Post date: Apr 6, 2016 10:27:11 PM
I’m planting (mostly, or at least in concept) from big to small. Since I hired all the big conifer trees planted, I’ve been working on the shrubs, even though some of them (the ) were only seedlings.
So yesterday I dug holes for another Cornus (sericea, a species native to New Mexico) with red twigs. These were not available in any Taos nursery or at the hardware store, so I looked on line. Lowe’s seemed to have them, but required a phone call to verify. It took four phone calls to the store in Española (only an hour away) to verify that they had eight in stock. They were not quite the variety (‘Cardinal’) specified, but they are of the right size.
While at the store, I spotted Cistena, which I also need. I didn’t remember how many, but knew it was more than one, so I bought two. Good thing, since that is the number I need.
I planned to plant these as soon as I got home, but the wind was about 25 mph, so I put off ’til today to get them in the ground. I did set the pots in their holes. Good thing or they could have blown around. So I planted them today. Also dug three more holes for dwarf Blue Spruce. Now I have to find the plants.
Digging in this ‘soil’ (which varies widely from one part of my lot to another) can be a real chore. In many places the ground is mostly river rock 2 - 4”. And in most places it is very hard packed. So I use a digging bar which weighs about 10 pounds to break up the soil the loosen the rocks. Keeps me from getting sedentary, though I must rest after two or three holes.