Message Board

Dream Weaver Crabapple Hedge

Angela — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:56:57 GMT

Hello,
I would like to plant 3 dream weaver crabapples against my fence as a hedge between me and my neighbour's deck. From my research, I noticed they get 3feet wide. Can anyone offer how close I can safely plant them apart?

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

July Frost

Nate — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:54:10 GMT

I think I've given up on living in Alberta. It was -1c at the international airport last night while being +6 in the city as a low. The record low for the day was previously +6 including the international records. So we officially frost in every single month now. Might as well live in the arctic. I still find it hard to believe the temperature taking there is correct as no other area in all of metro edmonton frosted including, stony plain, leduc, spruce grove, fort saskatchewan, sherwood park.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Hot Topic - Plant Warning Labels

Moderator — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:31:28 GMT

July's Hot Topic:

Plant Warning Labels -
Let's Tell The Honest Truth!

Have you ever read the description on a plant tag or label? It usually sounds like it was written by a crafty marketer, highlighting all of the best features and attributes and making it seem like the plant is the greatest thing since sliced bread. They bloom forever, they are wonderfully shaped, they behave like adorable little schoolchildren with halos around their heads, and they give their unconditional love like a puppy dog. Isn't life grand?

It's not too often that you'll actually see something negative or detrimental on a plant tag. That should come as no surprise; after all, the marketers are only interested in selling more plants, and warnings don't necessarily help achieve that goal. The truth with most plants, however, is that they all have some bad points in a gardening sense, and some much more so than others. In fairness to the gardener, they should know these qualities as well, to help them make better purchasing decisions and to aid in their proper placement in a garden.

So it is with a sense of duty that we fulfill our role as the plant marketers' worst nemesis and give you the honest truth about some of the plants you'll find at your local garden center. Here are a few plant tags as we believe they should read, not necessarily as you will find them on the labels. After having a look at these, feel free to add your ideas for plant tags based on your experience. Let's tell it like it is!

Jim Says...

Shubert Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana 'Shubert') - Don't be fooled by the delightful spring flowers and purple foliage; this plant will sucker profusely both at the base and long distances from the plant, throughout the garden and even in your lawn. If that's not enough, it is virtually guaranteed to get disfiguring black knot disease for which there is no cure. Plant this wicked siren at your own peril!

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) - This plant has extremely colorful foliage, but beware - the thorns on this plant are sharper than a sack full of hypodermic needles! If you're into masochism and self-torture, you'll find pruning a barberry to be hours of nonstop fun. Don't wear white when pruning, though, as the bloodstains are terribly hard to remove.

Lamium (Lamium maculatum) - This lovely groundcover has very attractive foliage and flowers, and is both hardy and durable. For those who find more to be better, be prepared to fall in love with it, because it will eventually spread throughout all of your gardens, including those that it wasn't even planted in. In a few years you'll have a yard full of this stunning groundcover and pretty much nothing else.

White Poplar (Populus alba) - When one tree just isn't enough, plant one of these and you'll have a yard full of trees in no time. It suckers so profusely and at such great distances, it will be soon enjoyed by your neighbors on every side of your yard too. Tell them you believe in sharing and sharing alike; they'll either buy it and thank you, or you'll be on the receiving end of a lawsuit.

Stefan Says...

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) - This Asian introduction has a tropical looking beautiful compound leaf. It is a fast growing tree providing shade and fluffy white flowers in summer. As an added bonus, the flowers are perfumed with a repulsive odor which affords the tree with its aliases of "ghetto palm", "stink tree" and "garbage can tree". Be prepared to gasp around this tree when you are not able to breathe.

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) - An easy to grow spiked perennial with pink, white and mauve flowers, but frankly this plant is anything but obedient. In truth, the common name implies that the owner is the one who will be obedient to this plant in order to ensure that it stays in one place. A better name for this prolific spreader might be "Plant Of Servitude".

Recurrent Bloom Roses (Rosa spp.) - Besides varying degrees of thorns, it is often assumed that low maintenance "carefree" roses will freely rebloom all summer long with no further intervention. Unfortunately, this will only occur if the spent blooms are deadheaded regularly by you, the gardener. Once the plant starts developing hips, all the energy that would be used to produce the second flush of flowers is lost in the production of rosehips.

