This last winter has proven to be an interesting study in gardener’s personalities. I have found that they tend to fall into three categories. There is the “wait and see” group and the “rip it out now” group. The “rip it out now” group actually falls into two subgroups. We have the “rip it out now and replace it with the same thing because I love it and I don’t care if it freezes again next winter” and the “rip it out now and replace it with something that will live through a nuclear holocaust.” It is this last group that I want to address today.
By now (late May) it should be apparent what is going to survive and what is dead in our gardens. For the most part it seems to be the broad leaf evergreens that took the worst of our winter weather. Escallonias, Cistus, Pyracantha, Nandina, Viburnum tinus, Ceanothus and Cotoneaster all suffered severe damage and probably need replacing. The question is what do we replace them with that will survive the next Mega Storm. I have three very reliable suggestions.
The first is a shrub that comes in several forms. Osmanthus is a genus that provides us with at least 5 different evergreen shrubs, all of which are bone hardy for our northwest winters. Three of them look like English Holly only they don’t have the obnoxious habits of holly. The other two are fairly plain looking but extremely reliable and they have fragrant blooms in April and May. Osmanthus delavayi has dark green toothed leaves and Osmanthus burkwoodii has slightly larger leaves. Both plants make bullet-proof hedges and take to shearing just fine. They came through this last winter unscathed.
Laurels are another group of broad leaf shrubs that would have survived this last winter without a hitch. There are English laurels, Russian laurels and Portuguese laurels. Of the English laurel group there are multiple cultivars that range from the ground cover form called Mt. Vernon that only grows 1-2 feet tall to Otto Luyken that stays at a manageable 3-4 feet and standard and compact English that can top out at 10-25 feet tall. All varieties of laurels can be pruned and easily maintained at around 3-6 feet tall depending on the variety.
My final suggestion is a Japanese Holly that is hardy to -20 degrees. Northern Beauty is an attractive plant with small glossy green leaves (no prickles like English Holly) that when left along will reach 8-10 feet but when pruned can be kept at 3-5 feet. It has clean showy foliage that never gets any disease or insect problems. In this last winter it would have never skipped a beat.
What these above suggestions lack in colorful flowers they by far make up in dependability. So if you are willing to sacrifice some seasonal glitz for year ‘round durability then I would strongly recommend any of the above plants. They will never let you down and will always provide you with the structure that all gardens need.
Regardless of what personality group you fall into, it is time for action. Hopefully the above suggestions will help you decide how to proceed.
Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville. He can be reached at 425-334-2002 or online at info@sunnysidenursery.net.
