A Tell of Two Camellias - Redux

A Tell of Two Camellias - February 2026

Nearly five years ago I published an article about these two gorgeous Camellias - it follows below, after what's next.

Since then, the previous owners, who I always enjoyed, sold the property and referred me (so, thankful) to the new owners. 

I worked on a Lady Banks Rose for the new owner and then she wanted to address the Camellias, once, at least, again.

I initially raised the canopies and pruned away the root suckers and water sprouts, but both Camellias had grown quite well and filled out and in - they were getting quite busy and dense inside.

The owner is quite plant savvy and wished for me to thin them out for health reasons, as well as aesthetics. Sounded great to me - proper pruning and plant care. Our heart and mind were in the same place. I was excited.

The pruning, more so, where to prune, was intense, requiring much thought and review along the way; yet, well worth it.

These two Camellias are of different species so I had to work with their individual branch structures.

I usually don't attempt to shape the crowns of trees (actually, these now, tree-like shrubs), as it's usually futile, but I did so with what they would allow as the plant often dictates what it will physiologically allow when pruning. These aren't Boxwoods or Azaleas.

I am also pleased to know that the pruning I performed years ago allowed these two to form the shapes they are now.   

This is a beautiful property and I feel assured she will think through, walk through and experiment with all the changes she envisions. 

Please read the original article below.

A Tell of Two Camellias

Camellia One - After, 2021

There was and is a property I have passed by, viewing, for many years, for which I had always shown praise for the wonderfully mixed variety of plants, their orchestrated placement and the maintenance of same. 

Then, one day, I received a call from the owner after she saw a presentation I had done over Zoom for the Richland County Master Gardeners. I would have preferred to have done so in person. Nonetheless, I was excited she contacted me.

In disbelief (I never know until I give a closer look.), she had at least two plants which needed to be addressed, two Camellias.

Camellia One - Before, 2021

Camellia Two - Before, 2021

They both had become unruly shrubs because of their unknown need to sprout suckers from their roots - not so common with Camellias or their brethren, Sasanquas. 

Some odd things happen in the plant world, even in the best conditions. One need only recognize such and respond accordingly.

It may take a few more months before these wonderful trees appear to be what they were meant to be, but they will. They are now on their way.

This was one of my most challenging and best-result pruning projects in the last several months and I wish to thank Karen and her husband for the opportunity. 

This is why I continue to do what I do. If I could only find these most-rewarding situations, year-round. I love pruning. It's where I live.

In the meantime. I will continue to address what needs addressing. Our scope goes well beyond the obvious. 

Coming Soon: Gardening and Plant Myths - There are Plenty.

Camellia Two - After, 2021

Nor the Light of Day

Before

The story behind this neighbor's home is tragic.

For many years, the owner would not allow those closest to her, even family, enter her home, nor the light of day.

I will avoid much of this story out of respect, except for her being found deceased in the home after several days of her passing.

A relative inherited this situation and is trying to manage what was not only neglected on the outside, but equally or even more so with the interior and the structure.

Before

It has consumed much of his time, his thoughts - what to restore, what to repair and to what extent in order to sell the property, and in what condition. It doesn't help that he lives over an hour away, has a family and a business to manage.

We discussed addressing much of the plant life, but he simply wanted the front portion of the home beautified, somewhat, and visible. At this point we weren't aiming for well-manicured.

The before photos were taken in 2025 and the after photos were shot this February.

Before

Not visible are the many vines and other unwanted growth we removed from the house. We also discovered the water meter, an irrigation box and a hose bib, among other things, during our work.

There was much pruning and plenty of unwanted-growth removal.

He didn't want to address the trees and shrubs surrounding a deck (Believe it or not.) at the rear of the property; however, the deck area needed to be cleared for access to and provide safer passage to the rear doorway.

He mentioned clearing an area from the fence gate to the side door. He is envied by no one - this task still mostly ahead of him.

This property is across the street from mine and I have slowly experienced its degradation. It is comforting to now see most of the home I viewed so many years ago.

I look forward to seeing him most any Sunday morning as he visits to clean out and care for what he can, while I have a cup of Joe, but I am certain he looks forward to the day when his travels take him elsewhere.

Feel free to select any photo for a better view.

After

After

After

 

Blind Corners...Do Your Neighbors a Favor

 

I have pruned and/or removed many shrubs and trees near a customer's driveway in order to enable a better view while leaving home and entering a roadway.

As I drive around Forest Acres and other areas, particularly neighborhoods, I often encounter intersections where I have no safe view of the roadway, particularly potential cross-traffic. Putting the front of one's vehicle out into an intersection to gain a better view is not safe. I am certain this is not unique to our area.

I also encounter this on tight back roads and curves where the plant life and foliage is over-grown...it's troubling.

