Gardenscapes in Peru - more gardening tips

Our resident gardner Nellie recently visited Peru with her son. Dahlias are pictured here growing wild in the Andes of Peru, among Inca ruins. They are native to Mexico and Central America, as are many of our ornamental flowers and shrubs. The cactus in the background indicates dry conditions, and thin, rocky soils. When buying seeds and plants for your garden, consider where they originated to learn the optimum growth conditions.

Nellie and her son are pictured in a central square in Lima, Peru. Towns and cities had formal plantings of bedding plants in central squares and parks. The landscape in the countryside was beautiful and dramatic with crops, fruit trees, and gardens lining the roadways with little need for ornamental plants.

Evergreens susceptible to foliage burn

With the advent of winter, we are concerned about the drying out of evergreen trees and shrubs. Lack of water, drying winds, and salt spray can all result in foliage burn and plant decline. If you have small evergreen trees or shrubs, boxwood,  or evergreens along the road you can minimize damage by making sure they are watered well(soil is not dry), wrap the plant with burlap, or if it is is small, spray with anti-desiccant such as wilt-pruf. If you still have foliage burn, trim off branches in the spring and fertilize.