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gardening
GETTING TO WORK
Karen Graham of Perfect Poppy uses forced branching to create arrangements with flair and style.
SPRING IS JUST AROUND the corner. Many
Cowetans have traditions associated with spring planting — including planting vegetable gardens on Good Friday. Others with green thumbs are more focused on a plant that will bloom than one that will provide something to eat. For all gardeners, there are some practices that can provide a head start to the spring garden season. Forced branching is a way to get some plant growth under way earlier, though you still have to wait until nature does much of the work. Karen Graham, who owns and operates the Perfect Poppy, a downtown Newnan florist, does a lot of forced branching, particularly with curly willow.
“It’s actually quite simple. You’re forcing nature,” Graham said. Forced branching may be a bit strong of a term for what is done. An Internet article on the topic suggested calling it “gentle coaxing,” which might be more accurate. Forced branching is generally done with a woody-type plant “when it is almost ready to bloom,” Graham said. “You force it to go ahead — to bloom when it’s not quite time.” Forced branching can be done with apple, cherry and crabapple. “They have little buds,” Graham said. When the branch is cut and brought inside where the temperature is warmer, the plant may bloom in a few days “depending on how far along the little buds are.” Generally, you recut the bottom when the
Written by W. WINSTON SKINNER | Photographed by AARON HEIDMAN
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