esrosedotblog

BIG GARDENING

About twice a year we have to bring in the big gardening guns to handle stuff that isn't part of the weekly maintenance. The last time we did this was right before the wedding about six months ago. We are right on time.

The big item on the list is pruning. Stuff grows fast out here. And you have to prune it or nature will do the job for you. The wood is softer and doesn't handle big winds as well. A pruned tree is a tree that will not fall on your house anytime soon.

So, the big carob trees (male outside the fence, female inside) will get a conservative trim. The female is not a well woman. Entire branches are giving up. We may be able to save her but otherwise we are biding time.

The olive tree will get trimmed so it doesn't bear a lot of fruit. They leave branches with "spiky" leaves which are not bearing.

The tangerine has overdone itself this year. Exhausted from bearing fruit. It will be trimmed back dramatically and given a rest. The fruit is past and will be removed.

Other trees will be pruned out for shape and general good health.

The guys are also doing some other work like replacing some dead ornamental grasses outside the wall.

This whole operation used to be very anxiety producing for me as I thought I needed to be in tune with the work and what was going on. Little by little, year by year, I have realized that they know exactly what needs to be done and I do not. They also work harder than I could even want them to. In fact, I get concerned they will "overdo it".

Paul, who has managed the work for us since we came here, is totally attuned to what we want even before we are. I have relaxed.

Labels: garden