December 2015 - Highland Landscaping

HIGHLANDLANDSCAPINGLLC .COM
817.488.2718
DECEMBER 2015
EDITION 82
professional can determine if roses are diseased. Removing only the visibly
diseased shoots actually spreads the disease. When the plant suffers any
shock (such as by trimming) the mites flee the plant and go to another .
Eradication must be on a community basis. The entire plant and roots must
be removed, placed in a plastic trash bag and placed for trash removal. The
diseased bushes must not be composted. The recommendation is to remove
all roses from the area for at least three years. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
has received a multi-million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work on answers to the many questions surrounding RRD.
UPDATE ON ROSE ROSETTE DISEASE (RRD)
As many of our blooming beauties begin to nod-off into slumber
for their winter rest before the next growing season, North Texas brownscape dominates the palette. The December Landscape Task list on page
four gives our recommendations to protect plants during their winter slumber, and support a healthy and robust blooming season next spring. We
are often asked if trees and other woody plants can be installed during
the fall and winter months. This is actually a good time to plant when
these perennials are dormant. Their roots will have time to become acclimated to their new home before the next growing season begins.
This month we offer our fifth piece on Rose Rosette Disease
(RRD). It is necessary that all those involved in the landscape industry
remain vigilant in informing residents and those not involved in the industry what a serious issue this is. North Texas has been the hardest hit
area in the country. It is an epidemic. Numerous news organizations
have reported on Rose Rosette Disease, and our team has been interviewed
and consulted numerous times. The City of Southlake, for example, has
removed more than 5400 rose bushes in medians and parks. The Fort
Worth Botanic Gardens have removed hundreds of diseased rose bushes.
The rose gardens are held in high esteem, and the Lower Rose Garden is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
To this day we continue to have retailers sell diseased
roses. We highly recommend refraining from buying or
planting any species of roses at this time.
At the North Texas Rose Rosette Eradication Conference our
team learned that hybrid teas and some tea roses may show lime-colored
abnormal growth as opposed to burgundy-red. A knowledgeable landscape
RRD’s vector is a mite that is carried by the wind, but can also
move from one rose bush to the next without a vector. Once the mite
begins to suck on the rose’s sap and injects its diseased saliva, signs of the
disease may present in as little as three weeks or may take as long as 12
months. Evidence suggests it varies by rose variety and overall health of the
plant. The visible symptoms include:
+ Malformed flowers and leaves (witch’s broom)
+ Excessive leaf and thorn growth
+ Red discoloration
+ Blackening and death of the canes
+ Enlarged and elongated stems
We offer the following suggestions for replacing roses:
Hardy hibiscus
Mexican Mint Marigold
Red Hot Poker*
‘Mystic Spires’ Salvia
Pavonia/Rock Rose
Salvia Gregii
Pink Texas Skullcap
‘Silverado’ Sage*
Old-Fashioned Ruellia
‘Victoria Blue’ Salvia
Flame Acanthus
Turks Cap
Summer Phlox
‘Blue Princess’ Verbena
Dwarf Crape Myrtle
Agave*
Softleaf Yucca*
Jerusalem Sage
Blackfoot Daisy
Monarda
‘Hills Hardy’ Rosemary*
Lavender*
Catmint
‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum
‘Color Guard’ Yucca*
Variegated Flax Lily*
Kaleidoscope Abelia*
* Denotes the plant is evergreen
PLANT TRIVIA
How many plant species are utilized for medicine?
Past issues of the newsletter can be viewed on our website, Facebook page and blog: highlandlandscaping.wordpress.com
Page 2
The newest park in Southlake Town Square, yet to be given its final name, serves as the center
feature in the new, and soon to be bustling, Garden District. It provides an open space for residents of the Garden District, while also serving as a public park to be enjoyed by visitors of
Town Square.
The park is a demonstration of beautiful native, adapted, and water-wise plant species. Visitors may notice that most of the plants in the park stay green year-round and/or offer a variety
of interesting blooms, berries, foliage color, and fruit during different seasons of the year. The
park owns a generally formal design that fits the architecture of its surroundings, but also possesses informal featurettes that allow it to break free from formality and have a spirit of invitation and relaxation for its visitors.
