All the Dirt on Gardening

Our blackberry row Thornless Blackberry plants are beginning to make fruit even as the plants continue to produce more blossoms. They are also sending up the canes that will bear next year’s fruit. All this activity on the plants’ part is a signal to home gardener that it is time to do some maintenance.  There is plenty of advice available about selection, planting and care. Oklahoma State University Fact Sheet 6215 about growing blackberries in the home garden is at  https://bit.ly/2L2nyAp . Another good resource is at  https://bit.ly/2sfgDg3 .  During fruiting season blackberries need 2 to 4 inches of water a week. Their roots are shallow so watering more frequently at ground level rather than a deep soak or watering overhead will give the best results. A mulch made of organic material such as straw can be spread around them to keep the moisture level consistent. The fruit should be harvested every other morning and only the dull-black ones should b...

White Flowering Almond In the spring, Flowering Almond shrubs burst with double flowers on 3 or four foot tall branches. The flowers are usually pink but there are white ones available, too. The flowers look like carnations but they are the size of a dime.  Prunus triloba is a member of the plum family of trees and shrubs that includes cherries and the trees that produce almonds.  Since Flowering Almonds are so hardy and reliable, they thrive where more vulnerable plants could be damaged by poor soil or harsh weather. They thrive in zones 3 through 7. At their maximum size, Flowering Almond shrubs can grow 20-feet tall and 12-feet wide. They can be used as part of a flowering hedge row or pruned into small trees. Be sure to prune and shape them right after they flower. When looking for them online and in stores you will find both Prunus glandulosa and Prunus triloba. Pink Flowering Almond Both are native to Asia. Prunus glandulosa is the dwarf form...