Unfortunately, weed fabric comes with problems. Let’s quickly chat about the disadvantages of using landscape fabric.
A few shrubs truly, noticeably benefit from being trimmed. In this article, we’ll talk about plants that you should get around to pruning in the springtime. You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view for months afterward.
These six shrubs are perfect for tucking into your regular garden or adding into your cut flower space to make it a bit more robust.
We may have “ColorChoice” right there in our brand name, but few other plants out there are as raucously colorful as Double Play Candy Corn spirea. The show begins in early spring, when the new growth begins to emerge in a bright, candy apple red shade. As the tender leaves continue to expand, they take on a vivid orange tone before finally developing into a pineapple yellow. In late spring/early summer, purple flower clusters cover the plant. Double Play Candy Corn spirea naturally grows as a tidy mound, making it a very easy-care plant as well as extremely versatile in the landscape or garden. It’s pretty enough to plant among your perennials in a flower garden, and durable enough for foundation plantings.
Why grow Double Play Candy Corn spirea?
| Dimensions | 1.5 × 1.5 ft |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1' PP#28,313, CBR#6176 |
| Zone | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Flower Color | Purple |
| Foliage Color | Orange, Yellow |
| Height | 1.5-2.5' |
| Width/Spread | 1.5-2.5' |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Soil | Average, Moist, Well-drained |
| Bloom Time | Late Spring |
| Uses | Borders, Foundations, Low Hedges, Mass Planting |
| Features | Alkaline soil, Attracts pollinators, Clay soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Foliage interest |
| Breeder | Dr. Tom Ranney, North Carolina State University |
| Blooms On | Old wood |
Soil: Any average, well-drained soil will do. Avoid very dry conditions, which can cause the foliage to turn brown at the edges.
Water: For best results, provide regular irrigation. The more sun the plant gets, the more water it will need, especially in warmer climates.
Fertilizing: Little needed. If desired, apply a granular rose fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Thanks to its naturally neat and compact habit, Double Play Candy Corn spirea needs little if any pruning.
