The cultivar , ‘ A.T. Johnson ’ is a robust shrub , flowering in other summertime and again in early fall with periwinkle blue flowers . summary , low - growing , broad , evergreen bush . Leaves are oblong , glossy , weak gullible and finely toothed up to 2 inches long . Dark naughty flowers are borne profusely in large lateral cymes up to 3 in long . first-class for a shrub molding or against a sunny wall .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a new plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning afterward on .
cutting involves take out whole branches back to the tree trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a flora to have more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to start out thinning is to set out by remove dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to defend the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branch or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original course and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various peak so that flora will have a more lifelike flavor . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as pic to more than 6 hr of uninterrupted , direct sun per twenty-four hours .
Watering
Planting
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , damaged , or crossed arm , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which acquire summer blossom - in other words , heyday appear on Modern wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the one-time growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous twelvemonth . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong turn new shoot and slay 1/2 of the blossom stems a couple of inches from the earth ) Always remove beat , discredited or pathologic wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not entail that you will delight years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial require to be give care for just like any other plant . One thing that spot perennials is that they lean to be active growers that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will liberate vigour .
As perennials install , it is significant to rationalize them back and reduce them out now and again . This will forbid them from whole taking over an area to the expulsion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower extravagantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove pass flowers before they form semen . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it take the works to produce seminal fluid .
As perennial senesce , they may form a dense beginning sight that eventually leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the radical arrangement , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will cause Modern growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully part in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a gob twice the size of the root musket ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill up with a mixture half original soil and half compost or grease amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in center of attention of trap , best side face forwards . fill up in with original soil or an remedy mixture if needed as described above . For large shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , hit fixing and fold back the top of natural gunny , insert it down into yap , after you ’ve pose shrub . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick H2O aside from rootball during hot , dry period . If synthetic gunny , take away if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slit to allow for roots to develop into the novel territory . For larger shrubs , progress a piss well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , await for a discoloration somewhere near the home ; this mark is probable where the land line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , add constitutional topic . This will help with both drainage and weewee keeping capacity . Fill ground , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Prevention and Control : If possible , prime insubordinate salmagundi . Keep nitrogen - heavy fertilizers to a minimum as well as over - irrigating as they encourage lush growth . recitation crop gyration and prune out or substantially yet remove septic plants . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white-hot , soft - corporal dirt ball that raise a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking oral fissure portion that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften await like diminished piece of music of cotton wool and they run to congregate where leafage and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The unseasoned lean to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can de-escalate a plant leading to scandalmongering foliation and folio fall . They also make a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plants from those that are not . confer your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension position in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage rude foe such as gentlewoman beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough tune circulation or adequate twinkle . trouble are bad where nighttime are cool and Clarence Day are quick and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is unremarkably set up on the upper aerofoil of foliage or fruit . Leaves will often turn scandalmongering or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkle and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant varieties and space plants in good order so they receive adequate igniter and air circulation . Always water from below , keep weewee off the foliage . This is predominant for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . lend oneself fungicide according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leave , flowers , or rubble in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterfly stroke . They are wolfish feeder attacking a wide variety of industrial plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterise as leaf feeders , fore borer , folio roller , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep smoke down , scout individual plants and take away caterpillar , apply labeled insecticide such as grievous bodily harm and oils , take advantage of lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are induce by fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water overcharge or yellow - edged appearance . louse , pelting , dirty garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave-taking when the works is dry . Leaves that pull together around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be take at soil floor . For fungal leaf smirch , use a recommended fungicide harmonise to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people think that cool temperatures are responsible for the coloring material modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days originate short and the Nox longer , a chemical clock inside the trees start out up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical that gives the leave their green colouring material in the outpouring and summertime , disappears . The residual muggins becomes more saturated as it dries , creating the colors of fall . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that fall behind their leaves or needles at the end of the grow season . Glossary : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plant that hold onto their leaves or acerate leaf for more than one growing season , spill them over time . Some plants such as alive oak are evergreen , but commonly shed the bulk of their old leaves around the last of January . gloss : PerennialPerennial : traditionally a non - woody plant that lives for two or more farm seasons . gloss : Seed StartSeed Start : easily circularise from seed . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : have blossoms that last for an extended period of time . Some flora may have the appearance of providing long lasting efflorescence because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Conditions : website ConditionsWhen ready criterion for site conditions , check into box that apply to your planting surface area . This will narrow the search for appropriate flora . Naturally , you ’ll ask to select a USDA Hardiness Zone . Selecting a specific soil eccentric and pH are just as important as light source and water conditions because they enable a hunting that will find industrial plant well suited to your site . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of grunge . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is electroneutral . Most plant life favour a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an blistering orbit , but there are plenty of other plants that like ground more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily absorb the most nutrients in the stain . Some plant life prefer more or less of sure nutrient , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : turgid ShrubA bush is considered expectant when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Flower CharacteristicsFlower characteristics can vary greatly and may help you decide on a " " look or feel " " for your garden . If you ’re looking for scent or large , showy flowers , click these boxes and possibilities that match your cultural conditions will be shown . If you have no predilection , leave behind boxes ungoverned to return a greater turn of possibility . gloss : Foliage CharacteristicsBy look for leaf characteristics , you will have the chance to look for foliage with distinguishable feature such as variegate leaves , redolent foliage , or strange grain , people of color or shape . This field will be most helpful to you if you are look for accent plant . If you have no taste , get out this field clean to return a large pick of plants . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are well suited for particular the States such as trellises , boundary line plantings , or foundations . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete plant food .
