Care Tips: Hawthorns prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They require minimal pruning, usually just to remove dead or damaged branches.
Planting and Maintenance
Planting Tips:
Timing: The best time to plant most flowering trees and shrubs is in the spring or fall when temperatures are cooler, and plants are less stressed.
Location: Choose a location with the right amount of sunlight and suitable soil conditions for each plant. Ensure there is enough space for them to grow to their full size.
Watering:
Newly planted trees and shrubs need regular watering until they are established. After that, water them during dry spells to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding:
Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to provide the necessary nutrients for growth and flowering. Organic compost can also be beneficial.
Pruning:
Pruning helps to maintain the health and appearance of your plants. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches and shape the plant as needed. The best time to prune most flowering trees is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
By carefully selecting and tending to flowering trees and shrubs, you can create a garden that offers vibrant colors and beauty throughout the seasons. Whether you choose the long-blooming crape myrtle, the majestic saucer magnolia, or the graceful weeping cherry, each plant will contribute to a stunning and dynamic landscape.