A blind corner or intersection is exactly that...blind - unsafe and dangerous. Now, we are no longer dealing with simply leaving a driveway we are familiar with, but navigating another roadway or intersection at much higher speeds.

Not potentially as dangerous as the near-hidden Stop Sign in the photo, but any obscured intersection or roadway is dangerous.

Please take the time to assess whether your property, its shrubs or trees, may be causing such a hindrance.

This is not simply about your neighbors, but fellow drivers and pedestrians as well.

At a minimum, go out and trim or hack those plants back.

Or, contact me and I will see what is necessary to permanently resolve the problem or make it more manageable over time.

And, if you have shrubs and trees hiding that beautiful home you paid a small fortune for, I'll help you with that.

Doug Ingbretsen

Back40 Landscape Restoration and Maintenance

803-553-5757

Fall - The Time to Prune, Plant and Plan...Re-orchestrate

Well, it is Fall in the Midlands. Not that all the growing and blooming has ceased. 

But, many of our plants and  landscapes have experienced much growth - for some, out-of-hand growth over the growing season.

You had (or perhaps, had not) spent much of the summer keeping up with or maintaining your property, beautifully.

Nonetheless, fall and winter are a wonderful time to prune, plant and plan for next year. Why wait?

Plants and their intentions, their DNA, their hormones, love some additional care and attention from their proprietors.

Pruning: Proper pruning this time of year helps your plants prepare for next year, and done well, provides them the future direction of growth which best suits their position and place on your property.

Planting: So many of your favorite plants and those you have in mind for next year will benefit from being placed where you wish, right now, in the warm earth, rather than sitting in a pot in a nursery. Place them where you wish now and enjoy with less effort next season.

Plan: Walk your property and discover what plants and plant beds, trees and shrubs need addressing in regard to their spread, growth and health.

Re-orchestrate: It's your property - determine what you want and where, and blend the components of your landscape - the plants, the collective beds, the specimen plants and trees.

Next season, next year, next spring, will be more enjoyable.

Other Considerations

• Prune and/or remove (overgrowth, intruding and encroaching branches, vines, etc.).
• Clean out weeds (remove).
• Pressure-wash man-made surfaces - drive and walkways, decks, retaining walls, siding, foundations, etc.
• Re-establish plant bed borders.
• Re-stain/seal decks.
• Simply do some outdoor housekeeping for football season, family and friend visits and the approaching holidays.

Need assistance? Give us a call at 803-553-5757, go to back40.us or use the Contact Us feature above.

Just call me, Doug.

From Ominous to Oasis

Oasis - After

Caveat: Many of the photos displayed will not be appreciated without viewing the "before" images.

This area of interest here had so much potential; however, it had not been maintained or perhaps, haphazardly maintained, for many, many years. 

The beauty, or the centerpiece rather, is this massive Japanese Maple with three codominant stems, each which also branch off at least once again at the lower portions of the tree...she is gorgeous.

Oasis - After

The other plants of interest are the understory Camellias and Sasanquas.

The other addition or detractor (more in a moment) is a mature Crepe Myrtle that somehow made its way into the scheme of things.

Oasis - After

If you view the before photos you will realize it is difficult to distinguish one plant from another. In fact, a fair portion of the foliage you see is not that of the plants I mentioned. It is the foliage of wisteria, Virginia creeper and smilax. I was well protected from the sun as I worked until I removed much of this unwanted growth which constituted much of the crown of both the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle.

Oasis - After

The crepe Myrtle was an issue as it was encroaching the crown of the Japanese Maple and it had been murdered (arbitrarily cut back) at two different heights, but fortunately, only once. Most every cut was not a sound pruning cut as was with most other cuts with all plants, so I had to repair many cuts.

The concern was whether to remove the Crepe Myrtle or prune it for future growth away from the Japanese Maple. She is attractive from most angles, particularly from the street, so I chose to keep her.

Ominous - Before

Otherwise, there was a lot of hand-and-knee work, hand pruning - high and low and getting inside of plants.

Also, I raised the canopies of the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle, while lowering the crowns of the Camellias and Sasanquas.

It's fantastic see light shining through majestic trees, which also means the air flow they so badly need.

I told the customer, on the right day, she should grab a chair, her favorite beverage and enjoy reading a good book in the midst of this oasis.

Most of this project was performed in the middle of summer, but fall is a wonderful time to address such projects and many other issues.

 

Ominous - Before

Ominous - Before

Beautiful Arbequina Olive Tree for Sale

 

The Arbequina Olive Tree produces its wonderful fruit and also does very well as an ornamental plant.

The photo of this girl was taken a little over a month ago...as of this posting she is beginning to produce olives.

If you are interested in having this wonderful plant as is or wish to consider finding a place for it planted on your property, please contact me.

You can learn more about her at https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/products/arbequinaolivetree?variant=13940803207220. 

