Last Friday I decided to see if I could do some rearranging that I had been wanting to do for quite some time. My Turk's Cap , Malvaviscus drummondii , was in a container underneath the wax myrtle and had managed to root itself through the drainage holes. The pot was leaning and the Turk's Cap really needed to be relocated.
As it happens, I have a small raised bed right next to it with only the native honeysuckle and a recently planted mandevilla, which hadn't had a chance to get going yet.
As you can see, it's a pretty decent sized plant. It was definitely time to move on from it's little container.
The next task was to dig a hole for it in the raised bed. This proved more difficult that I expected.
On a hot and humid day I was trying to dig through a mass of roots which almost proved too much for me. I ended up getting in there with snippers and cutting roots to enable me to dig a hole big enough for planting.
The roots appeared to be coming from all directions, so I think there was a combination of honeysuckle, Wax Myrtle and even Turk's Cap roots in there.
Anyway, after several breaks of sitting in the shade of the pine tree, and drinking at least a gallon of ice tea, I finally got the Turk's Cap replanted.
I'm really happy with how it fills the raised bed, and it hides the bare lower stems of the native honeysuckle (as well as the "volunteer" millet that the birds planted behind the trellis).
To learn more about Turk's Cap, visit:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/malvaviscusdrum.htm
The Mandevilla got a new home too. I planted it in the container that the Turk's Cap came out of (after it was well cleaned, of course) and set it by the trellis on the western fence.
To learn more about Mandeville, visit:
http://floridata.com/Plants/Apocynaceae/Mandevilla%20spp./68
Finally, to let me know she approved of my rearranging the garden, this little hummingbird stopped by. (she was actually browsing the native honeysuckle while I was taking a break in the shade, but I didn't get a picture until later, when she visited one of the feeders.
I think my gardening for the rest of the summer will be confined to gently pulling weeds, in the early mornings or in the evenings.
No more digging in the heat of the day for me!
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
2 comments:
Congratulations on getting that Turk's cap moved - and not a moment too soon, I'd say! They can get to be quite large with an extensive root system so moving one can be a big job. I'm sure it will be a lot happier in its new spot. One other thing - they are very tolerant of pruning, so if you need to keep it pruned to fit its new space, don't hesitate!
Hi Jayne,
You are so right blogging once a month is just not good enough.I visit you almost daily just to have a look at what you are up to.It keeps mum and I in touch with you and Eric,I'm joking you have had a busy month.Love you,Dad
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