Landscape Notes

• planted ~100 daffodil bulbs this weekend
• all of the dwarf burning bushes have dropped their leaves
• forsythia bushes have about 40% of their leaves
• semi-sheltered hosta plants are still green
• Louisiana iris bed is approaching capacity
• weather has been mild & fairly dry

war

CG has realized that most of his forsythia are having problems with clay-heavy soil. 

A few weeks ago, he experimented with 3 different ways to win the war against bad dirt. 

            1. Forsythia A: 
                completely dug-up, rinsed all clay/dirt from root system
                used 5ft of 6" edging material to form above-ground circular planter
                filled planter with premium home-made dirt
                re-planted forsythia and re-mulched (edging is hidden by mulch)
  
            2. Forsythia B:
                completely dug-up, rinsed all clay/dirt from root system
                removed 4ft diameter circle of clay/dirt (4" deep)
                back-filled with 5" of premium home-made dirt
                re-planted forsythia and re-mulched

            3. Forsythia C:
                completely dug-up, rinsed all clay/dirt from root system
                back-filled hole with top soil 
                packed 3" of premium home-made dirt on top of back-filled hole
                re-planted forsythia and re-mulched

Each forsythia was marked with its corresponding letter. Hopefully by the end of March, the best approach towards winning the war against bad dirt can be identified and implemented before the Summer's scorching heat begins.

Saffron

the fall crocus got a late start,

they were planted towards the end of September

CG had given-up on the chances of even seeing a sprout,

so even if there's not a bloom this year-

it has already been a pleasant surprise.

Maybe in a couple of years,

CG will be able to trade saffron for non-purple iris