She is available for $146.00, in pot, plus delivery, and installation if desired.

The promise of fresh, healthy olives with the authentic taste of Spain. Arbequinas are popular because of their flavor, but they also have a high concentration of healthy, antioxidant-rich oils. You can get up to 20 pounds of olives each year to enjoy in your salads and add to your favorite recipes - and even make your own olive oil at home!

Plus, they grow nearly anywhere. They're seldom bothered by pests and will grow organically, no matter where you live. Even better? Arbequinas grow indoors year-round. These trees are semi-deciduous, meaning they only drop their leaves in extreme cold and tolerate 20-degree weather. Grown indoors, they'll keep their leaves throughout the winter.

Please call or text me, Doug Ingbretsen, at 803-553-5757 or use the Contact Us tab above if you are interested.

Thank you.

 

Winter Landscape Maintenance...So Much You Can Do, Now

Well, it is still Fall in the Midlands. Although we have had this very odd cold spell, we will soon return to our normal South Carolina climes.

Beyond planting and planning (see 

Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!, the coming Winter months are a great time to do some landscape house-keeping which will save you time and make the growing season more enjoyable.

Expand and/or re-shape plant beds: This year's growth may have outgrown the borders of your plant beds. Rather than handcuff your plants to some un-natural and unattractive size, expand the border and perhaps give it a new, interesting, but manageable shape. 

Pressure wash: Depending on temperature, you may not wish to wash anything thing too high (The backsplash can get quite discomforting.); however, this is a great time to pressure wash driveways, walkways, retaining walls, decks and foundations. Most of these surfaces have collected all types of debris and foreign matter during the last several months.

Repair stone, paver and brick walkways and patios: Some of the materials used on your walkways or patios may be a little or very cattywampus. There could be many reasons, but typically this is due to underlying roots. 

Whatever the case, repair or eliminate the cause and reset the stones, pavers or bricks.

Continue lawn care: Most, if not all turf grasses in this area are warm season grasses. Although their leaves' (blade) growth may slow or stop, their roots are not dormant and still need a few elements - water and air. The ground temperature in the Midlands rarely goes below 42 degrees for the first four inches, which is where your grass roots and those of most other plants live.

Leaves, pine straw, etc. on your lawn can block sunlight, limit air exchange and trap moisture. Rake, blow or mow (bag attachment preferred) this debris from your lawn. You may wish to use some of this as mulch in your beds even if you plan to place fresh mulch later. This will help keep your plants warm and retain moisture.

Occasionally water your lawn if we go without rain for a while. Do so during early daylight hours on a nice sunny day above freezing.

Edge your lawn borders, particularly if you have St. Augustine or centipede grasses, as their stolons (surface stems, so to speak) may still be reaching outward.

Install ground lighting: Obviously, we have less daylight hours during winter, so this is a great time to install ground lighting. This can be done for aesthetics, safety or security, or all the above.

Prune: All types of pruning can be done this time of year on a variety of plants. And, I am not speaking of taking hedge trimmers to your plants, but proper pruning.

This can be done to reduce a plant, remove dead and awkward stems and branches, raise canopies (limb up) and to thin plants which have been trimmed repetitively, to improve their health.

Proper pruning on many flowering shrubs will help produce individually larger blooms while leaving a balanced backdrop of foliage.

Plant and Plan: Save yourself from being overwhelmed by Spring and Summer landscaping goals by getting started sooner. Please go to Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!

In other words, Winter is a wonderful time to balance out your budget and time spent on your landscape, and your plants may have a happier Spring.

We provide all these services, so please contact me to see how we may assist you...803-553-5757 or use the Contact Us button above.

Thank you.

Happy Holidays!

Planting and Planning...Now is the Time!

Fortunately, here in the Midlands of South Carolina, the ground temperature never approaches anything near freezing. Therefore, you can plant most any plant from now until Spring.

Most of the plants you and I will find are growing in a pot at some nursery and will be much happier in the ground, whereas the ground temperatures are in the forties.

So, quit fretting about planting in the fall and winter. And, just get busy doing it. There are several advantages to doing so.

• You get ahead of Spring fever when costs are elevated and availability lessens.
• Your plants have spent more time developing their roots and later have more resources for blooms.
• Fall and winter planting requires less watering and maintenance.
• Weed control is more manageable. 
• Overall, most plants will be more productive and dramatic in the Spring if they get an early start...which is now.

 

  If you don't want to deal with a new plant bed or aspect of your landscape right now, then start planning for late winter or spring. Call me or someone else so that we can begin restoring a plant bed, creating a new one or perhaps getting creative with another aspect of your property.

The sooner, the better, so that we may plan well ahead of plant availability and cost.

We can soon begin clearing out old unwanted plant beds and plants, designing new beds and vignettes. 

