Pruning All aboutfor the gardening lychee tree tree strength Ground covers
16 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, August 6, 2021
An example of a weak branch angle susceptible to splitting. This type of branch should be removed.
GOOD day gardeners! Often ByGOOD ADAM BOORMAN day, gardeners! there are areas in a yard•Time that flies, can Tribune Reporter •theI yes? TimeFeatures is subjective also. Had be difficult to find a plant to fill acadet@tribunemedia.net plantedIt amay lychee (Litchi chinensis space. be underneath trees Sonn/Nephelium litchi where doesn’t grow so NOWlawn that grass we have hadCambess) the first from on seed 15north orseason 20 side years I might well, ofago, a through, building storm ofthe the pass have athe fewsun lychee fruit from that where does not pruning is again on myshine to-dodirectly, listtree in byanow to enjoy. Until then, they are a in rocky or low spot that is either the garden. We had some small trees demanding shade tree at best. dry or wet,down etcetera. getNot blown in that (fortunately) particularly fast ground growing, the There are some good cover weak tropical system Isaias, and it lychee takes its time to mature, and plants that are also excellent as fillreminds me that tree pruning needs this or is the reason that layering ers, to put thea air ground (or to continue. It into is also great exists. Commercially, they are time laypots!) to simply, cover the ground. to prune hedges, shrubs, perennials, ered for propagation as they grow the shade or semi-shade, and anything branching. of a In strong enough rootstockMuch byI lean that toward Liriope muscari (lilyturf) the garden should be growing quite method and remain true to type. It is or Queen, quickly thischoicest time of year. Macho, If your saidferns thatat(Kimberly the varieties have Boston, Liriope is very well garden not growing quickly it may greater isetcetera). variation in offspring quality, suited for dry locations, although it be worth doing some fertilizing to and that the seed of the lychee is only will tolerate short times with saturagreen and boost branching, flowerviable for four to five days, so it is not tion if the isis well drained. The ing and rootsoil development. For those something that recommended to maximum height is typically around buyusfrom sources over the of that unknown are relegated to our own 18” to 24”, and it stem is a clumping everinternet. Itodo not have 15 orspread 20 years property help the of green thatyour resembles a hedge grass, to waitplant on those fruit, if you have got COVID-19, get clippers, but it well, is saws noteventually a or true grass. kids, they may thank shears, scissors out and get Liriope is moderately toleryou for planting some ofsalt them. It trimming! ant, is wind tolerant, drought certainly does not plant them It’sit important tohurt do to aand few things anyway; every tree benefits every tolerant. Inwhen some liriope is one cut correctly itplaces, comes to prunForproperly sunnythey locations, one At of the my base where can thrive. without allowing for of us. LIRIOPE MUSCARI back down to the ground once a year, heal ing larger trees, and even medium go-to or plants is purslane. of are the Redlands in South FloridaOne there are pests disease to intrude. Here If you are seeking lychee fruit in a usually around February beforefrom new more popular varieties being used and small trees will benefit lycheehelpful grovespointers that are profaster steps. time though, if you some forhighly pruning: portulacastrum). growth startsframe pushing in “springthese Primarily, it the isand all about lately isincalled Puerto Rican pursductive the good years (theytwigs are have space for only a tree or two espe• Dead, dying or unsightly time”. It growsangles. back inWider quickly and apparently the branching angles quite cyclical), and when lane.branches. It is the lowest growing and best Its foliage can cially, do not with Tighter seeding and be picked and fills quite fasteven whenbother it is happy. make for stronger branching. I was roaming the area a performing under dry, sunny condithem. Layer friend or • Sprouts growing near the base of eaten out of hand, Liriope is afrom slowaweak feeder, andneighit is few angles make for branching. weeks ago the trees tions. Its bright and vibrant flowers bour’s tree or to buy from a reputable the trunk. although it is recommended use a timed-release Early corrective pruning when the were loaded, but thefor fruitare great attractors pollinators SLOW to grow and a desupplier. Now, don’t get upset with me • Crossed branches and branches slightly salty it can a nutrient supplement (fertilizer) tree is young is the efficient way to reputaing season in that location manding tree, you than will have and are a cheerful delight when in if you’ve justaseeded some andasyou’ve pruning, still a growing toward the current centre of earned the the beOther boiled with a bleit is rather than quick release, they supplier, prevent much heavier work in the is finished now. The fruits of your sucfull bloom. got the space to plant them and let very active season for garden change or lychee. two of or to pests. are not able to absorb the fast air future. Try grow to encourage the release crotch tree. issue nowRican for lychee in is thea groundcess if you cultivate Puerto purslane them grow, them! If you’re practicing gooda IPM • Narrow crotches. If it is possible water to reduce alayer lower cost fertilizers due to their relnew than too angles on trees branches to very be at hugging(other perennial thatmuch has a tight, (integrated pest Lychee are not saltleast tol- region management) proto doand so without ruining theI’ve appearsaltiness, and the atively slow feeding habits. tree from humidity) is a mite 45 degrees from the upright, main horizontal growth habit. seen gramme, erant or wind tolerant and they are heat hopefully all of your garden stems can also be ance of the tree, remove one of the There are few pest issues for lirian existing that is affecting groves. The trunk, up toin90a protected degrees. location This is used wonderfully as a mass planting best planted iseaten not negatively affected bybe them at raw even tree.orThe fruits can quite ope environment; scalewind can forming the crotch. mite at a issue is and called the Erinose especially to preferably create with in fullour tobeneficial part shade, in members to cover sunny dryweak hillside, that fruiting this point. Continue to monitor for variable in size and texture, as well pickled. sometimes affect them if there is limmite. It creates galls on the leaf and This helps to prevent future storm tolerance a relatively(hurricane deep soil alley….!), base. Theyand are gave an incredible display