Shrub Identification and uses Tutor – Barry Dore

Difference between a tree and shrub Tree - one woody stem rises to produce branches, leaves and flowers Shrub – multi woody stems rise to produce branches, leaves and flowers

Heather – Erica Carnea 1. Evergreen 2. Full sun to light shade 3. Neutral to acid soils 4. Flowers - pink 5. Leaves thin and lanceolate

Rhodedendron 1. Evergreen 2. Prefers light shade but tolerates full sun 3. Neutral to acid soil 4. Large bell shaped flowers 5. Ovate shaped leaves

Barberry – Berberis thunbergii 1. Deciduous 2. Full sun to light shade 3. Likes most soils 4. Leaves are purple

Fire thorn – Pyracantha coccinea 1. Evergreen 2. Full sun 3. Like most soils 4. Orange/red berries 5. Leaves ovate shaped

Mahonia – Mahonia japonica 1. Evergreen 2. Prefers light shade 3. Likes most soils 4. Blue/black fruits 5. Pinnate leaves

Mexican orange – Choisya ternata 1. Evergreen 2. Likes most soils 3. Full sun or shade 4. White flower 5. Trifoliate leaves

Dogwood – Cornus alba 1. Deciduous 2. Likes all soils 3. Full sun to medium shade 4. Red wood appearance in winter

Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster horizontalis 1. Evergreen 2. Full sun to medium shade 3. Likes all soils 4. Red fruits 5. Small lanceolate leaves

Gorse – Ulex europaeus 1. Deciduous 2. Full sun 3. Neutral to acid soils 4. Lemon yellow flowers 5. Sharp spiny stem

Holly – Ilex aquifolium Evergreen Full sun to medium shade Like all soils Red round fruits Jagged edged leaves

Exercise Group A – discuss uses of shrubs on golf course Group B – discuss how to plant shrubs on golf course and time of year to plant Group C – aftercare of shrubs on the golf course

Usage of shrubs 1. Cover for nesting birds 2. Colourful display – appealing to members 3. Ground cover plants 4. Screening 5. Windbreak 6. Used for planting in a border eg. around the clubhouse or by a tee 7. Climbers on the clubhouse

Time of year for planting shrubs 1. Normally plant shrubs in Spring 2. Sometimes plant shrubs in Autumn depending on what type e.g.Barberry

Planting depth for shrubs 1. Nursery Depth 2. Container depth

Immediate aftercare of shrubs 1) Watering 2) Mulching 3) Feeding

Watering a. First 2 years will need lots of watering b. Once established will require less c. Perforated hose gives steady application of water d. Water in morning or late evening

Mulching 1) Keeps soil moist during dry periods 2) Keeps soil surface cool on hot days 3) Keeps annual weeds under control 4) Mulches provide nutrients to shrub

Feeding a. Gives newly planted shrubs a kick start eg. bone meal b. Give shrub a boost in spring when coming out of winter period c. Shrubs with larger flowering heads need more nutrients than others

General shrub aftercare 1) Weed control 2) Winter Protection 3) Cutting and dead-heading 4) Pruning 5) Feeding 6) Cultivating and leaf removal

Weed control a. Keep down weeds eg. couch grass b. Don’t hoe deeper than 1 inch – can damage shrub roots c. Loosens soil and leaves tidy finish d. Membrane on soil with mulch on top

Winter Protection a. Only severe winter may damage shrubs b. Base of shrub covered with straw c. Plastic screen can protect from severe frost

Cutting and Dead heading a. Cutting blooms for arranging indoor displays b. Deadheading – keeps shrub tidy and allows new flowers to grow

Pruning a. To remove unwanted growth from woody plants b. To shape the shrub as required c. To regulate the amount of blossom or fruit prodution

Digging over and leaf removal a. Forking over the soil in shrub bed helps prevent weeds and leaves bed tidy b. Removing the leaves in autumn from under shrubs

Pests, diseases and disorders that affect shrubs 1. Slugs 2. Aphids 3. Drought 4. Vandalism

Self Assessment 1. State names of 10 shrubs 2. State the uses of shrubs on a golf course 3. State depth of planting of shrubs 4. State immediate aftercare for shrubs 5. State general aftercare for shrubs 6. State common pests that affect shrubs

Plant spacing for most shrubs 1. Add the mature height of Shrub A and Shrub B together 2. Divide answer by three 3. Gives you typical planting space between the two shrubs

Four types of planting material 1. Container grown 2. Bare rooted 3. Balled 4. Pre-packaged

Container grown a. Most convenient way to buy shrubs b. Can plant all year round c. Expensive d. Can be left unplanted for weeks if kept moist

Bare-rooted a. Popular way to buy deciduous shrubs b. Planting between October and March c. Dug up at nursery with soil removed d. Less expensive than container grown e. Can be left unplanted for 3 to 4 days

Balled Type a. Popular way to buy evergreen shrubs b. Suitable for planting in September, October and April c. Dug out of nursery – soil ball wrapped in hessian sacking or nylon netting d. Can be left unplanted for weeks if kept moist

Pre-packaged a. Popular way to buy deciduous shrubs from shops b. Suitable for planting between October and March c. Bare-rooted surrounded by moist peat d. Cheaper than container grown e. Can be left unplanted for 3 to 4 days