Therefore; you may more so enjoy the Spring, Summer and seasons to come.

Keeping My Bay Laurel at Bay

 

Bay Laurel - After Three Years of Rehab

I've had this beautiful Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) for many years and for the most part, I would be concerned about her height. 

She didn't need pruning often and this was a task I definitely enjoyed. The scent she emits is quite nice and I also had a Rosemary plant in this cool kettle pot just beneath her...olfactory bonus.

However; a few years ago, I realized it's spread (width) was more of a nuisance as it was not making taking the trash out so easy. I keep the trash and recycle bins to the right, hidden from the street by the fence and a Sasanqua. It was beginning to get difficult opening the bin lids.

I surveyed the Bay Laurel and realized it had three co-dominant stems. So, I removed the one closest to the issue, basically removing one third of the plant.

Bay Laurel - Halfway through Rehab

She was none too happy about this. She looked awkward, but I had a plan. I let her do what she wanted to do for a while and then pruned the new growth to promote future growth in a lateral fashion toward the area I had just eliminated. 

I couldn't have replaced the one co-dominant stem I removed, but I could definitely balance the plant over time.

I truly wasn't rehabbing the plant because of an issue she had (I've done so many times with other plants.). I basically caused the need for rehab by asking her to do something she did not want to - lose a third of her branch structure. 

I wanted to make her fit in the space to meet my desires so I must care for her in a different fashion until all looks well.

Bay Laurel - After 1/3 Reduction

I've pruned hundreds of plants with various objectives, but this is one of the most severe.

Some of the branches I have coaxed have now matured and are putting out new growth to complete her natural shape.

After another pruning in spring, she should be back to her natural shape and most future pruning should be for aesthetic and health reasons.

Patience is definitely a virtue.

Free Fresh Bay Leaves

I just pruned our Bay Laurel tree (more about that in another article) and I have thousands of leaves to give away should you want some for seasoning some of your favorite recipes.

They have been placed, still on-branch, in a pile on Willingham Drive at Bethel United Methodist Church near the rear parking lot, not far from the Blessing Box.

If you are interested, please get them as soon as possible, as drying in direct sunlight is not best for them. 

I dry bay leaves occasionally and keep them jarred in the kitchen, but if I haven't, I just go out and cut the leaves I need. I do this if and only if the sauce, soup, etc. has a cooking time over an hour.

Bay leaves go through favorable flavor changes when dried or with time in heated fluids.

There are several methods for drying bay leaves or you can use fresh if you have a slow-cooking dish you wish to make soon. The following link provides very good instructions on doing so: https://seasonsinthekitchen.com/a-guide-to-bay-leaves-how-to-dry-bay-leaves/

The plant is very healthy and the leaves look fantastic. If you find a bad one, simply discard it.

I had to make a variety of cuts, so you should be able to choose a branch or a few which suits your needs and then remove the leaves at home. Or, if you plan to naturally air-dry them, you may wish to leave the leaves (sorry) attached and allow this to happen on the branch.

Have a Wonderful Labor Day!

 

It's Fall - Such a Wonderful Time to Do So Much with Your Landscape

Well, it is Fall in the Midlands. Not that all the growing and blooming has ceased, but for many of us our landscapes have experienced much growth - for some, out-of-hand growth.

You had (or perhaps, had not) spent much of the summer keeping up with or keeping your property, beautiful.

Some of this growth is obvious in some of your more open format trees and shrubs while much of the interior mess is hidden beneath the surface of those more compact shrubs and hedges you've been trimming since April.

Fall (and Winter) is a wonderful season to get at those plants with some well planned and executed pruning to keep them healthy, airy and attractive for next season. A few may need some corrective measures, but you will need to get inside them a little to know what's truly going on with those gorgeous things you spent time and money on.

There are many shrubs and trees which can be pruned in Fall depending on the plants bloom-habit and your preference. Actually, there aren't many plants which can't be pruned (not indiscriminately trimmed or sheared) most any time of year if the right care and techniques are used. And, many will still produce plenty of blooms to enjoy when the time comes. So, if you've missed that ideal time and your favorite whatever(s) is now a mess, let's take care of it soon so you can enjoy it through the holidays and even more so in the Spring.

Depending on the plant, there are many which can be planted or transplanted during the Fall, getting established before and during Winter (If we have one.) and ready to roll next Spring. We don't live in Vermont so the ground temperatures allow for planting virtually year-round. And, you won't be scrambling around during Spring when your existing plants need attention.

NOTE: I have been planting, designing and installing plant beds more and more each year, more and more throughout the year, throughout the Fall and Winter. Many or most property owners only consider doing such when temperatures are warm and life is great during the early Spring, and thereafter. The problem - growers, nurseries and guys like me can't keep up, meet the demand and we simply run out of solutions. If it, the plant you desire, is an evergreen or woody perennial it would rather be in the ground (much warmer) than sitting in a pot (more exposed to colder temps). In other words, most all these plants do well, but they'd do much better in your properties soil and you could avoid availability issues in the Spring.

