Annuals You DIDN'T Know are Cold Hardy

Check out my latest YouTube video! 

youtube.com/watch?v=SASUBRhZfFM&feature=youtu.be

NatureMan

How to Make a Rosemary Christmas Tree

It is very easy and fun to make your own homemade Rosemary Christmas tree! Rosemary is a very popular herb that has needle like foliage that grows to 2-4 feet tall and wide at maturity. Rosemary is hardy down to about
10°F-15°F. Varieties have been cultivated like "Arp" to withstand temps to as cold as -10°F. But the traditional variety is only hardy to the teens at best for only a brief period of time. It is best grown indoors as a Christmas tree on a shelf, table centerpiece, or windowsill.

My Rosemary I bought was a small 6" pot only like 6"-8" tall and only 3"-4" wide back in May, and it was like $5 or something. Very cheap. It was small, but in ideal conditions in just one summer it can grow quite large! Mine now got to over 2 foot tall and 2 foot wide. Now MUCH less than that in width because it is now pyramidal. I had an extra red pot from a a little Norfolk Island Pine Christmas tree I bought last Christmas that has since died. I know it is not Christmas, it is only September, but I wanted to get it done so I don't have to worry about it. Plus, I will be hectic trying to get all my plants inside of the garage for winter protection, then making Christmas planters and decor. It will be one thing already checked off!

When making your Rosemary Christmas tree it is best to tie it near the top than in the middle. This way it will be more "plump" at the bottom adding the pyramidal "Christmas Tree" look to it. Then cut off any additional branches sticking out or in any way that ruins the shape or image. Also cut the top. You may be wondering as to why I have to cut off the top. The reason is, the tree may not be perfectly pryamdial and if you can have a shorter top then it will be more pyramidal in looks. But if you are satisfied with not cutting the top there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone does it differently. I use fishing line instead of twine or rope. This stuff is invisible. You want it to have the appearance of a natural Christmas Tree shape.

Good luck! Please leave your questions or comments if you have any.

NatureMan

'Edith Bogue' Soutern Magnolia Update: 9/11/18

My 'Edith Bogue' Southern Magnolia has grown wonderfully! It has gained over 2 feet in the past several months. I planted it back in early May. The tree was about a little over 3 foot tall. When in the pot it was just under 5 foot. (Don't always take into account the size once it's planted 😂). Now we are in September it has pretty much stopped growing except the leaves that have already emerged are getting bigger slightly. It has been from 90°F for highs to 60°F for highs in nearly a 2 week time. We had several days in the 90s then highs in the 60s and 70s. This I believe stunted the growth after having consistent temps in the upper 80s and 90s everyday, to well, the transition from summer to fall. Hot days to cool days back to hot days. September in Indiana is what I call a transition month. You will still see hot August like heat at times, and you will also see October or even November like temps all in the same month. Even when plants appear to not be growing. They are not necessarily dormant. When a plant is on a cycle of having certain weather for a long time the plant acclimates to those conditions. When there is a sudden shift in climate this can shock the plant. Rarely if ever harms it, it just stunts it's growth. Which is why in late summer or early Fall before plants go dormant from cold weather they usually either significantly slow growth or slow so much they appear to not be growing. This is very normal and is just apart of a plant's natural cycle. So back to my tree, it stunted growth a couple weeks ago, probably around late August or so when it start going from really hot and dry to hot and mild with more rain. Now all the 90s are over and temps have been steady between 70°F-80°F for highs and lows between 50°F-65°F instead of 65°F-75°F. I think it is done growing new leaves for the year, but the younger leaves still have some expanding and stiffening to do before the tree actually goes dormant. It is now almost as tall as me and I am slightly over 5' 10" tall.

It has performed so well this summer! I did heavy mulching around the trunk for better water retention to help from transplanting, and to have winter protection this winter. I have been soaking the base with a hose 1-2 times per week in the hottest parts of the summer. Once established watering it is not necessary, even in drought. I will not be giving it any winter protection besides the excessive mulching around the base for it's first year only. Once it establishes I will do normal mulching and leave mulch away from the trunk to prevent Volcano mulching which can kill trees. I won't talk about that in this post though. 

I hope y'all found this post interesting and or useful! Feel free to leave any questions or comments if you have any. Thanks! 🌱🌳

NatureMan