cloud cover in June, which minimizes
sunscald. Plantings that have been hard pruned will re-grow and fill in
much quicker now than at any other time of year. Walk around your property
and check trees and shrubs that have dead wood, hollow trunks or crossing/rubbing
limbs. Slate these for removal before hurricane season gets more active.
· Bugs are still busy. Disease can be a problem now. Water
only in the morning to avoid mildew on roses and crape myrtle. If plants
are close together or growing quickly, open plants up for better air circulation.
Green Thoughts: I applaud the use of palms in the landscape,
but I never stop being amazed about what some gardeners do with them.
Homeowners regularly use areca palms as foundation plantings and then
are surprised when their trees start banging into the eaves. Those who
plant queen palms as street trees or in parking lots find that they grow
into utility lines and get fried or die from manganese sulfate deficiency,
also known as frizzle top.
Cities and homeowners that have queen, royal, pygmy date, paurotis,
or sago palms should include an annual application of manganese sulfate
in their yearly maintenance budgets.
Most of the small palms are shade-loving because they are understory
palms in nature. You can plant these shade-lovers (Cat palm, bamboo palms
and parlor palms) fairly close to the house. Unfortunately, few sun-loving
palms are small.
PLANT OF THE MONTH
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
The royal poinciana symbolizes the beginning of summer with its vivid
blooms of orange, red and sometimes yellow. Nothing in the flowering tree
world can quite equal a royal poinciana for sheer gaudiness during full
bloom.
Proper siting is essential so the full beauty can be displayed and the
negatives minimized. The tree's good points include the exquisite flower
display, the shade provided by the great umbrella _shaped crown and its
hardiness. It does well in sunny, dry locations without baby-sitting.
But these pretty trees do have some negatives _ branch and twig drop,
messy pods, fine leaves that clog gutters and pool pumps as well as some
staining. Shallow roots grab extra water, and lawns and other plantings
have a rough time growing under the tree. The tree casts heavy shade in
summer and is totally bare for several months during the winter.
Watering may cause leaves to remain on the tree longer, but too much
disturbs the bloom cycle, causing a scattering of blooms over a longer
period. Irrigated trees may also develop root rot and have decay problems.
Pruning must be done carefully as the softwood rots easily.
The royal poinciana is a big tree and needs a large open space so that
the full spread of the crown can be accommodated. Expect 40-foot heights
and 60-foot _plus horizontal spreads. This is a good tree for highways
and unirrigated parks where its beauty can brighten the landscape and care
is not routinely provided.
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Origin — Madagascar
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Salt tolerance — Medium
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Foliage — Green and delicate
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Drought tolerance — High
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Growth rate — Fast
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Nutritional requirements — Low
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Propagation — Seed
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Light requirements — High
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Problems — Weak, messy, staining
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Soil requirements — Well drained, not good in heavy soils
"Id rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck".
Emma Goldman
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