Also, with all the humidity, rainfall, growth, and reproduction and its associate droppings, pitch and debris our properties experienced over Spring and Summer, Fall is the perfect time to:

• Prune and/or remove (overgrowth, intruding and encroaching branches, vines, etc.).
• Clean out weeds (remove).
• Pressure wash man-made surfaces - drive and walkways, decks, retaining walls, siding, foundations, etc.
• Re-establish plant bed borders.
• Re-stain/seal decks.
• Simply do some outdoor housekeeping for football season, family and friend visits and the approaching holidays.

And, please remember two things about lawn grasses even after we get out of the growing season (whenever that may be):

• They still take advantage of sunlight so don't wait until you have this downy-like comforter of leaves and/or pine straw on your yard to blow or rake them away - do it when needed.
• Their root system will still enjoy some H2O occasionally even when it's not 90° and 85% humidity.

Need assistance? Give us a call at 803-553-5757, go to back40.us or use the Contact Us feature to the right.

Spring Comes Quickly...Don't Waste Winter

Some of you have properties this well planned and maintained.

Many of you may view this as impossible, for a variety of reasons. 

This winter, how about you grab a warm coat, walk your property, grab a chair, sit back and visualize the changes you can make to only one area, one aspect of your landscape. Any of this is extremely possible.

Take some photos and project what you wish to add or change, and sketch your ideas on some paper. Or, call me. Together, we can orchestrate a wonderful outcome.

Personal Note: In the region we live, there is not much which cannot be done in regard to plant care this time of year. There are few exceptions and there are a few tasks which may be best suited during the growing season. However; one may find oneself overwhelmed and far behind the more vibrant growing season once it is underway. Why wait?

This is what we do: A focused project at a time, and how most of our customers wish to address their desires for their landscape. It works - it's manageable, sane and seeing the changes made over time is quite rewarding.

Only just beginning winter, this is a beneficial and excellent time to start putting plans together for your home's landscape. And, in this environment, here in the Midlands of South Carolina, most restoration and installation can begin way before waiting until you are inundated with the sheer maintenance of your property during the growing season and hot-as-hell summer months.

Basic Maintenance During Winter

• Remove natural debris (leaves and needles) from your lawn if you already haven't. Turf grass still benefits greatly from sunlight and air flow this time of year.
• Continue to edge grass borders as most grass roots still want to stretch out and grow during winter. This will prevent them from making their way into your plant beds and help maintain a manicured look.
• Consider applying a pre-emergent for spring and summer weeds. The effective date for doing so is based on ground temperature and it sneaks up on us quite quickly in this area.
• House those precious potted plants (particularly, tropical) inside or in a secluded area away from the wind if they will handle the ambient temperature. If you know your plant's name (genus and specie), find its climate requirements.
• Don't wait until spring when the temperatures are nice to consider installing an irrigation system in your plant beds or lawn. This isn't Alaska - most of this can be done this time of year. And, if you wait, you may be put off in scheduling by contractors and may pay much more simply due to demand because many homeowners simply don't think about this until is almost warm and sunny.

Advanced Maintenance and Planning

• Pruning (On this subject, I can provide plenty of testament and references.) Pruning of most any plant for health reasons, even for aesthetics/shaping, can be performed most any time of year on most any plant. Try to forgive what your parents, grandparents or even your favorite publication or therapist says.
• Take a look at the growth of your different plant beds and the growth they have experienced. If you are pleased with their growth and your landscape can accommodate such, then consider extending and re-establishing the bed borders to obtain/maintain a clean and clear appearance.
• Consider those trees and larger tree-like shrubs encroaching your home or its roof. Hacking them at what you believe is the proper height is only going to create a more troublesome future mess. They need to be properly pruned or removed.
• Also, consider those plants which obscure your view when pulling out of your driveway or those many shrubs and trees which block the view of stops signs and intersections on so many streets in this area.
• Plan for Spring This is a wonderful time for planning and perhaps executing some changes for your property. I have had a few customers get behind the eight ball and then expect the unexpected in regard to plant availability. I get it. I often don't know until the request is made. Two of my favorite nurseries will find almost anything I ask of them, but their growers can only do so much with a given plant during a season or the year. Plants don't grow on trees - I love saying that. You get the point.
• Refresh or replace (more in a moment) the mulch in your beds since most of the leaf and needle drop has occurred. Mulch provides so much for a plant bed or natural area. Most homeowners apply such for aesthetics. That's great. But, most mulch, properly chosen, in this area, provides shade from the sun for the ground - the base of the plant, water retention and decomposition which aids all the plants in the plant bed. In regard to replacing mulch, I am not saying this should never be done, but in most cases, it shouldn't. The decomposition from the existing mulch is so beneficial - this is one (just one) of the reasons plant bed soil is usually healthier than that in lawns. Just refresh the existing mulch, let it settle and continue the composting process.
• Take the time to consider when you would like to pressure wash your home, decks or patios and apply a stain or sealant - when you'd feel comfortable doing so, weather-wise. Warmer months are obviously more comfortable to do so, but applying stain in too-warm conditions can be less effective in regard to penetration of the chemicals.
• Consider ground lighting. Show off your home's architecture, its plants, both. Add some safety and security to your home living. 

