DIY Network

Focal Points: Citrus Trees Focal Points: Citrus Trees From "Weekend Landscaping" episode WKL-107

Figure A

Having previously completed a handsome hardscape to frame this French kitchen garden (aka "jardin potager"), host Mayita Dinos and crew set to work filling in the space with a multitude of beautiful trees and plants. By the time they've completed their work, this space will boast a wealth of color and texture (figure A) and be well on its way to producing a bountiful harvest of vegetables, berries, herbs and edible flowers.

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Figure B

Inspired by some of the finest centuries-old potagers in Europe--like the example shown in figure B--this little kitchen garden will be a smaller but still elegant version of these gardens, filled with diversity and Old World charm in the finest tradition.

Planting Plan for a Jardin Potager

• To plan the planting layout, host Mayita Dinos uses landscape-design software and a digital picture of the quadrant hardscape to experiment with and preview the appearance of various plant material. Though the space is small, Dinos will include as many plants as possible to ensure an ample selection of herbs and vegetables.

• One of the first considerations is the addition of a vertical element that will balance the height of the spire trellises centered in each quadrant. For this purpose, Dinos chooses cypress trees, one of the most popular evergreen varieties. Four trees, one at each outer corner, will provide perfect visual "anchors."
  

  LI>Edible hedges will be added as background for the various plants within the quadrants, which will include raspberry and blackberry vines. Lavender planted along the edges of the paths will soften their boundaries as it spills over the perimeters. The addition of various herbs and vegetables completes the planting plan (figure C).

  Note: Although the "mixed bag" of plants featured in this project are native to various regions of the country (figure D), plant material should always be selected based on its compatibility with the climate where it will be located.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Most intermediate do-it-yourselfers will find this phase of the project to be about a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. It will require about 16 hours over the course of one weekend to complete.

Note: Remember, the hardscape has already been created in the first phase of this two-part project.

Sensational Citrus Trees

• Since this house has a northern exposure, plants requiring the most sun need to be placed beyond the shade cast by the house. Four sun-loving citrus trees, distributed among the four square French-style planters at the ends of the paths, will be sure to thrive since the home's shadow falls within the garden's outermost boundaries.
  

  Figure E

  As Dinos explains, the citrus tree has a long tradition in potagers. An evergreen, its wonderfully fragrant flowers--as well as its tasty fruit--makes it a favorite choice. For this potager, Dinos has chosen the Meyer Improved lemon (Citrus 'Improved Meyer') (figure E) to serve as the garden's focal points at the ends of the paths (terminal points of walkways in a garden should be marked with attractive visual elements).

  Note: In the French formal tradition, walkways or allées, usually lead to an art object or fountain.

• In colder climates, planting trees in containers is essential, since they must be brought indoors during harsh winter months.

  Tip: For quick and easy removal, simply leave the tree in a smaller pot within the planter.

  Expert Tip: (Kristin Cantrell, Monrovia Growers) Although some plants can survive cold winters in containers, it's essential to know which varieties are able to tolerate extreme temperatures. All planters aboveground will freeze first, long before anything planted in the ground. During exceptionally cold phases or in particularly cold climates, it's almost always best to bring the plants indoors.

• The Meyer lemon tree is ideal for smaller garden spaces like this one. It never grows taller than 10' and can be grown as a tree or a shrub. It also has a greater latitude in the range of temperatures it can tolerate and can therefore be grown successfully in somewhat colder climates than most citrus trees. Best of all, it produces fragrant, juicy lemons all year long.
  

  Figure F

  Expert Note: (Nan Sterman, garden writer) Fruit doesn't just develop anywhere on a tree. Examine a fruit tree and you'll see that only particular branches, known as fruiting wood, are fruit-bearing. To maintain good production, fruiting wood must be maintained over the life of the tree. Some trees fruit on new wood, some on old; either way, when you prune the tree, it stimulates the growth of new fruiting wood, helping maintain fruit production over time.

• After planting the last of the four trees in its square planter (figure F), Dinos and crew are ready to turn their attention to their next group of trees: the cypresses.

Time elapsed: 1 hour.

RESOURCES :
Plants from Monrovia Growers
Monrovia Growers
Website: www.monrovia.com

Plants from Ball Horticultural Company
Various plant material
Ball Horticulture Company
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com

French-Style Square Planter
30" square x 24" high
Accents of France
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
Phone: 323-653-4006
Fax: 323-653-4133
Email: accentsoffrance@attbi.com
Website: www.accents-of-france.com

Cast-Iron Hose Guides (Pineapple Finial Style)
Total Height (with stake): 16" (7.5" above ground)
Smith & Hawken
Website: www.smithandhawken.com

Concrete Curbing Material
Celtik Curb in La Jolla Blend (3 1/2" high x 3 1/2" deep x 7 7/8", 9 7/8" or 10 7/8" long)
Belgard
Fontana, CA 92337
Phone: n/a
Website: www.belgardhardscapes.com

Cedar Spire Trellis
Model: 5850
3.5 feet high
Plow & Hearth
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 434-977-3707
Website: www.plowhearth.com

GUESTS :
Nan Sterman
Email: nsterman@plantsoup.com
Garden Writer & Teacher

Kristin Cantrell
Plant Specialist (SE Regions), Monrovia Growers
Monrovia Nursery
E-mail: kcantrell@monrovia.com
Website: www.monrovia.com