Message Board

shubert and amur cherry trees

ruth — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:28:55 GMT

We had 111 trees planted three years ago with a 66 or 90 inch spade according to the tree size. The first year all did well. Last spring we a had a very cold snap as the leaves were budding out. About 20 of these trees did not leaf last year. This spring they look like no leaves are about to appear. Any suggestions or do we consider them dead. we live in central Alberta. Ruth.

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

root maggots

Kaye Little — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:08:20 GMT

Does anyone know of a solution for root maggots? I have a problem with all members of the cabbage family. I am careful to rotate the location each year.

Forum: Edible Gardening - Fruits and Vegetables

Prairie Frost

Nate — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:15:19 GMT

Hey Jim:

Is everything alright in Winnipeg after the last couple days of hard frost? Its pretty late for -10 to be rolling around now. I hope none of your zone 4 trees had damage because I would love to see them show resilience to that kind of crazy weather. I'm sure your yard wasn't as cold as the airport readings though. It should be warming up really soon hopefully. Looks like we took the hit of cold at the best time possible right before everything started leafing out and we haven't seen frost since april 26th but I'm sure our airport has because a couple days in the city were lows around 1.5c. Good luck anyways with everything. I would love to see pictures of your trees this year if possible. I would love to try a honey locust after seeing the one you have.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Granular Fertilizer

Balley — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:22:57 GMT

I read recently that a good way to keep a mature Birch healthy is to punch holes in the ground, place some granular fertilizer into the holes and water it in well. My question, where can I find the right fertilizer. Every fertilizer I have found so far is either water soluble or slow release formulas.

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Decking

Shirley — Sun, 04 May 2008 19:54:41 GMT

We live in Kamloops, B.C. and need to re-do our deck in the back yard. What material is better for our area and our weather. Our problems with a wood decking have been; the need to shovel snow off it in the winter which ruins the finish, a lot of freezing during the winter and us wanting something is suitable for our area with little maintenance. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Shirley

Forum: Decks, Fences and Other Structures

Pieris japonica 'Forest Flame'

Glen — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:56:23 GMT

There I was, shopping at the local wallyworld and came across their newest selection of shrubs, most with labels stating "hardy to zone 5". Some did have zone 4 though, which at least has a little better chance of surviving our actual zone 3/2 winter. Azaleas, wiegela, cedars, euonymus, etc. They had a decent selection for the self-proclaimed zone pusher. Though, in all honesty I think they just received in their shipment a selection of so-called "hardy shrubs" and really didn't care if they were hardy for our Winterpeg winter. In a way it's a case of "buyer beware", just because the store sells it doesn't mean it's hardy for here.

So, I resisted until I came across Pieris japonica 'Forest Flame'. They listed it as zone 5 but I thought maybe they are wrong. If you check your favorite plants out on the internet different sites often disagree on zone ratings. Well, I go to the plant search section here at northscaping and the fine folks also rate this shrub as zone 5.

So, my question is, has anyone in colder climates tried this shrub, and if so, how did it perform for you? It's suppose to be evergreen, well I already know if it survives it would probably not be evergreen, but I am trying to determine if it will survive at all because that will determine where I plant it in the yard, or if I even give it a permanent spot or treat it as an expensive annual.

My other purchase was pachysandra terminalis, Japanese spurge. This one they state as zone 4 so maybe that's at least in the realm of possibilities for survival.

Regards,
Glenn

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Soil for azaleas

joel — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:13:19 GMT

Hello. I have a question regarding soil preparation for azaleas. I am going to be planting azaleas in my backyard and would like to prepare the soil soon. I read Jim Kohut's article on "Growing Azaleas and Rhododendrons in the North" and found it very useful and interesting. In the article, the soil recipe calls for 2 parts peat moss, 2 parts fallen pine needles, 1 part non-limestone sand and 1 part top quality black garden soil.

My question is what is considered non-limestone sand? I have gone to garden and landscape centres and they aren't sure what I mean. They have construction (builders) sand, all-purpose sand and play (beach) sand. I would like to use the least alkaline-type sand because the last thing I want to do is neutralize an acidic base that I am trying to create for my azaleas to thrive in. On a second note does top quality black garden soil mean topsoil or triple mix (topsoil,manure-compost,peat)

Thank you in advance for your help.