If you need assistance with any of the aforementioned or a comprehensive solution based on your needs or desires, please contact Doug at 803-553-5757 or use the Contact form to the right.

Let's Raise Those Youngins Right

Through much study and a lot of experience I have learned to prune, as best as possible, many tree-like shrubs and younger trees for future growth, or to train them.

This training may be to accommodate their natural surroundings, man-made obstructions for which they were planted too close or simply their response to the path of the sun.

Or, it may be to take advantage of a specimen plant with ample environs in the most advantageous location on one's property - a place for that plant to truly stand-out and be noticed, and be healthy. 

The opportunity to do so depends on so much - the relative age of the plant and its placement, and more so, what care, lack of attention or abuse it has received.

I cut my teeth in this biz pruning japanese maples (like the one above); receiving much praise from the owner. Well before studying plant physiology, something in my eye and brain told me never to take a trimmer to or to shear these or many other plants I later encountered.

Later I began studying arboriculture, which led to studying horticulture. And, I have a feeling I always will be. I will need to. This is not a tiny field of study - a wonderful thing. I will die well before I have a grasp of all the world's plants (as if that's possible) and even so if I had begun this when I was six years old. Fortunately, understanding plant physiology is the key to pruning and most plant care.

I have rehabbed or restored many senior trees and shrubs, but the rewards are even greater when they are youngsters. This is when you get to coddle and influence them into later producing a more attractive look and a healthier condition. These rewards often come a few years later for the youngsters; yet, the results are awesome and very pleasing.

I have begun to do more of this as I have designed and installed plants and plant beds over the last few years, able to return, monitor and provide some additional pruning - training for the youngins.

There are ways to restore and beautify many other mature shrubs and trees like camellias, sasanquas, dogwoods, crepe myrtles and many, many, many others. This requires some thoughtful evaluation and I probably find more reward in these as the changes are more pronounced.

Many plants live, thrive and die an early death in a forest, a plain or a jungle, but that is their role in those environments. We choose a property with plants or introduce them to our properties hoping they will only live or thrive in the manner we envision.

Well, some may need some assistance for that vision to be realized.

Don't expect a plant to be what it is not...help it be what it can be.

Please go to https://shootsandmatters.blogspot.com/search?q=pruning for more articles about my pruning and other stories as well.

Get the Jump on Spring Planning and Landscaping

Some of you have properties this well planned and maintained.

Many of you may view this as impossible, for a variety of reasons. 

Well, how about you walk your property, grab a chair, sit back and visualize the changes you can make to only one area, one aspect. Any of this is extremely possible.

This is what we do; a focused project at a time, and how most of our customers wish to address their desires for their landscape. It works - it's manageable, sane and seeing the changes made over time is quite rewarding.

Almost half-way through winter, it is a beneficial and excellent time to start putting plans together for your home's landscape. And, in this environment, here in the Midlands of South Carolina, most restoration and installation can begin way before waiting until you are inundated with the sheer maintenance of your property during the growing season and hot-as-hell summer months.

Basic Maintenance During Winter

• Remove natural debris (leaves and needles) from your lawn if you already haven't. Turf grass still benefits greatly from sunlight and air flow this time of year.
• Continue to edge grass borders as most grass roots still want to stretch out and grow during winter. This will prevent them from making their way into your plant beds and help maintain a manicured look.
• Consider applying a pre-emergent for spring and summer weeds. The effective date for doing so is based on ground temperature and it sneaks up on us quite quickly in this area.
• House those precious potted plants (particularly, tropical) inside or in a secluded area away from the wind if they will handle the ambient temperature. If you know your plant's name (genus and specie), find its climate requirements.
• Don't wait until spring when the temperatures are nice to consider installing an irrigation system in your plant beds or lawn. This isn't Alaska - most of this can be done this time of year. And, if you wait, you may be put off in scheduling by contractors and may pay much more simply due to demand because many homeowners simply don't think about this until is almost warm and sunny.

