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Moving Schipka Laurel for Rhododendron 'Loderi King George'

Picture it - a 6 ft. tall Schipka Laurel used to stand here (I forgot to take a "before" shot and don't feel like searching for one).  I knew when I planted it that it was probably a bad idea but thought it would be good for a fast-growing screen along the back fence-row. I'm sure all gardeners do this, especially if you have a new garden and are eager for greenery. In all fairness to the laurel, it is a useful plant and I would argue even a beautiful one when nicely maintained. Before I dug this one up, I stood back and admired it and felt the guilt pangs stabbing at my heart.  I removed a much larger laurel than this a few years ago and they are not the easiest plant to dig out. I was determined to save this one and I believe I was successful.  Here is a thought and you can take this to the bank - the pot you choose to hold a plant that you dig up will ALWAYS be too small. Always!  So, after finding the largest pot I could, here it is, after being cut back pretty dr
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10-12 inches!


They say that it is the 4th largest snow in history in the Portland area. It started after dark last night and quickly started accumulating. I went out around 10pm and started shaking my plants that were being weighted down. We had around 4 inches by 11pm. I was reading and watching TV and about to get ready for bed when the power flickered three times and then went out for good. It was out for about 3 hours (we estimate).

 This morning we woke up to at least 10 inches (probably more) and light snow continued to fall until noon. I was terribly worried about my plants but fortunately, most are still very small. My biggest concern was the big dogwood out back that was heavily loaded down with snow (see the photo below). When I ventured out this morning, I saw that two large limbs had broken. I got most of the heavy snow off and hope that it will be okay.

 We have dry weather predicted for the next several days. It is going to get cold again at night, in the 20s, but at least the tender plants are under a thick blanket of protection.

 
The dogwood tree





 
The  big apple tree. I did a lot of pruning on it last year.





 
Looking down our street from the entrance to our driveway


The Colorada Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Globosa') was completely buried. It is about 2 feet tall.







Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Lisa at GreenbowJanuary 11, 2017 at 1:46 PM

    Isn't this crazy?? Well you can make a picture for your Christmas cards next year. The best part about all this is that your young plants are covered and safe from the worst of the cold. It is an amazing amount of snow. I bet you don't even have a snow shovel. Be safe and warm.

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  2. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comJanuary 11, 2017 at 4:06 PM

    I wish I'd known and gone out last night to shake the snow off ! This morning I couldn't see or remember what was under the snow . I keep running out to swipe more off buried shrubs ;(

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  3. Jane StrongJanuary 11, 2017 at 5:32 PM

    Hard to believe that this area is near Portland, Oregon, not Portland, Maine. The red house is brilliant, shows color while everything else is white. Excellent photos as usual, especially like the dogwood and apple shots.

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  4. ShoalandaJanuary 11, 2017 at 9:00 PM

    How are you doing driving on this lovely fluff?

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 12, 2017 at 7:12 AM

      I did okay driving on the previous snows but they were not this severe. I was scheduled to work today but I called in. I am not going to attempt it. They are really good here about keeping the major roads clear. It is the side roads you have to be careful on.

      Delete
  5. SallysmomJanuary 12, 2017 at 5:22 AM

    Does your town shut down like we do down here in the south when it snows?

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 12, 2017 at 7:09 AM

      Yes, all the schools close and most residents do not know how to drive in it. I am surprised though at just how much traffic is on the roads while watching it all on the tv news. I guess a lot of people just have to go out (although a lot of people just got caught in it).

      Delete
  6. danger gardenJanuary 12, 2017 at 9:45 AM

    Isn't this just crazy? I can't say I'm a fan...but you've probably already figured that out. Hope you're enjoying your forced day off.

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  7. outlawgardenerJanuary 13, 2017 at 7:10 AM

    Snow is so beautiful on Christmas cards and from a distance. (like from here where we have none.) Hope you stay safe and sound.

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  8. SwimrayJanuary 13, 2017 at 5:38 PM

    ... But it's so beautiful. No major storms yet here in Virginia.
    Ray

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  9. AaronJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:36 PM

    Beautiful!

    I do hope you can hibernate indoors until it melts.

    (I must say I'm surprised the dogwood took the snow so hard. Is it a C. florida? BONAP shows them as being native up into Michigan and New Hampshire, so I would have thought they'd take snow like champ. Maybe yours got soft living in Oregon?) ;)

    Hope all your other plants are safe and comfortable under their insulating white blanket!

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:35 AM

      Aaron, it is c florida. It is the largest tree on our property. There were three broken limbs. Not bad, I suppose. It was just a lot of snow!

      Delete
  10. Hoover BooJanuary 14, 2017 at 7:02 AM

    Your winter is as wacky as ours has been! Better photo ops for you, though. The wet sidewalks here are kind of boring.

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  11. Rainy Day GardenerJanuary 15, 2017 at 9:10 PM

    It's like day 5 right?? I'm over this snow. It's suppose to snow and then melt here in the PNW. So melt already! :)

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  12. RobinLJanuary 17, 2017 at 5:08 PM

    You have to admit that it's lovely! But wow, way too much for the area, am I right? You probably never saw that much snow in Alabama, so you've already learned that a nice blanket of snow can actually be good for your plants, protecting them from the bitter cold.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:35 AM

      Robin, we would occassionally get a snow like this in Alabama but it would be gone the next day. It certainly never hung around for a week!

      Delete
  13. Phillip OliverJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:33 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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