Poppies (Papaver spp.) - Made famous by the Evil Witch of the West in the classic movie 'Wizard of Oz' starring Judy Garland, it has been implied that poppies have a sweet smelling fragrance that pleasantly lulls you to sleep. But the opposite is true - poppies smell more like wet dog than anything else! Maybe the dog will enjoy sleeping there, but you sure won't.

What Do YOU Say?

Post your replies to this thread and BE HEARD!

Forum: Gardener's Edge

Blu Fox Willow eaten by worms

Brent — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:41:25 GMT

Hello,

I'm hoping someone has advice on the combat of worms, maggots actually, that are boring into my Blue Fox Willow shrubs. These insects start at the base and work their way up. Symptoms are sawdust around the trunk, poor/weak growth, and the eventual collapse of affected limbs. New shoots are coming up quickly, but one matured, they too will certainly be consumed.

I've heard of this problem before, but have not learned of remedies. At this point, I have an inclination to dig the plants out and burn them, killing the maggots. I would also treat the soil with Diazinon to kill any stragglers, hoping to prevent them from going after my Hakuro Nishiki Willows nearby (not sure they are even affected by these bugs).

I am not open to high maintenance plants, so annual chemical treatment (or other measures & efforts) is not of much interest to me. I would rather replace them with 'user friendly' alternatives...Junipers or Potentilla for example. However, as a last effort, I thought I would throw this out there to see if a reasonably simple solution exists.

Thanks,
Brent

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

white edges

Jerry — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:12:42 GMT

Hello,
I recently saw a maple tree with full branches of light green leaves with a white rim on each leaf. It was really lovely but I can't find info on it. Anyone know about this tree? I took a photo of the tree and would be glad to provide the photo digitally for anyone that can help me out here.
Thanks,
Jerry

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

identify plant

gus — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:25:38 GMT

I have this guy growing in the cracks of my driveway:

I had never noticed the flower before - it's quite small but a good looking flower nonetheless - what is this stuff?

Forum: Topical Discussions

A Wisteria in Saskatchewan???

treeboy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:22:30 GMT

'Tis true...

At the Patterson Gardens in Saskatoon a Wisteria macrostachya (Kentucky Wisteria) was planted 2 years ago... It's not only surviving, but has grown several feet already this season. Wow.

Is anyone else familiar with this species? Does anyone else know of Wisteria, whatever species growing in a Zone 2 or 3.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Hedge vplant with thornes suggestions

Deepstuff — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:20:33 GMT

Hi,
Anyone have suggestions or comments on hedge plants with thornes suitable for Canadian zone 5b. I'm thinking of Barberry but not sure they're large enough?

Thanks!

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Small wasp or fly on flowering crab

Barbara Shewchuk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:00:30 GMT

Someone I know has found a small wasp or fly on her 8' tall Thunderchild flowering crab. She believes it's sucking sap, as the twigs where the flies (wasps?) are found are dried up and snap easily. When she saw them in the evening (around 9 p.m. last night) some had huge (relatively speaking) distended abdomens that were reddish in colour. When she collected a couple of dead specimens on a twig this morning, the population was scarce, and none had the distended abdomens.

She wonders if they are going to damage her tree significantly, and if she should spray, or prune the affected branches.

She is going to a local nursery to see if she can get it identified.

Forum: Insect Pests and Diseases

Drought 2009

Daryl — Thur, 25 Jun 2009 18:11:55 GMT

Parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan are suffering from a drought. Here in Saskatoon, it was the driest spring since records starting being kept. Needless to say, farmers are concerned about crop failure and we're all a little worried about how this will aggravate a weakened economy.

On the home front, I've had to water my lawn and beds more than usual to keep my plants alive. Additions to the garden this year included some drought-tolerant stock like 'Magnus' echinacea, globe thistle, 'Kobold' liatris and goldenrod. So far, just about everything seems to be growing well, although I have noticed some casulties. A large part of my double-flowering plum is dead, and flowers appeared on only half of both crabapple trees.

Anyone else feeling the effects of the drought? I'd be interested to hear what your experience has been thus far.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Grafted tricolor willow

Monika — Thur, 25 Jun 2009 16:49:16 GMT

I noticed one of these shrubs at the garden center and it looked quite interesting. I have tried looking it up on the internet, but there is not a lot of information especially about the grafted standards. I was thinking of planting it in a corner between my house and deck. The back of my house is facing NW. My first question is about expected size. The label said it was grafted at 4ft, so since the regular variety can get up to 8ft should I expect this one to grow to12ft? I know this variety takes well to pruning so the size can be controlled, but I do want some height. One of the concerns I have is the hardiness of the grafted variety since snow cover will not offer any protection. I live in Winnipeg and was wondering if any one has any experience and/or comments. My second concern is the roots of the stem these shrubs are grafted onto. I know willow roots can be invasive and cause damage. I am thinking of planting this shrub about 4-5 ft from the house and close to a patio and deck, would this cause issues in the future?