Winter Restoration and Enhancements 

• Pruning (On this subject, I can provide plenty of testament and references.) Pruning of most any plant for health reasons, even for aesthetics/shaping, can be performed most any time of year on most any plant. Try to forgive what your parents, grandparents or even your favorite publication says.
• Take a look at the growth of your different plant beds and the growth they have experienced. If you are pleased with their growth and your landscape can accommodate such, then consider extending and re-establishing the bed borders to obtain/maintain a clean and clear appearance.
• Consider those trees and larger tree-like shrubs encroaching your home or its roof. Hacking them at what you believe is the proper height is only going to create a more troublesome future mess. They need to be properly pruned or removed.
• Also, consider those plants which obscure your view when pulling out of your driveway or those many shrubs and trees which block the view of stops signs and intersections on so many streets in this area.
• Plan for Spring This is a wonderful time for planning and perhaps executing some changes for your property. I have had a few customers get behind the eight ball and then expect the unexpected in regard to plant availability. I get it. I often don't know until the request is made. Two of my favorite nurseries will find almost anything I ask of them, but their growers can only do so much with a given plant during a season or the year. Plants don't grow on trees - I love saying that. You get the point.
• Refresh or replace (more in a moment) the mulch in your beds since most of the leaf and needle drop has occurred. Mulch provides so much for a plant bed or natural area. Most homeowners apply such for aesthetics. That's great. But, most mulch, properly chosen, in this area, provides shade from the sun for the ground - the base of the plant, water retention and decomposition which aids all the plants in the plant bed. In regard to replacing mulch, I am not saying this should never be done, but in most cases, it shouldn't. The decomposition from the existing mulch is so beneficial - this is one (just one) of the reasons plant bed soil is usually healthier than that in lawns. Just refresh the existing mulch, let it settle and continue the composting process.
• Take the time to consider when you would like to pressure wash your home, decks or patios and apply a stain or sealant - when you'd feel comfortable doing so, weather-wise. Warmer months are obviously more comfortable to do so, but applying stain in too-warm conditions can be less effective in regard to penetration of the chemicals.
• Consider ground lighting. Show off your home's architecture, its plants, both. Add some safety and security to your home living. 

If you need assistance with any of the aforementioned or a comprehensive solution based on your needs or desires, please contact Doug at 803-553-5757 or use the Contact form to the right.

What is that Mossy, Moldy Stuff Clinging to My Tree? - Plant Care Myths

Well, if it looks like the stuff clinging to the Sweetgum tree in the photo, it is neither one. It is lichen.

Lichen is the result of a symbiotic relationship between fungi, algae and bacteria. And, other than clinging to this tree, or the cast iron bench or decorative stone in your backyard, it is doing nothing to the home it finds. It simply got lucky and found an opportune place to live. It may ugly up your favorite dogwood or eventually ruin the paint on that chair or arbor, but it will cause no disease or structural damage.

Leave that old car your grandparents left you which is parked by that old shed in the back and lichen will probably take a likin' to it as well, in a suitable environment.

Other than the fact that lichen is technically not moss or mold, (certain species may appear similar) lichen is not too happy in dark or heavily shaded areas. In this relationship the bacteria and algae photosynthesize and help feed the fungus. So, lichens usually are found in areas with adequate sunlight.

Although lichen can be found on ailing trees it is not the cause of such conditions. I do see lichen on many dying native dogwoods in the area and I experience it on trees no longer producing much foliage (dying native dogwoods) because the lichen has found a location now with adequate sunlight.

It can easily be found on healthy plants such as on the lower trunk area of mature trees which now have higher canopies, receiving more sunlight.

Yes, most lichen are not aesthetically pleasing. Believe it or not, some are. If you are wanting to remove lichen, try rubbing the bulk off with your hand or use the jet setting on your garden hose nozzle. If you try scraping it off with some tool be mindful of the bark below. You don't want to injure an already failing tree, or any tree, for that matter.

Some lichens have barely any elevation or texture and appear as discolorations of the host surface, and they are difficult to remove. 

There are supposedly over 20,000 species of lichen that come in many colors, shapes and textures and there are four groups basically determined by form and texture. They all take on their appearance based on the varying species of fungi, algae and bacteria involved.

So, if you see this stuff on your property, don't liken it to some ill-willed disease causing problem. Who knows? You may take a lichen to it.

Okay, I'll stop. Like, right now.

Another Japanese Maple Rehab

Japanese Maple - After - (Click image to enlarge.)

No. This is not all I do. I wish.

Over the past several weeks I have done a fair amount of pruning and we have also been working on restoring and cleaning out many areas and beds, installing new ones, while also performing some basic housekeeping on some properties.

The usual problem, once again, as with many japanese maples I come upon - they have become blobs. They have been ignored, improperly cut or sheared. The latter should never be done to one of these jewels.

