Common name:Tree Roses
Botanical name:Rosa Tree varieties
Tree roses are actually shrubs that have been grafted or grown in a way that looks like a tree, ie with a trunk. Tree roses can be floribundas, hybrid teas, or grandifloras. They are typically used as specimen plants. Make sure the plant is tied to a stake in case of strong winds.
Common name:Climbing Rose
Botanical name:Rosa Climbing varieties
With its dark green foliage and fragrant flowers with full and double blooms, this upright shrub is generally grown as a vine or pillar rose. Climbing varieties come in many colors.
Common name:Natal Plum
Botanical name:Carissa macrocarpa
The Natal Plum is a shrub that quickly reaches 2'-7' tall and 10' wide. Stems have thorns. The plant produces a milky sap that may cause allergenic reactions for some folks. Leaves are leathery, glossy and dark green. White, fragrant star shaped flowers bloom in spring, followed by egg shaped fruit that turns red when ripe. Fruit tastes like cranberries! This shrub takes little water once it's established and tolerates heat. It's great for barrier hedges.
Common name:American Arborvitae
Botanical name:Thuja occidentalis
This evergreen shrub will slowly grow 20' tall and 10'-15' wide. It has small, scaled, dark green leaves that turn brown in severe cold weather. This conifer prefers full sun, moist, well draining soil although it tolerates heat, drought, humidity and pollution. It does not tolerate shade. Growth is pyramidal or columnar.
Designer: Stephanie Blanc
Photographer: GardenSoft
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.