It was quite a nice day here today. It got up to about 60 and was breezy but sunny.
Kallie had a friend over for a play date an they had a nice time swinging and enjoying the fresh air.
(No one in our house seemed bothered by cedar allergies today, thank goodness.)
So, while they were playing, I managed to prune back one big purple work bucket full of dead “stuff” from the Lantana, Indigo Spires and pruned back the roses.
I’ll have to do some research to learn how to prune the Lemon tree and the Peach tree…any suggestions out there?
Sorry, Can’t help with the lemon and peach tree. I was kind of surprised you are pruning the lantana and spires… do you just take your chances on freezing temps or do you not expect it to freeze there?
Your weather sounds perfect for a good swing.
Meems
Meems – thanks for visiting. I wasn’t pruning dead stuff, actually, I was pruning for shape on plants that haven’t frozen back yet in our mild freezes! Just tinkering mostly, for something to do. It will freeze again, probably this week, so I typically don’t cut the dead things back to the ground until Feb so I am not encouraging a bunch of new growth. We are so full of swing weather here, it’s unreal. It was 80 last week and supposed to be 26 in a couple of nights.
I have taken two classes on pruning trees and vines. You wouldn’t want me to touch anything in your garden with the felcos. I am a miserable failure at proper pruning.
The girls look like they are enjoying themselves. We enjoyed being out today too.
Lisa — our local gardening guru said on tv, now is the time and you have to be careful how you do it. But he didn’t elaborate, so now I guess I’ll look it up. It’s a pathetic peach tree, so I guess it’s time for me to pay a little attention to it. It’s been on its own for 3 years since I planted it. And it shows. Glad you had a nice day, too. How cold is it supposed to get up there next week?
I’d like to know about pruning the lemon trees too. All I ever do is to trim off dead branches. The lower branches protect the trunk from sun scald so should not be pruned. That is all I know. If they are in a pot they may need root pruning. I have also pruned a lot of stuff back even though I had a feeling that it was too early. I just had to do something to start all the cleaning up.
Lancashire Rose — So glad you commented. I didn’t know that the lower branches protect the tree from sun scald — that was what I was thinking about doing – pruning it up. It looks like a bush, really, and I thought that must be wrong and since I’ve never pruned it, figured it was time. Guess that’s my lesson not to just go out there willy nilly with my new Felco’s! Thanks.
came through blotanical—- the title of this post thought you had been to a jazz concert. Looks like this was a fun day… enjoying warmth. I was scraping ice of cars, sidewalks, steps. no lemon trees around here, but I am trying to grow rice in buckets.
Wayne — no jazz here today — just birds chirping and bees buzzing and kids laughing. Dogs sniffing, too. Rice in buckets, wow, that sounds fascinating. Sorry you are iced over — having lived in MN for 4+ years, I know how hard that is and how old it gets — fast. Wishing an early Spring!
I usually wait until mid-Feb to cut back my perennials, but to clean up the old garden at the house-for-sale, I spent the whole weekend cutting everything back. I’m not worried about it being too early. It’ll all be fine–tough stuff. Plus it gave me a chance to raid again. 😉
Sorry I can’t help you on the peach and lemon trees.
Pam — Raiding is good — you have such great places to fill in the new garden. Turns out I shouldn’t prune the lemon at all — it doesn’t “need” it and it’s been very happy this year – producing amazing fruit. So, I’m leaving it alone — I’d just assumed it should be pruned. You know that saying about assuming!
Diane,
When the guys were here to trim trees, Aaron, the arborist gave me a pruning lesson. I assured him that in the future I would be sure to call him to prune trees and shrubs!
Your daughter and her friend are having a good time!
gail
I need to visit you “way south” gardeners more often. Here I am huddled up in my long johns and sitting by the fire. I would much rather be worrying about pruning and weeds!
Sweet girls. What a blessing to be outside.
Robin Wedewer
National Gardening Examiner
P.S.
Going to Spring Fling this year? I hope so!
Robin – yes, visit more — literally and figuratively! I am going to the Fling — so looking forward to a big Chicago jaunt. Pam and I may go early even to get some other sightseeing in or stay later. Can’t wait to see everyone again.
Gail — My little peach tree isn’t any taller than I am, so an arborist is kind of out! I now wish I’d gone to the pruning seminar at the Natural Gardener – the nursery we went to when you were here for the Fling. Still looking for a good diagram – peach tree pruning for Dummies!
Must be nice to have warm weather, sunny skies….. LOL! Enjoy the beautiful weather for us northerners, OK?
Wow, sixty and balmy sounds like vacationland to me! Love those swinging chicks! They look so happy.
Sherry – we are sending you some balmy thoughts. We’re thinking them, too. It’s cold here for us – 45 today, 28 tonight. Brrr!
Layanee — do you have snow? I’m sure everyone will have a different weather situation after today’s front blows through. My MIL in IN says they have a ton of light fluffy snow that you can sweep with a broom.
I found your blog, because I am about to prune our peach tree.
I also found this:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/treefruit/422-020/422-020.html
And it’s more info than I can handle.
Good luck!
Thanks Anonymous – it’s more information than I can handle, too! Makes my head spin, in fact. I think I’ve decided to wait another month before I tackle it. i think I will take a picture of my tree to my local nursery and say, how would YOU do this? That feels safer!