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Sick Japanese tree lilac

Leila W. — Thur, 25 Jun 2009 03:41:35 GMT

We have a Japanese tree lilac planted in 2004. It was quite happy until late last summer when it seemed to be loosing some leaves early on one side. This spring it leaved out, but sparingly in general and not at all on a few branches on the week side. It will have flowers. doesn't appear to have any bugs, or fungus. Any thoughts on what this might be and how to correct it?

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

How many of YOU horticultural professionals have ran into this scenario?

treeboy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:24:48 GMT

I think one of the biggest problems in the horticultural industry is the fact that the average person in public does not take it seriously. Horticulture and arbicultue gets little respect from the average citizen..Most people just do not care about plants, trees and gardening in general... Look at most people's yards and trees if you want evidence to that statement. Whether you are a landscape designer, a horticultural consultor, gardener or an arborist I am sure you can relate to this... I find it truly amazing how often I hear this scenario.. I think many of you professionals in these fields can relate to THIS story (just substitute arborist with gardener, landscape designer, gardener or pest controller):

Joe Blow homeowner: "Can you help me with my tree... I don't know what to do with it"
Arborist (after doing a thorough evaluation): "Why, what is the problem?... It looks okay to me... no hazards, no impediments, doesn't need pruning, no insect or disease problems... A healthy fine Elm"
Joe Blow homeowner: "Well, I just, like, don't like it... It's ugly or something"
Arborist: "Ugly? Joe, you have a lovely Elm tree here. What is ugly about and what is it that I should do here?"
Joe Blow: "Well, I don't know... You're the expert, you tell me..."
Arborist: "But sir, you still have not told me what it is that you want me to do..."
Joe Blow: "Well, maybe cut the top of it off... I think it would look better.."
Arborist: "You mean pollard it? Cut it back?? Why?"
Joe Blow: "Because I think it would look better..."
Arborist: "Well, sir, I just can't recommend doing such a thing to this lovely specimen... As I said there are no problems with this tree other than the fact that for some reason you don't like it..."
Joe Blow: "Well, I don't like it... It has seeds, the leaves fall all over my lawn... It's messy... Maybe I should just have you remove the damn thing... I want to replant it with a tree that has no problems."
Arborist: "You want me to remove this lovely tree? Replant with a tree that "Has no problems"?"
Joe Blow: "Yes... I'm the boss and I know alot about trees these Dutch Elms are nasty... My neighbour has one and she gets a rash every summer from the cotton seeds that blow off of it."
Arborist: "Dutch Elm? What is a Dutch Elm? Cotton seeds? You mean she has a cottonwood tree?"
Joe Blow: "Don't they teach you anything at Arbiculture school... Yes, I Dutch Elm."
Arborist: "I am really sorry, sir, but I still don't know what it is you want me to do that is reasonable... I am not going to pollard your tree."
Joe Blow: "Okay, get out of here then... You're too damn expensive anyways... I'll get my nephew to come do it... Cheaper anyways and he's not a "Know it all".

Fun stuff. I wonder if Joe Blow homeowner would ever talk to his doctor, accountant, lawyer or dentist like this....

Forum: Topical Discussions

shrub yanking

bc northner — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:04:04 GMT

I have some shrubs I would like to remove, and NOT re-transplant. Can I do this now (June), or do I need to wait until fall. Although I do not want to replant the shrubs they are sitting next to existing other shrubs I don't want to mess with.

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Looking for Red Oak seed source in W. Canada

treeboy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:17:29 GMT

Hi folks...

I am looking for a source of Red Oak acorns on the Canadian Prairies.. The only mature Red Oaks I have ever seen up here are 1) One in Edmonton, AB 2) One that USED to be in the old CPR Nursery in Stathmore, AB.

Although I have seen both and know that the one in Edmonton is not only still there, but thriving, I do not if it is maturing seed at this time.

Nate, do you know?

If anyone else knows of an acorn producing Red oak speciman in AB, SK or MB, please contact me.

Thanks,
treeboy

Forum: Topical Discussions