The abundant white flowers and bright red or orange berries of the firethorn make it an attractive bush in landscaping.




Photograph by Shari Kaplan







It's not always easy finding qualified gardeners, arborists

By Tony Tomeo

I realize some people believe I gripe too much. I, however, feel I'm entitled to it occasionally. In fact, I started my business as a consulting horticulturist and arborist precisely because I have experienced so many violations of what is horticulturally correct while working at many of my past jobs. I have lost jobs because I griped too much, but now have made a business of it.

Most of my business has resulted from abuses inflicted by so-called "professionals." Those who read this column regularly know how I feel about "mow-blow-and-go" gardeners and tree workers known as "hackers." Now I have a few things to say about some of the techniques employed by certain landscapers and nurserymen. (They know who they are.)

Nothing bothers me more than a landscape designed to impress the client long enough for a check to be written, but not to necessarily perform well for long afterward. Although the vast majority of landscape designers take their work seriously and want their landscapes to last for many years, very few consider only the initial impression at the time of completion.

Qualified landscape designers consider the behavior of each species used in, as well as those affected by, their landscape. For example, established native oak trees that have not matured within a landscape should be protected from the ravages of excavation and irrigation by simply not installing new landscape features in direct proximity to the root systems.

All new installation should be located within preferred sun exposure and soil type. For another example, rhododendrons that prefer part shade and good drainage should not be located with direct sun exposure in very dense soil. For such a situation, a rhododendron that prefers direct sun exposure should be installed on a mound to enhance drainage--or another species should be selected.

One should also be aware that bigger is not necessarily better, as some landscapers like to impress with boxed trees. Most tree species may be field-grown or grown in boxes and installed in large sizes to provide instant effect. A few species, however, are not conducive to such cultural practices. This is the gripe I have with nurserymen. (After all, who is growing this stuff?)

The classic example and likely the one with which I have had the most experience is the various species of eucalyptus. Their root systems are naturally too dispersed to be confined without damage. If planted as very small and inexpensive trees, they can quickly become established and grow very quickly. If, however, grown in a 24-inch-wide box, eucalyptus spend many years recovering from root damage before they begin to grow. By this time, the same species planted from a No. 1-size nursery will be much larger. Many eucalyptus grown in larger boxes do not survive the first year in the landscape.

Fortunately, unqualified landscape designers and nurserymen are not as common as unqualified gardeners and arborists, but even the best occasionally make mistakes. Clients should become as familiar as possible with what is being done in their gardens by horticultural professionals to know what to expect long after completion of the landscape. With minimal research, some problems may be averted before they develop.

Berry of the Week: Firethorn

The common name is easily derived from the Latin or "botanical" name Pyracantha, which translates literally into "firethorn." The species name is usually omitted because many are cultivars of unidentified species and because the various species resemble each other.

Firethorn produces bright red or orange berries. I have never seen the rare cultivar with yellow berries. All but a few exhibit sharp thorns. The dark green, glossy leaves are about 1 to 4 inches long, depending on cultivar. Small, mildly fragrant, pale white flowers are not impressive individually, but occur in showy profusion on stems from the previous year. Berries appear and color in late summer or autumn and stay until winter, when they are eaten by birds.

Soil of poor quality is tolerable if it is not irrigated so regularly that it is constantly moist. Direct sun exposure is necessary for berry production. Although the thorns are bothersome, firethorn is suitable for espalier. It may not be suitable near expansive windows, however, as the windows may not be seen by birds inebriated from consumption of the ripe berries.

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Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.

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