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| While shopping for annuals I stumbled across a blooming baby mock orange and couldn't resist it. It grew all summer in a big pot on my deck because I didn't have a clue as to where to put it. Well, it grew to almost twice it's original size and must be planted now.
I'd like to put it in my front yard, but it's pretty full. At one time I thought I might be able to plant it near my front porch, but now I'm not so sure. The practical side of me tells me I probably can't. It's a variegated mock orange, there was no other info on the tag. The space inside the fenced garden area is 7 feet wide. If I centered the shrub, and put it 3.5 feet in from the fence, do you think I could keep it within a resonable size by pruning each year right after bloom? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by lisanti07028 z6NJ (My Page) on Sun, Sep 16, 12 at 16:15
| While the variegated one may be somewhat smaller, mock oranges get BIG in all directions. Yes, you can prune it after blooming, but it's the new growth (for next year's flowers) that gets so, well, exuberant - like 8 feet worth of exuberant. I think that it would fill up your whole beautiful garden there, with no room left for anything else. In the interests of full disclosure, one of my happiest days was when I finally dug to China and got rid of my mock oranges; loved the flowers, hated the upkeep. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Sep 17, 12 at 7:33
| to keep a mock orange within some bounds.. google: rejuvenation pruning of flowering shrubs that is a 3 year system of pruning.. removing the oldest growth ... as close to the soil as you can ... NEVER prune at height ... though thoroughly glorious in bloom.. it is a rather ugly plant the rest of the year ... it will NOT fit there ... and even if you did force it in.. frankly.. it will ruin the aesthetic of your glorious entryway ... it would be like putting a pro footballer player in a ballet.. and saying.. oh, but he is such a good football player ... yeah.. sure.. he is.. but he doesnt belong there .... [hows that for an analogy .. lol] ken |
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| It's deciduous form and branching pattern doesn't warrant a front row seat, especially if you're going to limit it's size. To me, it's a backyard plant. It only looks good when blooming. You can do better up front in a confined location. Mike |
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- Posted by kennebunker 5, s. ME (My Page) on Mon, Sep 17, 12 at 8:38
| (Heaving a heavy sigh) Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. |
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| My regular mock orange (which was already at this old farm when we bought it) suckers, so I eventually mowed one down, moved one to an area with more space, and am now just dealing with the sprouts. It isn't an easily confined plant IME. |
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- Posted by kennebunker 5, s. ME (My Page) on Tue, Sep 18, 12 at 17:24
| I'll be putting it in the back yard, but can't think where. I wish I'd never seen the darn little thing. |
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| If you like scented plants, put it somewhere you will catch the scent, perhaps upwind of a sitting area or window. |
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