Flowering Currants, Blueberries, and a Garden Path
What DIY tasks are you taking on this weekend? Quick, easy-to-do projects around the garden can totally transform a space.
Just outside my main greenhouse, where I grow many of my sweet summer berries, is an area that needed a little attention. I decided it would look so much better with a stone footpath leading to the gardens, and a few plantings to give it a more finished look. As part of a delivery of plants from the wholesale nursery, Monrovia, I received three flowering currants - fragrant, spring-blooming shrubs native to the northwest United States. These specimens feature bold crimson flower clusters that are a favorite nectar source for hummingbirds and other pollinators. They were planted along with three blueberry bushes also from Monrovia.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- My large glass greenhouse has several entryways. Planted outside this door are two very productive almond trees. The almond is a species of small tree from the genus Prunus, cultivated worldwide for its seed – those delicious and nutritious nuts.
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- The almond trees are between several rows of raspberry bushes and not far from my strawberries, gooseberries, and currants.
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- Our most recent order from Monrovia includes several more berries and flowering currants. Ryan and I work together to place all these plants in their permanent locations around the farm.
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- ‘King Edward VII’ Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum, is a compact grower with a rich color of pendulous bloom clusters. It is a slow grower and only reaches about three to six feet tall.
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- The leaves of the flowering currant are alternate and rounded with three to five shallow lobes and deep veins. The plants prefer well-drained soils and sun.
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- I also decided to plant three blueberry bushes in this area. These are the buds of Bountiful Blue® Blueberry, also from Monrovia. Its pink-blush flowers produce large, sweet and juicy fruits.
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- Planting six small shrubs does not take long. Remember the rule of thumb – dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the height of the root ball.
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- It is very important to feed the plants. I always say, “if you eat, so should your plants.” Proper fertilizing will help the plant establish strong roots and encourage new growth.
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- We use Osmocote® Smart Release® Plant Food Plus Outdoor and Indoor, which is a slow-release fertilizer fortified with 11-essential nutrients for all plants in all conditions.
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- Whenever planting, always scarify first. This means to manually scratch up the sides and bottom of the rootball to loosen the roots and stimulate growth.
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- Once the plant is placed into the hole, be sure to have its best side facing out. Each plant is positioned at the end of a row on one side of a granite stake.
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- Next, the hole is carefully backfilled. Only backfill until the “flare” – where the main stem meets the roots.
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- Meanwhile, Pete prepares to create a short bluestone path leading from the greenhouse door and across the soil to the lawn.
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- Pete rakes the space and removes any weeds, rocks, and old almond hulls. Then he puts up the landscape twine to guide the placement of the pavers. When using twine remember not to cut it – keep it spooled at one end, so it can be used over and over.
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- The first paver is positioned – this one next to the grass.
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- These bluestone pavers once covered the terrace at my former East Hampton home. I am glad I brought them all back here to my farm where they can be repurposed.
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- As he goes, Pete steps on the stone to ensure it does not move or wobble.
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- One by one, Pete carefully positions each piece.
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- After all of them are in place, soil on both sides of the path is raked smooth.
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- And here it is all finished. In under an hour, this entire area has transformed and it looks terrific! I hope this inspires you to take on a project at your home this weekend!
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