May 2016 - Peach RootstockAccording to USDA maps, we’re zone 7. Of course, we’ve learned

May 2016 - Peach RootstockAccording to USDA maps, we’re zone 7. Of course, we’ve learned over time that that is not the case, we’re at least 6B if not 6A. I didn’t know that when we ordered this little ornamental peach tree ‘Crimson Cascade’. Well, the scion has since died (it was only hardy to z7) and we’ve been left with this rootstock as I figured out what to do next.I tried contacted the company that sold us the tree, but they never got back to me. Reading up online, this could possibly be a named somethingerother, but it may also just have been grown from seed. As in, nothing special in particular, and therefore it’s time to pull this out and replace it with something awesome.I’ve been pretty torn about how to handle this space b/c it is visible from the porch and most of the garden - it’s highly visible. Which is why I initially splurged on a senselessly beautiful ornamental in the first place. It also needs to be small, lest it cover up too much of the garden view. Finally bit the bullet and reserved the last little ‘Cresthaven’ Peach tree at the nursery. Peaches are not commonly grown here - getting the correct placement is crucial. After giving it some thought and talking it over with V, it’s looking best to put it in the garden near the other peach trees in the highly protected area along the east side of the garden (Two Triangles bed). This will require removing the wonky Sourwood (which is impacting the health of one of the Cherry trees) and the already half dead Locust which is next to it. Gardening is remarkably like editing.So far I haven’t been having good luck this season with the peonies or the dahlias, which normally I might consider here. Of course I haven’t had the energy to do much in the garden, so they’ve pretty much had to fend for themselves (no consistent watering, fertilization has happened whenever). Full sun, dry steep slope, and there’s now a healthy patch of clover at the base of the rootstock, so whatever I grow here will have to be okay with those conditions. Pink spring blooms preferred, or pink/purple any time of year really. Shrub or vigorous forb. No roses. Any suggestions? So far I’m considering Weigela or a dwarf Kalmia latifolia or Rhododendron catawbiense but these might be hard to get a hold of for cheap… of course it seems silly to be acquiring things when there’s already stuff that needs a new home. The well drilling guys squished some plants in the North-of-the-shed bed, which was always thrown together somewhat out of necessity. V would really prefer that bed to not exist so that’s a bunch of plants to relocate when we can find the time and energy…as always, we could use more rain. -- source link

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