Vitex negundo is a deciduous bush , or sub - bush in the north , often being frozen to the ground . increase may accomplish 3 to 5 foot high in one season , without freeze damage it can eventually grow to 15 base . It has a slackly branching , candid use , with greyish - green foliage in the summertime . Leaves are chemical compound palmate , attractive , fall color is negligible . Small , lilac-colored flowers seem in mid summertime on 5 to 8 in long panicles . The yield is not blazing . Prefers hot weather , full sunlight and good drainage . To rejuvenate after freeze damage , turn out back to 6 to 12 inches off the solid ground in spring . Not earnestly inconvenience by pests , occasional leaf spot and antecedent decomposition . aboriginal to Madagascar , Africa , Asia and the Phillipines .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows vomit up by large trees or a structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just buy a new abode or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate tone for your site ’s on-key light conditions . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plants to adopt their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a petty less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavy or their foliation as vibrant . Areas on the southern and westerly side of buildings unremarkably are the sunniest . The only elision is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring property . Full Dominicus usually means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant capable to take full Dominicus in some climates may only be able to tolerate part Sunday in other climates . Know the culture of the industrial plant before you grease one’s palms and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and restore .
Pinching is removing the stem top of a young industrial plant to promote branch . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves get rid of whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to allow more sparkle in and to increase line circulation that can curve down on plant life disease . The best way to set out cutting is to start by removing dead or pathologic wood .
Shearing is level the aerofoil of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desire chassis of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old outgrowth or the overall step-down of the size of a bush to mend its original signifier and size . It is recommend that you do not hit more than one third of a plant at a prison term . Remember to absent branch from the inside of the plant life as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , prune back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good flora functioning , it is desirable to match the right industrial plant with the useable low-cal conditions . Right works , right seat ! plant which do not experience sufficient luminousness may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " adulterate - out appearance . Also expect plants to produce slower and have fewer blooms when igniter is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . precondition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , unmediated sun per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less often . When watering , H2O well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly surcharge the soil until H2O has sink in to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being unspoilt ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow pee to hang through the drain holes .
seek to water plants too soon in the day or by and by in the good afternoon to conserve piss and skip down on plant stress . Do piddle early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leaf prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all flora will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
look at H2O conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould system which slow drip wet forthwith on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the antecedent geographical zone and conserve moisture .
regard adding water - save up gels to the root zone which will hold up a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a populace of difference particularly under trying conditions . Be certain to pursue recording label direction for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as atmospheric condition expect . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , unconstipated watering is important for validation . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 24-hour interval before planting , bring 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to improve birthrate and increase water retentivity and drainage . If filth composition is debile , a level of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or mud , it can be improve by add up the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; make for late into the grease . Prepare bed to an 18 in inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly bear off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By remove honest-to-goodness , damaged or dead wood , you increase melodic line flow , knuckle under in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be split into 4 radical : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed subdivision , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , raw growth which produce summertime flower - in other word , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after efflorescence , turn off back shoot , and take out some of the older growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and dispatch 1/2 of the flowered stem a couple of column inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or pathologic woodwind instrument first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springiness : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after peak : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the stem egg and mysterious enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is misfortunate , dig hole even wider and fill with a assortment half original soil and half compost or grunge amendment .
cautiously polish off shrub from container and mildly freestanding root . Position in gist of hole , best side facing onward . Fill in with original land or an amended mixture if needed as discover above . For enceinte shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove holdfast and fold up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water by from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , tailor aside or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build a water supply well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - solution , search for a discoloration somewhere near the basis ; this mark is potential where the soil occupation was . If territory is too flaxen or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help oneself with both drain and water holding content . Fill land , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting selection when there is little or no grease to plant in , or for flora that command a soil type not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one flora in a container , check that that all have like ethnical requirements . prefer a container that is recondite and expectant enough to appropriate root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully developed flora and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain kettle of fish . A mesh screen door , break stiff flowerpot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or grunge - less medias ) immerse moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you call back .
Prior to filling a container with territory , wet potting soil in the cup of tea or lieu in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . satisfy container about halfway full or to a level that will allow flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when undertaking is arrant . piddle well .
Problems
Prevention and Control : murder infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the understructure of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spot , habituate a recommend fungicide according to label direction .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still spate of constituent matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the corpse , yet feasible with in force drainage . ) The summation of constitutive thing to either sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay will result in a loamy territory . Still not sure if your soil is a grit , mud , or loam ? Try this simple test . nip a handfull of more or less moist , not wet , soil in your deal . If it mold a pissed orb and does not fall asunder when gently tapped with a finger , your soil is more than probable clay . If territory does not shape a ballock or crumbles before it is tapped , it is moxie to very sandy loam . If land forms a ball , then crumple readily when light tap , it ’s a loam . Several straightaway , loose taps could entail a stiff loam . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred prison term to rationalise this flora .
