Trees

Fleur de Jour- Rohan Obelisk Beech {Fagus sylvatica ‘Rohan Obelisk’}

December 4, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

I have a thing for beech trees. They are functional and unique and I love incorporating them into my landscape design work. The tree featured today is one that I’m currently adding to a design, the Rohan Obelisk Beech {Fagus sylvatica ‘Rohan Obelisk’}. I’m drawing them in on either side of the entryway. The tall columnar growth habit hints at formality while the bold, dark purple foliage adds a bit of visual interest. Beech trees are fairly slow growing, so reaching that 30’ height could take a while. If you’re hoping for a more established look, consider having your local garden center special order a large 25 gallon or 2’’ caliper tree.

USDA Zones: 4-7

Height: 25-30’
Width: a slim 15’ {perfect for urban landscapes
Light Requirement: Full Sun {at least 4 hours direct}
Soil Requirements: well-drained soil, doesn’t like to be soggy or wet
Water Requirements: regular watering

image from Oakland Nursery

Crimson Spire Oak- Quercus robur x Q. alba ‘Crimschmidt’

October 1, 2012 by Lacey 2 Comments

Drought tolerant? Check. Fast growing? Check. Amazing fall color? Check

The Crimson Spire Oak {Quercus robur x Q. alba ‘Crimschmidt’}has it all. Bred and produced by J. Frank Schmidt, this columnar tree is the perfect choice for the urban landscape. Crimson Spire combines the best of the English and White oaks to create columnar form, quick growth, and gorgeous reddish-orange fall color.

With a mature spread of just 15 feet, this oak is perfect for privacy screening or noise reduction. In just 20 years Crimson Spire can reach up to 45 feet tall, providing all its benefits in a timely manner.

Small or confined residential gardens can benefit from its slender shape, while still enjoying vibrant hues in fall, and deep greens all summer long.

USDA Zones: 4

Height: 30-45′

Width: 10-15′

Water Requirements: Moderate moisture just until established

Photo by: J. Frank Schmidt

Making Your Own Topiary

August 13, 2012 by Lacey 1 Comment

Summer is in the early stages of its farewell. As gardens are offering their full bounty, pumpkins and gourds fatten on their vines, and summer blooms begin to fade. This is the time of year, after a summer full of coneflowers, daisies, and zinnias, that I ponder on how to add interest to a landscape that can become barren and stark in winter months. I drew inspiration from my summer in Europe, and specifically a wonderful day trip to the palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Evergreens add year round structure to your landscape, and if implemented in a topiary form, will add additional interest. Topiaries can be purchased at any garden center, usually in varying sizes and shapes. As topiaries are more costly than their un-sculpted counterparts, creating your own can be extremely cost effective as well as fun.

1. Choose Your Plant

Its easy to start your topiary with a juvenile shrub. These are more simple because a smaller shrub can be molded as it grows. However a topiary can be accomplished with a grown & established plant as well.

If you have chosen to topiary a new shrub you might want to check out a topiary form. Wire forms can be purchased in a variety of shapes, everything from swans to giraffes, giving you the option for many unique topiaried forms to add interest in your garden. Although it might take a season or two for the plant to fill in the form, you will have a guide to fallow when pruning which makes keeping the shape much easier.

If your plant is established, adding a form might be difficult. Instead begin by clipping your shrub into a rough outline, then create your own guide out of thick wire. Topiary spirals, cones, and balls can easily be sculpted this way.

2. Training

The first thing to remember when it comes to homemade topiaries is that its a process, a slow {but gratifying} process.

Remember that when working with a growing shrub, no more than one inch should be pruned off in areas that need to be filled in. This pruning will encourage additional bushy growth.

For larger, more established shrubs three inches is the limit. More pruning than this will cause die back, and will ruin the topiary. By only taking three inches at a time, your sculpture will begin to take shape, and you wont have to worry about any burnt-looking, dry areas.

3. More Training & Pruning

Topiaries are never “finished”. A growing sculpture needs constant upkeep. If you have a finished product, or are still working on the training and shaping part, its the same: prune every 3 months.

Plant of the Week- Espalier Fruit Trees

August 7, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

Are you jealous of all your friends’ delicious fruit harvests? Would you love a peach, apple, pear, apricot, or plum in your yard, but don’t think you have the space? Why not try one of my favorites, espalier fruit trees.

With horizontal branches, these trees can be planted up against walls or fences {providing they still get some good direct sunlight} and provide maximum delight with minimal space. Although you can prune and train your own young fruit tree, many espalier fruit trees are available at your local nursery, all shaped and ready to go. Many of these espaliered trees have multiple varieties grafted on to one tree. Six espalier branches = six different varieties!

Keep your tree growing in the right direction with the assistance of some stakes and heavy

gauge wire. Be sure to prune off any rogue shoots in early spring, the perfect job

for a pair of Felco pruners.

April 3, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

Prunus x yedoensis ‘Snow Fountains’

Specimen trees like the ‘Snow Fountains’ weeping cherry

provide interest as focal points in a landscape.

although showy and unique year round

due to its small shape and arching, weeping

branches, spring is the most spectacular season to

View this miniature treasure.

A cousin to larger flowering cherries,

‘Snow Fountains’ boasts beautiful blossoms

in early spring. The long, graceful branches appear

like living bouquet in your garden.

USDA Zones: 5-8

Exposure: partial shade/full sun

Height: 10-12’

Width: 6-9’

Bloom time: spring

Soil media: prefers well drained soil

Water requirements: regular watering until established

Photo Attribution:

Boyert’s Greenhouse & Farm

www.boyerts.com

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