Construct a Wave® Petunia Tree
Handyman Garden Project Generates Creative Landscape Displays
Trees of hardware and steel pipe show off Wave® petunias and other annuals like ivy-leaf geraniums. These handyman garden projects generate creative landscape displays.
Overview
Double Wave® and Tidal Wave® petunias enhance residential and commercial landscapes when shown off in flower trees. These hardware display systems, often called Petunia Trees when fitted with petunias, create landscape traffic stoppers. They may also provide landscape focal points.
Landscape gardeners can use any annual plant with colorful cascading flowers in flower tree displays. Canadian and European landscape gardeners often feature ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) in this and similar forms.
Construction Information
- Steel pipes and assorted hardware form underpinnings of flower tree displays. Constructing a flower tree is a challenging landscape project. Structural materials are relatively inexpensive and available at do-it-yourself and home improvement stores. Forms easily come apart for winter storage.
- Order commercially grown seedlings (small plants) early in the new year from mail order companies or local nurseries. Some local nurseries grow special orders when requested in late autumn before ordering seeds for the coming season.
- Construction and display of petunia flower trees are rewarding projects for community and garden groups, and energetic homeowners. First year construction and placement decisions are difficult challenges. Buying plants and container soil each year are the most expensive parts.
Construction Materials
- Sixteen 9-to-12-inch diameter plastic pots with drainage holes and rims. Buy pots from supplier before construction. Fashion rings to hold pots to exact circumference necessary to hold lip of pot.
- One 12-foot steel pipe approximately 3-inch outer diameter (O.D.);
- One 4-foot steel pipe to serve as sunken sleeve, slightly larger than main pipe;
- One inch O.D. 16-gauge steel tubing to make a total of 15 radial branches (7 1' 9" branches, 5 1' 3" branches, and 3 9" branches);
- One half-inch O.D. 16-gauge steel tubing (3 upright supports of 9-to-12 inches to hold top tier pot);
- Four 3-inch clamps to surround trunk and receive radial branches and top supports;
- Rust primer and glossy enamel - enough for two coats on tree and branches;
- Two circular caps - one sized to keep debris out of sunken sleeve in winter, and one to keep debris out of main trunk during growing season.
Construction Dimensions
- Bottom tier: 2' 9" above the ground; branches extend 1' 9" from trunk to ring; spacing is 51.5° on center between any two branches;
- Third tier: 2' 0" above pot rim on bottom tier; branches extend 1' 3" from trunk to ring; spacing is 72° between 5 branches;
- Second tier: 1' 6" above pot rim on third tier; branches extend 9" from trunk to ring; spacing is 120° between 3 branches;
- Top tier: 9" above pot rim on second tier; one pot upright and supported by three half-inch O.D. 16-gauge steel tubes.
Water and Fertilizer
Water access and frequent irrigation, sometimes daily, are vital to the success of the flower tree project. For ease and exact results, connect drip irrigation or other water system to a garden hose or underground sprinkler system.
Water-soluble fertilizer specific for display plants can be delivered with the irrigation system. A backup valve is essential for an irrigation line that delivers fertilizer.
Reference
- Diagrams are from the author's files; originally distributed by the now-defunct Professional Plant Growers Association.
- This article suggests materials and measurements. Each handyman, however, has preferences and local stores stock regionally different and specific materials.
Wave® Petunia Articles
© Text and photographs, except as noted, by Georgene A. Bramlage. 2008. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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