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Easter lily

Linda — Thur, 01 May 2008 23:08:00 GMT

Every year I get an Easter Lily and don't like to throw it away after blooming. Does anyone know whether or not commercially bought Easter Lilies can bloom again and what do you need to do with the plant to make this happen? Thanks

Forum: Annuals, Perennials and Flowers

Hot Topic - Out With The Old And In With The New

Moderator — Thur, 01 May 2008 15:25:39 GMT

May's Hot Topic:

Out With The Old And In With The New -

Are You 'Heirloom Annie' Or 'Trendy Tom'?

As in all retail industries, those retailers in the plant world are out to make a buck selling plants. The successful businesses are the ones that sells the most plants to you, the consumers, who are the gardeners and home landscapers of the world. Like all retailers, they leverage the power of marketing to sell you those plants. And theres no doubt that hot and trendy sells well; just look at the fashion world, or home decor.

But there are garden purists out there who find this troubling, and they have valid reasons. Many valuable heirloom or heritage plants of old are lost to commerce as retailers seek out the latest and greatest fads. No question, some of these new plant introductions are vast improvements, but theres also no doubt that many worthwhile gems have been condemned to the annals of history just because theyre old news.

Are you the type of gardener whos always on the prowl for the latest trend in the plant world, always looking for the next great star to illuminate your gardens? Or are you a traditionalist who values the venerable plants of the ages, or even a fundamentalist who values whats best rather than just whats new? Heres where our debaters stand;

Stefan Says...

Just what is going on in the horticultural industry? Each year there are new and improved strains of plants being introduced to the market, which I cannot condemn, as it is great to hear about these successful achievements. But what I really find appalling is that the market economy in which we live forces out of existence those plants we have grown to love and rely upon through years of testing by ourselves, our parents, and our grandparents.

Occasionally, your stumble on a relic that brings back memories of when you were a kid, or that your grandmother planted, earning accolades from the neighbors. But all to often, trendy colors, sizes, shapes etc. manipulate the market so that you end up changing your design. One example I recall is a geranium which my uncle use to grow in his bedding plant operation named Vermillion. It was red - really RED, not this orangish, cherryish, crimson-scarlet-fluorescent-burgundy crap that floods the market these days. And why has it been lost? Because the neo-plant growers are only interested in sales - not memories, not longevity.

Though most prevalent with annual bedding plants, this trend has since crossed the horticultural fence and is now controlling the perennial market as well. Check out a catalogue and compare it to one from ten years ago. What youll find is that the species and cultivars have changed drastically. With reduced production of older plants, they soon fall into the Heirloom plant category, and then what happens? The consumer ends up paying more for a plant that used to be very commonplace!

How do we respond to this? When you go into your favorite garden center, and there is a plant that you used to buy every year prior, and now its no longer there when you go in May to buy your bedding plants - let the grower know that this plant has been a staple in your landscape for years and you wish to keep it that way, especially if they want you as repeat customer! They often have seed left over from the last season which they can grow for you, but this year may be out of the question, as some seeds need very long germination times. But they may be able to accommodate you for next year.

By doing so, they can inform the plant breeders that there is a strong desire to maintain this plant in the market. Also, you may have been a recognizable regular customer, and thus can let your local garden center know just what your requirements are for the following year. This way, if the grower sees that the plant which many of their clients request appears to be getting phased out in favor of a new and improved plant, they can either stock up for themselves and ensure their customers are always satisfied, or inform the plant developers that the loss of a desired plant may hurt their business!

Jim Says...

Ill have to admit here and now, Im not a very nostalgic individual. That applies to most aspects of my life - I dont keep baby pictures around, I dont horde away old high school notebooks, and you wont find me shopping in many antique boutiques. The same goes for my plants - Im not easily moved to purchase a plant simply because it was discovered growing in Queen Victorias flower beds, or because it once graced my grandmothers garden. In fact, I tend to shun the plants that once graced my grandmothers garden...

