PatioHomeLandscapeCare.com

___________________________________________________________

Many of the following words or phrases are intended to be non-technical descriptors so as to allow our CHAMPions to better educate our clients.

Patio Homes by their nature are small space gardens. Our CHAMPions are trained to take a different approach to the management of these specialized gardens. Our approach will keep the natural integrity of the plant, encourage bloom and promote better health. We encourage our clients to use these terms when expressing a specific task.

Art and Horticulture as one expression - The composition of various plants is the art within the landscape. Horticulture is the care for the plants. The art and horticulture must be understood and performed and cannot be separated.

Bonsai	- To sculpture a shrub or tree into a miniature accent tree.
Braid	- Plants with very long stems that shoot straight up can sometime be lightly twisted with lower branches for the purpose of creating a more horizontal form.
Contrast (Texture)	- Each plant has a very specific leaf and size as well as a specific form that makes it unique. We at CHAMP promote that uniqueness to create that textural contrast.
(Color)	- In addition, each flowering plant has a specific colored flower that we preserve through select pruning rather than shearing off the color. We maintain the natural integrity of the plant by promoting the textural color contrast.
Crown Reduction	- Corrective pruning of trees and large columnar shrubs need to be lowered by trimming the larger branch of the “V-crouch” in order to encourage a new leader.
De-thatch	- Often plants are tightly sheared into globes or boxes whereby the outer edge has a growth of two to three inches of thatch. By pruning some of the knots at each service we can allow light to get to the interior of the plant for new growth.
Deadwood	- Many stems of trees and shrubs die and are removed through selective and corrective pruning for better appearance and health.
Encroach	- We encourage plants to grow together in a natural form, although we prohibit plants from overtaking other plants. We also trim to soften the edges of the hardscape.
Espalier	- A term that applies to a method of pruning plants flat against a wall or fence.
Flower Stalks	- Stems of the flowers when dead must be pruned for appearance sake. We select prune when there are large single flower stalk. We shear prune when there are clusters of spent flowers.
Frost Damage	- Bad news, many plants we use are frost tender. Good news, our frost never freezes the ground and kills the plant. Freeze is nature’s way of pruning...it rejuvenates the plant and promotes more flower. When frost occurs we do not trim off the damaged stems until we are somewhat assured the frost season is over which is usually the second week in March.
Functions of Plants	- CHAMP categorizes plants into five uses: Trees Shrubs Wall Plants/Vine Accent Plants Ground Covers Many plants may act as several functions. A tree can be a shrub, wall plant, or an accent plant; a shrub can be a tree; and a wall plant can be a tree or a shrub. Many vines on walls can also act as ground covers. We at CHAMP can help our clients determine what function is best for the area provided.
Hardscape	- Those constructed amenities in the garden that provide a certain function (walks, walls, patios, fences, water features). The landscape wants to complement and soften these amenities and not encroach upon them.
Integrated Edges	- A concept of maintaining plants to soften the edges of hardscape and allowing different plants to co-mingle together to keep their own integrity without encroachment onto other plants . Pruning to promote integrated edges can best be described as a fine piece of art rather than “paint by numbers.”
Lift	- Refers to trimming larger shrubs up from the ground to create a textural contrast from other plants and for ease of maintenance.
Lift & Lace	- Selective and corrective pruning of tree branches to allow wind to blow through, reduce cross branching, eliminate dead and diseased branches, and prune branches that become dangerous to people or property. Lift refers to trimming branches above walks, drives, and roofs. Lace refers to working the interior for better health.
Long Hairs	- Spikes or tendrils that shoot out from the intended form of the plant. These are selectively pruned by reaching into the interior of the plant.
Management	- Pro-active approach to maintaining landscapes rather than a reactive approach...our guiding principle.
Open-Up	- Sometimes referred to as “Lace.” It is the trimming of interior branches of shrubs to make it appear more upright and/or open.
Pineapple	- A form of trimming off the lower and upper spikes to Agaves and Yuccas and the fronds of ornamental palms into “Pineapple” looking trunks. CHAMP would prefer to only trim the lower spikes for a more natural look.
Reach-In	- In order to keep a plant contained, we select prune the longer stems by pruning into the interior of the plant rather than pruning only at the outside edge of the plant.
Selective Prune	- A method of pruning by using hand pruners rather than shears. Stems are cut individually to form the plant naturally; to work functionally and artistically; and to maintain the plant’s health. Over time, select pruning can lift, lower, open up, Bonsai and espalier a plant based on the owner’s wishes. Select pruning may require an “Annual Spring Cleaning” to keep the design intent intact.
Shear Prune	- A method of pruning using hedge shears to shape plants into geometric forms. Shearing keeps vines contained as well as large shrubs contained in small planter beds. It is CHAMP’S policy to shear prune two or three times a year and select prune all other times.
Spikes	- Long blades (leaves) like those of Yuccas and Agaves.
Spring Cleaning	- Yes, we should do “spring cleaning” for the outside also! As plants grow three dimensionally there comes a time when some hard pruning is needed to continue the desired effect. On sheared pruned plants, de-thatching is necessary for the health of the plant. In addition, those large trees and columnar shrubs need structural pruning for containment. Frost tender plants need to be severely pruned each year after the winter season. Our one time spring cleaning program prepares the landscape for the summer growing season.
Stakes	- Wooden or metal supports keep a tree or shrub upright until it can stand on its own. We remove all stakes adjacent to the trunks of the trees and also remove stakes to vines. When stakes are necessary they will be placed away from the trunk to allow the tree to flex in the wind.
Strip	- Pruning or peeling only those spikes of Yuccas and Agaves that are laying on the ground or dead. We do not like to “pineapple” the plants by “stripping” too high.
Structural Pruning	- Pruning of tree for health, longevity, safety and containment. Many beautiful trees are planted in patio homes that should not have been planted. This pruning should be performed during our “Spring Cleaning Program”.
Stubble	- When shear pruning is performed over a large period of time a matted, tufted ball of stems are formed. Constant shearing new growth does not allow the plant to develop and also prohibits light from entering the lower branches for rejuvenation.
Stub Back	- Severely trimming back a plant for rejuvenation after frost season or for containment once a year.
Suckers	- Many trees and shrubs may have new growth on the trunks and lower stems that need to be pruned off as they appear. On newly planted trees we may encourage the suckers to give strength to the young trees.
Tendrils	- Long stems of vines and shrubs that either need to be espaliered or selectively pruned to maintain the intended form.
Tree Form	- Trimming a plant into a single or multi trunk small ornamental tree.
Thatch	- The build-up of a tight mass of stems that is created by constant, hard shearing.