Georgia Magazine - September 2016 - 54B

Gardens plant of the month F all is the best time to plant shrubs and trees in the South. While temperatures are cooling down, the soil is still warm. This allows for optimal root growth so the plant can become established and grow strong before the next spring and summer. Looking to fill in your landscape with some new shrubs this fall? Commonly called the fringe flower, Loropetalum is an evergreen shrub with several varieties that offer different heights and foliage from green to a deep burgundy. Its flowers have a unique, fringy look and come in variations of white, pink and red. Traditionally used in the landscape, it also can be planted in containers for yearround beauty. 'Crimson Fire' Loropetalum With its dark, ruby-red foliage that keeps its color all year, the 'Crimson Fire' dwarf variety is an attractive accent that contrasts well with other greenery in the landscape. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is cold-, heat- and droughttolerant once established. 'Crimson Fire' blooms bright pink flowers in the spring and summer and produces a lovely fragrance. Its compact size and spreading habit make it ideal for groundcover or mass plantings. It also works well as a shrub border around the property or garden beds or in containers to flank an entryway. Planting shrubs Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball. Because Georgia's native red clay isn't ideal for plants, always amend your soil with a good planting mix, such as Pike Planting Mix, in a 50/50 ratio. Amending the soil is critical; it breaks up the clay to allow for better root growth and proper drainage. Next, place a small handful of Find it this month! Want to win? Are you a resourceful reader? One lucky reader who finds and submits the correct answers to these trivia questions will win a $25 Target gift card. Answers can be found in this month's digital edition. 1) What type of tractor does Ruth Wilson's family own? 2) What city dedicated a marker to honor Butch, a former University of Georgia mascot? 3) What Southern Regional Education Board program specifically helps students in health-related fields avoid paying out-of-state tuition? COURTESY PIKE NURSERIES Planting for fall Bonu conte s nt E.B. Stone Sure Start fertilizer in the bottom of the hole and incorporate it into the soil to help the new shrub establish and to prevent transplant shock. Make sure the top of the original root ball is 1 inch above ground level, and fill in with the remaining soil. Firmly tap soil to remove any air pockets, and water it thoroughly. It's important that you keep your new shrub well-watered while it's establishing-even in cold weather! Source: Pike Nurseries, pikenurseries.com TARGET gift card $25 Corn mazes: a bumper How to enter: crop of fall fun, Send an email to magazine@georgia emc.com with the answers to all five questions by Sept. 30, 2016. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. (If more than one person answers all the questions correctly, we'll draw from among all correct answers to determine the $25 Target gift card winner.) page 34 September 2016 www.georgiamagazine .org 01_Cover_SW_0916.ind d 1 4) How many lesson plans are in the SunPower for Schools curriculum? 5) What ornate object is shown in the photo accompanying the calendar listing for Gifts and Prayers: The Romanovs and Their Subjects? 54B More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 8/12/16 12:47 AM GEORGIA MAGAZINE http://www.pikenurseries.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - September 2016