How To Plant Properly
Too many of us think that the deeper we sow seed and put our plants, the better they grow. Actually the opposite is true. Roots require air just as we do, and the deeper you plant them, particularly in properly prepared soils, the less air they get. As a result the less root growth you will have, and the less growth at the top of the plant. Roots of most plants should be barely beneath the surface. If you are worrying about the hot sun drying out the surface, then a mulch will correct that.
Gardening like other sports has its terms that we are supposed to know. just as when you play golf there are certain words you learn to use, just so we should try to do it in gardening. Yet I know of one good gardener who still insists on calling labels “sticks.” And its equally important that we try to learn the names of the plants that we have. It isnt necessary to know the scientific or Latin names but you should describe the plant not just as a shrub but as whatever it may be”a spirea or viburnum, cotoneaster and so on. You will learn many of these through reading the articles in Flower G Garden, reading the ads, and sending for the many catalogs offered.
About Viburnums
Viburnums are a fascinating group of shrubs. Many of them are native. Very common in the North is the black haw found growing along the edges of the woods. Somewhat similar, more common in fence rows or fields, is the sheepberry, sometimes called nannyberry. And found quite often on hummocks in bogs is the American cranberry bush, Vibunum trilobum. And from other parts of the world come Viburnum carlesi and its hybrids Chenaulti and juddi. All of these have fragrant snowball-like flowers in the spring.
The Burkwood viburnum has equally fragrant flowers and semi-evergreen foliage. For beautiful blooms and gorgeous autumn color try the Japanese snowball and its parent the doublefile viburnum. Both of these are magnificent shrubs and do not have the lice that curl the twigs and leaves on the common snowball. For fall and winter house plants and fruit, besides the American cranberry bush viburnum, the black haw and the nannyberry, try the linden viburnum (dilatatum) and the native witherod viburnum (cassinoides).
An excellent grower in sun or shade is the wayfaring tree (lantana). And for large foliage and a big shrub up to 25 feet or more we have the Siebold viburnum. One of the loveliest of all with evergreen foliage is the leatherleaf viburnum (rhytidophyllum). Available in a few nurseries is the hybrid between this and the wayfaring tree, Viburnum rhytidophylloides.