This one was victim of some cutting to control her size and for an easier path on the walkway. This poorly executed task produced this mess - the blob that hid her gorgeous and unique branch structure.  Arbitrarily cutting or taking trimmers to japanese maples (and many other plants) is like hiding that expensive Christmas tree and all its beautiful ornaments with tinsel. 

This japanese maple, created by Mother Nature, with very few flaws and lines nothing short of majestic, simply needed some proper attention.

She can now show off and live in all her glory to be shared by the proud owner.

Japanese Maple - Before

Fall - A Time to Prune, Plant and Preen

Well, it is Fall in the Midlands. Not that all the growing and blooming has ceased, but for many of us our landscapes have experienced much growth - for some, out-of-hand growth.

You had (or perhaps, had not) spent much of the summer keeping up with or keeping your beautiful property.

Some of this growth is obvious in some of your more open format trees and shrubs while much of the interior mess is hidden beneath the surface of those more compact shrubs and hedges you've been trimming since April.

Fall (and Winter) is a wonderful season to get at those plants with some well planned and executed pruning to keep them healthy, airy and attractive for next season. A few may need some corrective measures, but you will need to get inside them a little to know what's truly going on with those gorgeous things you spent time and money on.

There are many shrubs and trees which can be pruned in Fall depending on the plants bloom-habit and your preference. Actually, there aren't many plants which can't be pruned (not indiscriminately trimmed or sheared) most any time of year if the right care and techniques are used. And, many will still produce plenty of blooms to enjoy when the time comes. So, if you've missed that ideal time and your favorite whatever(s) is now a mess, let's take care of it soon so you can enjoy it through the holidays and even more so in the Spring.

Depending on the plant, there are many which can be planted or transplanted during the Fall, getting established before and during Winter (If we have one.) and ready to roll next Spring. We don't live in Vermont so the ground temperatures allow for planting virtually year-round. And, you won't be scrambling around during Spring when your existing plants need attention.

Also, with all the humidity, rainfall, growth, and reproduction and its associate droppings, pitch and debris our properties experienced over Spring and Summer, Fall is the perfect time to:

• Prune and/or remove (overgrowth, intruding and encroaching branches, vines, etc.).
• Clean out weeds (remove).
• Pressure wash man-made surfaces - drive and walkways, decks, retaining walls, siding, foundations, etc.
• Re-establish plant bed borders.
• Re-stain/seal decks.
• Simply do some outdoor housekeeping for football season, family and friend visits and the approaching holidays.

And, please remember two things about lawn grasses even after we get out of the growing season (whenever that may be):

• They still take advantage of sunlight so don't wait until you have this downy-like comforter of leaves and/or pine straw on your yard to blow or rake them away - do it when needed.
• Their root system will still enjoy some H2O occasionally even when it's not 90° and 85% humidity.

Need assistance? Give us a call at 803-553-5757, go to back40.us or use the Contact Us feature to the right.

Two More Majestic Japanese Maples

Japanese Maple - After

This Japanese Maple, this girl (I ignore PC pronouns when writing. The words don't seem to mind. She is a she.) was a mess and she will never be the big girl on the property, nor was she meant to be. 

She is a among a variety of well-placed and orchestrated plants, plant beds and vignettes on a new customer's rather vast property aligned along a pond.

She receives the needed light in a shaded area. Her placement was so apropos.

The owner revealed to me, knowingly, as beautiful as the property is, it needs some changes and restoration. We, together, will address such, even if it goes whimsical. This could get fun. Thank you, Elaine.

Japanese Maple - Before

There is the beauty of so many gorgeous plants for which we choose to adorn our properties. We are selfish, but we do need to care for them.

All trees and shrubs, beyond their health and well-being, can benefit from pruning which takes advantage of their branch structure and growth habit.

The Japanese Maple is one of those plants, gorgeous as can be, having inconspicuous flowers which produce a samara - two (typically) fruit-seeds  encased in a thin paper-like tissue shaped like a wing so that it can travel further and propagate.

Japanese Maple - Before

This wonderful mess is on a different beautiful property, but her interesting branch structure was not being enjoyed. 

Beyond being tasked with pruning this japanese maple, I was also charged with trimming and shaping (gum drop) about 13 japanese hollies and pruning several japanese yews (shown) down to almost nothing. Put simply; the other tasks were not as interesting as working on this girl.

Soon the reduced japanese yews will put out new shoots and foliage, becoming small under-story plants for the japanese maple.

Japanese Maple - After

For more articles on japanese maples, please go to https://shootsandmatters.blogspot.com/search?q=japanese+maple. This includes a few Customer Plant Selection Reviews which contain japanese maples and many other plants as well, but you may find them helpful, nonetheless.

Can japanese maple leaves make for a delicious appetizer or hors d'oeuvre?

Some say, "Yes." And, I wouldn't mind trying one.

See the video below.

Japanese Maple - After

Bon appetit!