Gardening
Good Things Growing… In The Gardens
Fred Spicer, Executive Director
Many small flowering trees bloom in the spring. Halesia diptera var. magniflora, called the large-flowered two-winged silverbell, is probably not on everyone’s “top five” lists, but perhaps it should be. The species is native from southeast TX, through LA, MS and AL into the FL panhandle and southern GA, with outlying populations in AR and SC. More research is needed to determine if the largeflowered forms, restricted to southwest GA and adjacent FL and possibly AL, warrant varietal status or are just local anomalies. Wherever its taxonomic affinity lies, this is a lovely small tree with excellent heat tolerance and no pest problems. Happiest in half shade and evenly moist soils, it adapts well to drier and more exposed sites (if given an occasional drink during hard droughts) even if the soil is rocky or clayey. A young specimen in the Forman Garden flowers in late March to early April for about two weeks and the lightly fragrant flowers, aptly named (above right), hold up well. In youth the growth habit is upright and pyramidal (left) but the plant widens with age, assuming a rather tidy, arching umbrella-like shape to about 25’ and slightly wider. I think the best way to grow this species is to train it to a single leader and elevate the canopy a little. This puts the flowers at eye/nose level. H. tetraptera, mountain silverbell, is a shrubbier plant and is more amenable to growing with multiple trunks. The green fruits look like smooth peach pits with two wings, and are often taken by small mammals and some birds. Fall color is a deep yellow (below right).
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Alan Weakley writes, “The genus was named to honor Stephen Hales; it therefore seems more appropriate to pronounce the genus with three syllables (the accent on the first) than the commonly heard four, which thoroughly distorts the honoree’s name.” Thus HAILS-e-uh and not huhLEEZ-e-uh. The epithet diptera comes from di+ptera meaning two wings; the “p” is voiced, which thoroughly distorts its Greek roots!
Garde ning Tips for March & April
March
FRUITS AND NUTS - Continue strawberry and grape plantings. Bud apples and peaches. Start planting blackberries. SHRUBS - Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias) according to a soil test. Late plantings may be made, particularly if they are container-grown. Watch shrubs for harmful insects. LAWNS - Fertilize established lawns. ROSES - Watch new growth for aphids. Begin a spray or dust program. Begin fertilizing. ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS - Tender annuals may be planted in South Alabama. Check garden centers for bedding plants. BULBS - Plant gladiolus every two or three weeks if a long blooming season is desired. Plant tuberous begonias in pots. Plant dahlias. MISCELLANEOUS - Check and repair sprayers, dusters, and lawn mowers. Control lawn weeds with chemicals. Delay pruning of fruiting shrubs such as cotoneasters, pyracanthas, and hollies until after flowering. VEGETABLE SEEDS - Plant hardy crops recommended for January and February. After danger of frost is past, plant tender vegetables.
April
FRUITS AND NUTS - Season for strawberry planting continues. Start spray program for all fruits. Plant raspberries and blackberries and continue budding apples and peaches. SHRUBS - Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering. Fertilize azaleas and camellias. When new growth is half completed, spray all shrubs with a fungicide. LAWNS - Planting continues. New lawns may need supplementary watering. Also, fertilize at 3- to 6-week intervals. Keep ryegrass cut low, particularly if over planted on bermuda lawns. ROSES - Watch for insects and diseases. Keep old flower heads removed. Plant container-grown plants from garden centers. ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS - Plant annuals or bedding plants from garden centers. Divide mums or root cuttings. Dig and divide dahlias. BULBS - Plant gladiolus, fancy-leaved caladiums, milk and wine lilies, and ginger and gloriosa lilies. Feed bearded iris with superphosphate and spray for borers. Avoid cutting foliage of narcissus or other bulbs until it has turned brown naturally. MISCELLANEOUS - Spray camellias, hollies, etc., for scale insects. Carefully water new plantings of shrubs and trees. Pinching out tips of new shoots promotes more compact shrubs. VEGETABLE SEED - Plant tender vegetables such as beans, corn, squash, melons, and cucumbers. VEGETABLE PLANTS - Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, and parsley Courtesy of
For more information, see www.aces.edu or call the Plant Hotline at 800.644.4458. www.aces.edu