Archive for February, 2010

Guide To Fine-Flowering Trees

15 Feb 2010

2 Comments  Front Yard Landscaping

Type

Flower and Fruit

Other Facts

Ht.

ASH

White flower; clustered  orange  berries   summer   and fall.

Erect; deep green foliage; grows in most soils.

25 ft.

European    Mountain

CATALPA

Showy white flower. Long Pods

Hardy; rapid growing; stands heat, drought.

65 ft.

Western

CRABAPPLE

Crimson  bloom with white; maroon fruit lasts all winter.

Erect tree; sturdy; blooms earliest of the crabs.

12 ft.

Altney Flowering Crab

Bechtel’s Flowering Crab

Large, fragrant, light-pink flower; purple fruit.

Pyramidal shape; ideal for small lawns.

15 ft.

Hopa Flowering Crab

Fragrant, deep-rose bloom; tiny red apples.

Erect; purple foliage.

15 ft.

Japanese Flowering Crab

Rose-pink blossom; orange fruit in fall.

Very attractive in bloom.

20 ft.

Purple-Leaf Flowering Crab

Wine-red flower; deep red fruit lasts all winter; good jelly.

Bronze foliage turns bright red in fall.

12 ft.

Red Flowering Crab

Single carmine buds; white blossom turns pink; small blood-red fruit.

Round top; stands severe winters, droughts.

18 ft.

White Flowering Crab

White lasting flowers; red-skin fruit; good jelly.

Erect; successful in North; hardy, disease-free.

20 ft.

CHERRY

White flower; large, purplish, juicy cherry.

Massive tree; attains great age.

100 ft.

Black

Nanking 

White blossom; light red fruit.

Bushy.

10 ft.

Oriental

Bright rose-pink flower.

Erect.

25 ft.

DOGWOOD

White flower.

Heavy foliage.

25 ft.

Chinese

Red

Red flower.

Heavy foliage; year-round beauty.

20 ft.

White         

Open white flower; clusters of red berries.

Red leaves in fall; pyramidal spreading shape.

20 ft.

Type

Flower and Fruit

Other Facts

Ht.

GOLDEN CHAIN

Long clusters yellow berries, 18 in. long; 6 or 8 on single twig.

Erect; bright clover-like leaves.

30 ft.

 

HAWTHORN

Dense clusters of creamy white flowers; scarlet berry clusters until winter.

Glossy broad leaves are red-orange in fall.

20 ft.

 

HORSECHESTNUT

Pink to red flowers.

Beautiful tree.

60 ft.

Red

JUDAS TREE

Dense rosy-lavender flowers.

Heart-shaped, dark green foliage; in North, plant in sheltered place.

25 ft.

 

Redbud

LINDEN 

Waxy, creamy white flowers.

Rapid grower.

 

 

LOCUST

White pea blossoms.

Erect; picturesque.

30 ft.

Thornless Honey or White

MAGNOLIA

Early spring flowers; 6 in. blooms, white inside & rosy-violet outside.

Upright, round; deep green waxy foliage; very hardy.

14 ft.

M. soulangeana

Star

White flower; small fruit.

Early blooming; spreading.

14 ft.

PEACH

Deep rose flower; small red peaches.

Bright red foliage in spring; deep maroon in fall.

20 ft.

 

Red-Leaf

PLUM

White flower; purple fruit, good jelly.

Withstands strong winds; grows at beach in sandy soil.

8 ft.

Beach

PURPLE FRINGE

Hair-like flowers cover whole surface; looks like cloud of smoke.

Spreading; needs space, sunshine; shiny green foliage.

12 ft.

Smoke Tree

 

SILVERBELL

Dainty, open white flower; 4-winged dry fruit.

 

30 ft.

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Water and Care of Trees

13 Feb 2010

No Comment  Front Landscaping

Because of the transpiration of a tree, especially in the hot days of summer, lawn and specimen trees must be watered at least every 10 days in summer to avoid trouble. Since the roots are deep, light watering just won’t do. The hose or sprinkler should be used for at least an hour. If the soil is hard packed, loosen it with a gardening fork.

For a large tree, drive or bore a number of 1 1/2 inch holes 3 to 5 inches deep and 3 feet apart, below the outer branches. Use a canvas hose or cover the hose with a gunny sack and let the water run. When planting new trees or small trees, if you put a few pieces of drain tile in the hole and put the hose in these, you can insure the water reaching the subsoil. Cover the drain-tile holes with stones to avoid evaporation.

Tips On Care

Certain trees will not live long if a fill of soil is laid over their roots, or if a terrace of blacktop, stone, brick or concrete paving blocks is laid over their feeding roots. Large, valuable trees should be protected with drain tile so that they will get water and air. The bark should be protected from dirt from a fill directly against it. You can buy metal tree wells, 3 to 7 feet across and 1 to 3 feet high, or build a masonry wall.

The wall can be capped with a circle of bricks or a low wall to make an extra seat on the terrace. If you have some surface other than sod or earth around the tree, see that it does not extend as far as the tree’s outer feeding roots, and leave a circle of natural soil around the trunk. This can be planted.

Care for your trees as injuries occur rather than wait to call in a tree surgeon and allow a weakened spot to remain untreated.  Remove all dead, decayed, diseased or injured bark.  Do this by removing the entire limb, or, on a large limb or trunk, dig out the decayed matter, sterilizing and waterproofing the cut surfaces with creosote and liquid tar. White lead or paint are not as good to use as they will not seal when used on damp surfaces. Fill deep wounds with concrete. Use a pruning hook carefully, avoiding bruises.

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