Common name:Marina Strawberry Madrone
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'
Marina Strawberry Tree (Arbutus marina) is a small-to-medium evergreen tree that is one of the most popular specimen trees for Southern California gardens. It matures at 40’ tall and 30’ wide and is easily kept in the 15’ range with regular pruning. It has a deep red bark and deep green foliage that resembles a Manzanita. This tree is appropriate in almost any garden setting with almost any soil or moisture level. When it is young, it grows quickly, so it benefits greatly from some selective pruning. The natural growth habit is more shrub-like, especially in the multi-trunk form, so removing some of the lower new branches and exposing the trunk will improve the look and shape. Once the tree canopy is out of reach, a licensed arborist should maintain the tree to keep its natural shape. This tree should be planted at least three feet away from any hardscape areas, eight feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about two feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems. This tree is a hybrid of the Arbutus unedo. They share several traits, but the Arbutus ‘Marina’ grows faster and can reach a larger size at maturity. It also has a more reddish tone to its bark color.
Common name:Italian Cypress
Botanical name:Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta'
Italian Cypress is often associated with Italian and Spanish architecture, providing columns in the landscape. They often reach 60' tall. 'Stricta' is compact, columnar and produces long, straight branches with deep green foliage.
Common name:Yew Pine
Botanical name:Podocarpus macrophyllus
The Podocarpus macrophyllus is a beautiful plant that forms a slender column. Its pointed leaves are dark green in color, with a length of 4". This makes a good hedge, screen, or single specimen plant.
Designer: N/A
Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.