[Arid_gardener] green cloud sage

[Olin Miller]

Mountain States Wholesale Nursery holds the patent  for most of the
Leucophyllum cultivars.  Their recommendations for pruning at
http://www.mswn.com/index2.htm  :

" ... They prefer well-drained soils, and will rot out if over watered. Too
much shade, water, or fertilizer can cause plants to become leggy. If you
plant them in full sun, and allow ample room for growth, very little pruning
should be required. If you must prune them, do so in the spring, since the
summer heat will produce a flush of new growth. Please don't shape them into
gumdrops or tabletops! Not only does this destroy their lovely natural form,
it removes all of the flower buds. Just let them do their thing, and you'll
be rewarded with masses of fragrant flowers. "

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dot" <dotcartman at yahoo.com>
To: <Arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 10:14 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] green cloud sage


> Hello, when I bought my house 5 years ago, it had 7 green cloud sage with
> the pinkish flowers. I'm having trouble with them and I found your May
> 2000 article and now I feel even more confused about care. They've been on
> a watering system that waters for 30 minutes three times a week in summer
> then down to one in winter. Thats the schedule that was set up for us by
> the landscape company and unless I hand water or we get a new scheduling
> box, I don't know how to fix that.
>
> I try to prune all of them into a nice round shape to about 4-5ft high but
> Im never sure what time of year I should, or how often, to get them to
> fill in. Three of them on the west side of the house just look sad. They
> get the most sun and never quite fill in in the middle. I thought about
> putting moon dust on them in November and March but wasn't sure if that
> was best.
>
> Can you give me a good care regimen for them? Is it too late to make them
> into nice full cupcakes?