of color crawling and as in thepurslane timeflying of year that and theypests. fruit is supposedly quite difficult free to eradiSea isinsects ited airflow, simple horticultural oil damage. particularly trees that a strong treeawith with afruit slow to medium while being maintenance and in. As per the initial reference noted As earlier mentioned, it may be time cate. It is microscopic and too small found on dunes and marshes, along spray can easily control any potential • Multiple leaders. If more than bear more than average very easy to manage. There are many growth rateweight and they havethe a relatively there are many varieties that to see by eye, but gallsononathe leaf of below, to get some plant nutrients down the high tide mark in bays and estuissues with pests. All around, liriope leader develops tree that non-fruiting tree. Allowing wind to thick foliage to make a medium to one varietieswillofconfirm purslane, some with have been prized in its native ranges lychee the presence of to support stronger pest resistance, aries. This is a primary plant to use is an easy plant, with good coverage, normally has a single stem, cut out easily through shade, a tree isbut always heavy move low hanging they larger leaves, and they have been in China, but they branching, areseashore limited as to them. To the best of my knowledge wind resistance, rootwhen re-establishing dunes and is relatively maintenance free all but one to encourage the tree to are work highly susceptible to the nutrient less that cleaning up mess bred research, to display we many different colour what is available commercially even and do not yet have after storms or in reconstruction. The ing, flowering, and fruiting except if while doing an excellent job at prodevelop its normal shape. deficiencies, OK? The of the options, from yellow to red, pinks, left from a tree that thehistory wind moved they are grown through Asia, Erionose mite present in may the though other edible variety is considered viding a simple green groundcover. your fruit tree has fruit on it now. If • Remove branches that distribution of the lychee is complex the rather than moved through. purples, and combinations with bi- Southern Africa, and in the Ameri-a Bahamas. weedtree by many, it pops upitseemingly Use as an has fruit left on after the and quite fascinating if you are up for develop into potential hazards such your Always remove dead wood from coloured and have been being transported Lychee are grown successfully to cas out of nowhere, and will grow edging, ashrubs. a follow read, cite thewood first referwind blew through, wait until a fewin low-hanging branches that intertrees andup Dead adds as hundreds of years.and The lychee our north and south, andflowers. there are for ence noted cracks in the asphalt just about filler, or a below. weeks after the fruiting has finished with traffic and weakened or unnecessary weight, wind resistance fere There are a grandelse history, that again I suglarge fruiting trees right here in New has The soils in ourpests archipelago are dead anywhere it can take hold. mass to begin adding nutrients. Fruiting branches that may break. and itplantcan harbour and disease. edible taking a few minutes to read Providence. It is possibletwo to grow a gest (generally and dead variably) alkaline Portulaca oleracea is spreadfertilizworlding or even trees a different • Single branches other than itthe Termites enjoy wood as well! fruiting of onneed if youquite are interested. To conlychee tree, but asvarieties usual, is up and lychee’s native range is an acidic wide through the horticultural trade in planters ing routine than non-fruiting trees. sometimes develop faster Where to cut is as important as how leader purslane, recommended to either source from clude, plant lychee in a protected and is most somewhere your and treeslikely typically do notinneed They need to cut.pots. For trees, the final cut after than the rest of the tree. one is a Native yard! It can be eaten raw on salads Liriope is to be fertilized, except maybe when tree to branch removal should be made at to be cut back to allow the native that etcetera as well. stronger So, depending on atheversatile branch collar so that the tree can develop its normal shape. grows on young to promote and faster where you may have a bare area of ground the seaside ground that you wish to cover, liricover called, get PURSLANE flowers bloom plant, and I alongside the trail in the Portu- this….. sea ope works very well in shade, and purslane works very well in the sun. highly reclaca Garden in Tien Giang in the purslane Both are low maintenance plants, ommend Mekong Delta, Vietnam (Sesuvium it! that are carefree and best when let to
Adam Boorman
establishment. If there are no native location away from wind and salt trees Choose in your an yard, consider spray. areaplease with deep soils orgive more, if you havesupthe ifplanting possibleone and them ample space. If you do notthroughout have space the for plemental nutrients a native tree or more, in native shrubs year. As with anything our region will encourage balance in the garden there will be pest problems, but I just asnot well as native trees. to attack have noticed anything SEA best PURSLANE wish you all of the theI lychee to the point whereduring drasthese difficult isand trying Keep times.anI tic remediation necessary. be. on What could easier than eye your young and trythat? to encourage you to be gettrees into the garden, Some folks are already preparing keep the leaf a medium green colour, get to pruning and trimming, get to for the veggie growing season, even though some colour variation fertilizing where necessary, andthose get busy bees that are anxious to get exists between the named varieties. to composting. Please, plant a native going may Happy gardening, and as beginning always, tree or again shrub. Pay consider attention to trees seeding some of the veggood luck! when they are young to tougher avoid probgies like peppers, maybe lems withcorn, themokra, in the future. As • Adam Boorman the nursery cucumber and beets, everyone will always, I wish you happyis gardening! manager at the HillofNursery. You have their ownFox way doing it. As can contact himyou withhappy any questions always, I wish garden• Adam Boorman is the nursery you mayishave, orto topics you would ing! Here a link a Nursery. veg chart that manager at the FoxtoHill You like see discussed, may help some to decide when to at get can contact him with any questions gardening242@gmail.com. going: https://www.foxhillnursery.biz/ you may have, or topics you would veg-chart.htmllike to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com. • Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.
