Joe’s Journal, Spring Edition: Planting Trees into the Landscape Garden, Part II
Happy spring! In our previous blog, we discussed two basic planting designs: the specimen tree and the hedge. There is much more to designing a landscape garden. When thinking of a space, think of it as a room. The garden rooms may feature a patio or deck around which you incorporate a planting. Trees provide a focal point to the room or planted space. They also provide a number of other functions as we shall see.
There are a number of themes to consider for the planned and planted garden. Here are a few with suggested trees from our working palette. But don’t get hung up on this list, there are lots more to choose from, and in future blogs, we’ll flesh out our gardens with shrubs, perennials, and ground covers!
So, let’s start with…
The corkscrew willow is grown for its contorted branching. It is a small to medium size tree growing to 20-40 feet high and 15-25 feet wide. It grows best in full sun in moist soils. It attracts pollinators and butterflies. Plant in the Asian Garden, Butterfly Garden, Cutting Garden, Pollinator Garden, or Winter Garden.
The weeping willow (Salix bablyonica) is a medium to large deciduous shade tree, with pendulous branching. It grows to 30-40 feet in height and spread, forming a broad, round, and graceful habit. It is the first tree to leaf out in spring and the last to drop in fall. The foliage is fine textured, turning gold or yellow in the fall. Plant in full sun and in moist soil. It grows rapidly, but is weak wooded, and can be messy. Snow and ice can damage the tree. It is best to plant this tree away from structures and septic systems, as its roots are invasive. It is rather at home near ponds, streams and meadows. The tree is a wildlife host: it attracts bees, pollinators and caterpillars. In fact, it has a number of insect and disease issues, including borers, leaf spots, and cankers. However, it does have a place in the Butterfly Garden, Pollinator Garden, Water Garden, and Winter Garden. It resistant to black walnut, deer, and is sometimes used for erosion control.
In addition to planting as a specimen tree, the American elm, a native, is attractive to wildlife. It is found in swamps, riparian areas, in soils rich in organic matter. However, it will grow in average, moist well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. It is tolerant of urban conditions. Open grown trees develop an arching crown, its most striking landscape feature. It has a fibrous root system, which makes it easy to transplant. It has a rapid rate of growth. American elm attracts butterflies, pollinators, and songbirds. Plant into a naturalized area or Woodland Garden, Butterfly Garden, Native Garden, Pollinator Garden, or Winter Garden. It is resistant to compaction, deer, drought, urban and conditions. Plant only Dutch Elm Disease-resistant cultivars.
Crabapples (Malus spp.) are a wildlife food source. They attract caterpillars, deer and songbirds. If you have a plan to defend against such incursions, then they certainly can be included in the Edible Garden as they produce a small fruit, an apple! Crabapples can have a round to spreading or vase shaped crown. They tolerate a range of soils, but prefer soils that are slightly acidic, moist, and well drained. Plant in full sun. They bloom early to mid-spring, attracting pollinators. The flowers range from pink, purple lavender, red/burgundy or white. Fall color is most often gold/yellow.
The Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is a native evergreen conifer. It is a wildlife food source and provides winter interest. Tolerant of wide range of soil conditions, it prefers full sun, moist, well drained and fertile soils. An ornamental landscape tree, plant singly or in hedges, borders, or woodland areas. Attracts butterflies, pollinators, songbirds, small mammals. Plant in the Native, Butterfly, or Pollinator Garden. It is resistant to deer and rabbits.
The Freeman maple (Acer x Freemanii) is a hybrid of red and silver maples with attributes of the best of each species: it is fast growing, but strong-wooded. Plant in well-drained, moist, acidic soils in full sun or part shade. It is tolerant to clay soils, tolerates some drought and occasionally wet soils. A medium textured tree with orange, red to burgundy fall color. Plant in the Asian Garden, Cottage Garden or Rain Garden.
Green giant arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata) is a large, evergreen with scale like foliage and dense, columnar-pyramidal habit. Best in moist soil, full sun with light afternoon shade. Resists most diseases, periodic droughts and deer. It is not tolerant to salt spray. It can grow 3-4 feet per year, with a width of 12-18 feet. Individuals as specimens, trimmed into hedges or privacy screens. Plant as a hedge for screening and privacy, and in the Winter Garden in small groups, or as a specimen. It attracts songbirds, resists deer, drought, insects, and wind.
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a native tree planted for its to brilliant fall color of shades of red, burgundy, orange, and yellow. It prefers to be grown in full sun in well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter. It prefers a slightly acidic to alkaline pH (6.0 – 8.0). It attracts pollinators, butterflies and songbirds. Plant in the lawn, Woodland Garden, Native Garden, or Pollinator Garden.
Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) is a native tree with glossy two-toned leaves. It is found in swampy areas, lowlands, floodplains, along streams and lakes. Prefers full sun, moist to wet acidic soil with a high mineral content. It is adaptable to drier sites, tolerant of spring flooding and fairly dry summers when established. It is difficult to transplant and establish, therefore it is best to plant smaller caliper trees (1-2 inches). Plant near a pond, stream or other wet, low sites. It has no serious insect or disease problems. Acorns are attractive to wildlife, birds, deer, and black bear! Plant in the lawn, meadow, or naturalized area. As a shade tree, it attracts butterflies, pollinators, and songbirds. Use in the Butterfly Garden, Native Garden, Pollinator Garden. It is resistant to black walnut, drought, dry soil, poor and wet soil.
Weeping European Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain”) is broadleaf, deciduous tree with pendulous, drooping branches. It grows to 25 feet in height with a 15’ spread with purplish leaves in spring that are slow to leaf out. It has a smooth, dark gray bark. It is slow growing and suitable for small spaces. European beech does best in deep, rich, moist, but well drained soil in full sun to part shade. It will not tolerate wet or poorly drained soils. It can be difficult to transplant, so plant smaller caliper (1-2 inches) trees. It does not have serious insect or disease problems, but likes neither hot summers nor urban environments. The upright form of European beech can be pruned to a hedge or screen. It is native to rich woodlands, and natural areas. Beechnuts are eaten by birds and small mammals. Plant in the woodland, cottage, English, or shade garden. Alternatively, plant as a specimen or accent tree, and in small groups. It is resistant to deer browse.
In our next blog, we’ll feature the uses of both liquid and granular fertilizers and soil amendments, and how to select the right ones for the landscape garden!
~ Signing off for now, Joe