The park’s design is very photogenic and provides abundant opportunities for great photographs of the landscape, family photos, and even selfies. It is a great place for a picnic in the
park, throwing a frisbee, reading a book, or your next outdoor event.
Page 3
Come have a look... be introduced to some new plant species and see how they can be used in our North Texas landscape!
Page 4
FEATURED PLANT-LEMON BALM
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) , a member of the mint family, is a herbaceous perennial. Lemon Balm is known by many names, including:
English balm, garden balm, Melissa, sweet balm and honey plant. Native
to Europe, Central Asia and Iran, it has become naturalized around the
world. Full sun to partial shade in a dry climate is preferred, but this
adaptable plant is now found growing naturally even in damp wastelands
at all levels of elevation. Because of its tolerance to dry conditions, this
naturally pest and disease resistant plant is often seen in traditional and
xeriscape landscape designs. Lemon Balm is also a favorite of hydroponic
growers. It does well in containers outdoors, and can be grown indoors if
located in a window
that receives at least
six hours of sunshine
a day.
Easy to grow,
Lemon Balm is an
erect plant with light
green, toothed
leaves. The leaves
grow on square,
branching stems. Its
mound shape gives
the plant a bushy appearance. Generally 28 –58 “ tall with a width of 1224”, the Lemon Balm plant is tolerant of trimming to maintain its size and
rounded lines. The leaves may be smooth or somewhat hairy, and emit a
soft lemon fragrance. Tiny flowers, grown in whirled clusters appear in
summer. The flowers, generally white, are full of nectar.
“Melissa” (Melissa officinalis) is the Greek word for honeybee. Historically,
one use for the Lemon Balm plant was to attract honeybees to promote
pollination. Hence, another known name, “Bee Balm”. Butterflies are
also attracted to the pollen.
The history surrounding Lemon Balm stems from its culinary and medicinal uses. Though somewhat difficult to document, it has been known
for thousands of years that the leaves are edible. “Officinalis” means
“used in medicine”. Information about Melissa and its medicinal uses was
recorded in Theophrastus’s “Historia Plantarum” about 300 B.C. In Genesis 43:11, the Bible refers to a balm, which many believe may be Lemon
Balm. Shakespeare speaks of Melissa in his writings. From there, the path
through Europe, to Spain, and finally to America is difficult to track with
certainty. Thomas Jefferson, as
recorded in his garden journal
(“Garden Book”), grew Lemon
Balm in his garden at Monticello
and at his farm. Century after
century, culture after culture,
people have discovered more
and varied medicinal purposes
for the plant leaves. Today, Lemon Balm is used in both traditional and alternative medicine for a
variety of illnesses and disorders.
Research on its varied healing
properties continues.
SEASONAL COLOR THIS MONTH...
Yuletide Camellia, Pink Icicle Camellia,
Shi-Shi Gashira Camellia,
Loquat, Winter Jasmine, Sweet Olive
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty
years ago. The second best time is now.”
Chinese Proverb
DECEMBER LANDSCAPE TASKS
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Plan landscape and hardscape projects
Prune ornamental trees
Mulch landscape beds to 3”
Cut-back deciduous perennials
Divide spring-flowering perennials
Plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers
Plant winter seasonal color
Apply pre-emergent for spring weeds
Schedule Fall clean-up services
Wrap palms before a deep freeze
Bring tropical plants into the garage
Buy winter goods like frost cloth and ice-melt
Water landscape beds before a freeze
Use of Lemon Balm in the culinary world is almost as varied as its use medicinally. For thousands
of years, teas were made from the leaves. In North
America, the early colonists used it in jellies and
jams as a replacement for lemons. Today it is added
to a wide variety of fruit and meat dishes, pastas,
candies, salads and ice cream (and the list goes on).
Lemon Balm is an effective mosquito repellent. It
mimics citronella oil. Simply rub fresh leaves on the
skin.
TRIVIA ANSWER
AT LEAST 70,000