My backyard contains quite a few salvias. This genus, the most important within the Sage plant household, is widespread on the earth, with 600 species in Central America and South America, 250 species in Central Asia and the Mediterranean, and 90 species in Japanese Asia.
Salvias are good candidates for the backyard due to the genus’ variety in measurement, blossom coloration, and bloom season. It grows simply all through the Bay Space and, as soon as established, doesn’t require irrigation. I’ve referred to them as “tremendous shrubs.”
Within the late winter or early spring, most salvias will be reduce low, to about 6 inches excessive and even much less, to create space for the brand new development. I’ve sometimes allow them to develop with out seasonal pruning for a couple of years and watched them unfold commonly (not too vigorously) and develop bigger sizes than work properly within the backyard.
There are 4 pruning classes of salvia, so it’s good to know the vegetation, and even perhaps to group them by their pruning wants. The classes with examples are:
Rosette-growing, herbaceous perennials, e.g., the favored Hummingbird Sage (S. spathecea)
Evergreen, woody species, e.g., the winter-blooming Pink & White Wagner’s Sage (S. wagneriana)
Deciduous, woody-stem varieties, e.g., the favored S. mexicana ‘Limelight’
Deciduous or semi-evergreen varieties with comfortable stems, e.g., the broadly grown Mexican Bush Sage (S. leucantha)
This 12 months, with helpers, we closely pruned many of the Salvias, thinned out a couple of of the spreaders, and scanned the massive mattress for weeds. The density of the Salvia assortment denied weed seeds the solar publicity they require, so there have been few weeds to drag.
This pruning diminished the Salvia mattress to multi-stemmed stumps, however most of the vegetation have already created new branches and blossoms. The spring bloomers will proceed their shows into the autumn, and the summer season, fall, and winter bloomers will contribute their shows.
At present’s column features a sampling of the Salvias now in bloom. There’s extra to return!
Pond algae replace
Final week’s column included my preliminary plan to manage algae within the small above-ground pond on my patio.
After I seen underwater clouds of algae in my pond, I reacted to the issue with regular weed management: pull weeds from backyard beds earlier than they propagate. That’s not as satisfying with filamentous algae, which seems to be like inexperienced cotton sweet and seems like slop.
The subsequent response was to seek out an herbicide that might reduce future algae development. I quickly situated two EPA-approved merchandise that declare to be protected for pond vegetation and fish.
Native backyard facilities provide AlgaeFix. It claims to be efficient in killing algae however urges fixed aeration of the pond to switch the oxygen that’s produced by the algae.
A mail-order product, Mizzen, additionally claims to kill algae fairly properly, warns in opposition to use with trout, koi, or catfish (not in my pond), warns in opposition to unpermitted use in public waters (not my plan), and reportedly provides oxygen to the water. My very small fish want oxygen, so I ordered a pint of Mizzen.
Algaecide use includes figuring out the suitable dosage. AlgaeFix is obvious on the measurements: add one-quarter cup (i.e., two ounces) per 600 gallons of pond water. My pond is 6 by 6 ft throughout, 2 ft deep, and holds about 1,500 gallons of water, so 5 ounces of AlgaeFix can be right.
The applying of Mizzen was under no circumstances clear, so I adopted the AlgaeFix dosage. That was a mistake! Two days later, the Frequent Minnows in my pond had been floating. Apparently, Mizzen additionally pulls oxygen out of the water. I’ve been working the fountain to aerate the pond.
I haven’t but assessed the impact on the algae, however the report of my expertise quantities to “Learn the directions” and “Don’t proceed until the directions are clear.”
That column prompted feedback by a reader, who offered hyperlinks to useful on-line data. After following these hyperlinks and pursuing further sources, I’ve a brand new perspective on algae management.
The popular and extra pure method to algae management includes a variety of measures, too many to summarize on this column. The underside line is that ponds, with or with out fish, succeed finest with commonly scheduled monitoring and adjustment. When you’ve got or plan to have a pond, helpful data for upkeep is offered at www.conservationtechnology.com. Seek for “pond_other_plant” for algae management and “pond_water_biological” for organic controls.
Advance your data
The Cactus and Succulent Society of America will current the webinar, “Cactus Evolution and Hybridization with an Emphasis on Baja California Cacti” at 10 a.m., Saturday. Jon P. Rebman, Ph.D. will overview cactus variety within the Baja California area and talk about the taxonomic challenges of finding out opuntioids, particularly chollas (Cylindropuntia) and prickly pears (Opuntia). Throughout his discuss, Rebman will clarify how hybridization and chromosome quantity play an essential function in creating the cactus variety discovered within the area.
Jon Rebman has been the Mary and Dallas Clark Endowed Chair/Curator of Botany on the San Diego Pure Historical past Museum since 1996. Rebman is a plant taxonomist and conducts intensive floristic analysis on the Baja California peninsula and in San Diego and Imperial counties of California. He has intensive subject expertise, analysis, {and professional} service, together with at the moment because the director of the San Diego County Plant Atlas undertaking (www.sdplantatlas.org). To register for this free webinar, browse to cactusandsucculentsociety.org/.
The Pacific Horticulture Society has posted a set of brief video recordings on horticultural matters, grouped beneath two titles: Landscapes of Change and Pacific Plant Individuals. If you find yourself prepared for a break from gardening and open to broadening your data of this absorbing exercise, try these choices at www.pacifichorticulture.org/movies/.
The Society additionally has a sequence of podcasts within the type of conversations with educated specialists. Overview the listing of matters at www.pacifichorticulture.org/podcast/
Each the movies and podcasts are well-done and freely obtainable to your data and pleasure.
Take pleasure in your backyard!
Tom Karwin is previous president of Pals of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society, a Lifetime Member of the Monterey Bay Space Cactus & Succulent Society, and a Lifetime UC Grasp Gardener..