Now much of that is just me and my eccentric personality, but I do have substantive reasons when it comes to plants. All marketing hyperbole aside, many of the new introductions bring us attributes that simply werent there before. We get new flower and fruit colors, new plant shapes and sizes, improved flavors and atypical flowering times. Breeding improvements have brought us variegated Jacobs ladder, orange-fruited crab apples and the inimitably delicious Honeycrisp apple! And as the ultimate testament, were now on the verge of a zone 3-hardy magnolia!

So while I may shed a tear or two for the loss of a truly flavorful rich red tomato or a hardy yellow-flowered rose, a brief stroll through my cutting-edge garden is all I need to regain my composure and go on with life. Out with the old, in with the new!

What Do YOU Say?

Post your replies to this thread and BE HEARD!

Forum: Gardener's Edge

Tulip bulb transplanting

Cindy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:37:04 GMT

I bought my first house just over a year ago and the previous owner had tulips and daffodils all over the property (rather randomly it seems). We would like to move the flowers into a more localized area, but we don't really know what we're doing :o) My husband and I tried marking them last year with bamboo skewers, but by the fall, the skewers had disappeared. We live in Montreal, Canada where summers are hot and humid and winters are cold and dry. Both flowers have just started to come out. So I have a number of questions:

1) Any suggestions on ways of marking them such that we will be able to find them in four or five months?

2) Is it possible to move the bulbs earlier than the fall?

3) Can we transplant them directly into the soil again or should we bring them indoors for the winter?

Thanks!
- Cindy

Forum: Annuals, Perennials and Flowers

Newest Gardens West Magazine

Treegirl — Thur, 24 Apr 2008 03:51:47 GMT

Wow,
Has anyone seen the new GardensWest, Prairie Edition?
There's a huge article about Jim's garden, with lots of great advice and some really nice pics! That Honeylocust is gorgeous, it is officially on my must have list!
Great article Jim, you did such a wonderful job of your yard. I'm sure that photo spread will be an inspiration to many a prairie gardener!
Koren in Saskatoon

Forum: Topical Discussions

Online Nurseries.

Nate — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:18:11 GMT

Hey everyone:

Is there any large nurseries in Canada or even USA that will do mail order on potted trees? The only one I've found so far is Hortico which has no catalogue up yet. I want to try Western Red Cedar, Dawn Redwood, Japanese Cherry and Sweet Gum tree. Yes, I know thats a shot in the dark but why not? Even though my local nurseries love to flood the lot with trees that are very borderline here, these ones I'm looking for are not anywhere to be found. They are all zone 5 except the cedar which has been claimed zone 4. I've also seen that there seems to be zone 4 Japanese cherries around. But either way, the closest place I can think of that would even offer these would be Kelowna or Kamloops and thats quite the trip for a couple potted trees, but I may have to do it. Thanks for any help.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Compact gold juniper

Daryl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:40:15 GMT

I'm trying to find a compact (no more than 2' tall and 6' wide) gold-coloured juniper for a south exposure against a house in zone 3 (USDA). I've been reading that the Pfizer varieties are not reliably hardy, but are there any other gold ones that are?

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

holly

Felicia Wrubel — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:41 GMT

The two hollies I have planted on the east side of my house look beaten-up. I live in the woods, but the area around the house has been cleared and is relatively sunny. The plants are three years old, and except for some deer munching in the first year have looked pretty good up til now. There is some graying and spotting in some leaves and the columnar holly has some bare branches. I was hoping that the columnar holly would grow and fill in a spot between the front porch and garage, but it hasn't grown and now looks sad. Should I 1) leave the plants where they and and treat by pruning and/or spraying with something, 2) replant in a sunnier location and fill in the spot by planting what?, 3) give up on them altogether. Any advice would by appreciated. We live on a lake in westcentral Michigan where it is wet and humid.

Forum: Topical Discussions

Pixs of rare Saskatoon trees...

treeboy — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:00:36 GMT

As promised, I downloaded some of my photos of unusual and rare trees in Saskatoon to Webshots.
I hope this link works... It doesn't seem to like a cut/paste application of a URL. I had to type this in by hand.

Go to www.webshots.com
Do a search for 'Saskatoon rare trees'
Click on pix of Basswood.
Click on album (after treeboy321)

Whew... There has got to be an easier way.

Forum: Trees and Shrubs