A. It depends on what you want to do? Like most
things in gardening, it's relative. If you're talking about a small
area, and only 6-8" of soil, that's okay. If you're looking at a
wider area to the drip line, 6 - 8" of soil would be harmful. Remember
never to bank soil or mulch up to the trunk of the tree. Create
a doughnut-bed, so the soil is around the tree, but away from the
trunk. If you do this around oak trees, and then water in your new
plants, I promise you that you will end up with a crowd of young
oak sprouts! So beware!
|
 Flame
Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) This is a
great plant, but one that is greatly unappreciated. Tubular orange
flowers that draw hummingbirds and butterflies accent the soft green,
small leaves. It’s drought tolerant and doesn’t need
fertilizer to perform well. But people don’t like it because
they let it get scraggly. All you have to do is keep it sheared.
Take it back by 1/3 after each bloom cycle. In winter, cut it back
to 6” above the ground. This will give it a fuller form which
is more pleasing to many gardeners.
|
Time to prune all the scraggly perennials, like salvia greggii.
That includes the buddleias. Trim then now for better flower production
and watch the butterflies lines up. Water wisely with a good soaking—check
the soil with your fingers to see if you’ve watered enough
to get past the mulch (which you’ve already applied, right?!).
Remember that soil needs time to absorb the water, so be sure to
apply enough to do that.
|
