The "Arbor Farm" Report

July 5, 2010

You can plant trees in the summer

Filed under: Uncategorized — arbor @ 11:17 am

We often get asked if it’s OK to plant trees during the summer months. We continue to plant trees throughout the summer. It’s important that the trees being planted have been removed from the field in the spring, or started in containers in the spring or previous year. During the summer there will be more stress on the plant, but careful monitoring of watering will help the plant develop strong roots and overcome the stress.

Some interesting trees that are available at Arbor Farms:

Autumn Gold Ginkgo
45 feet tall and 35 feet wide at maturity. Gold fall color. Upright, broad shape as it ages. A hardy male tree (doesn’t produce fruit). Use as a street or lawn tree.

Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Pyramidal European Hornbeam


35 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity. Yellow fall color. Dense, compact, narrow when young, becoming oval. Symmetrical and formal in appearance. It is heat and drought resistant, seems to be relatively free of disease and pest problems.

Ft. McNair Horsechestnut

Fort McNair Horsechestnut

Fort McNair Horsechestnut


40 feet tall and 30 feet wide at maturity. Yellow fall color. A rounded, very symmetrical tree with bright red flowers in the spring–flowers are produced in 8 inch long spires. Very striking in bloom.

Weeping Japanese Larch

Weeping Larch

Weeping Larch

Stake to desired height with a weeping form. Bright yellow fall color. Unusual looking specimen with a highly weeping form. All the pendulous branches will droop down from the staked plant in a dramatic fashion. Foliage will drop making it an interesting specimen even in winter.

Japanese Beetles, Aphids and Mites…oh my…..

Filed under: Uncategorized — arbor @ 11:08 am

This is the time of year brings out some of the worst garden pests. We’ve included links to Ohio State University Fact Sheets about each pest. These fact sheets include identification information and methods of control for each. We can also provide identification and solutions to your problems here at the nursery. Bring in a sample of the plant with the damage and include samples of the insect if possible.

Japanese Beetles

These shiny, rainbow-hued beetles can defoliate plants quickly. They are easily spotted, and their damage is very visible. Defoliation can stress a plant enough that it might cause serious damage. The easiest method of ridding yourself of these insects is to knock them into a solution of soapy water and allow them to die there. Insecticides can also help to eliminate them, but the beetles drop quickly from plants so it might be difficult to catch them in the spray. These beetles love all members of the “Rose” family and particularly love plants that are already in stress due to lack of water.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2504.html

Aphids

These insects suck fluids from plants, and can also transmit viruses to plants. They are very small and are difficult to see. Often the best indication that you have Aphids is the presence of “honeydew” which is the excrement from the insect. The honeydew can cause mold with a sooty look to grow, or it can look white and slightly fuzzy. Close looks at your plants will show aphids lined up on the underside of leaves and along stems. Often leaves will be unnaturally curled and discolored.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2031.html

Mites

These extremely tiny relations to spiders suck on plants. Mottling/stipling on leaves of plants and browning on evergreens (Dwarf Alberta Spruce are particularly susceptible) can be an indication of mite damage. To check for mites hold a white piece of paper beneath the branches of a plant and gently tap the branch—mites will show as very tiny black or red dots on the paper. If you look closely they will move.

Mites are easily knocked from plants using water. When watering your Dwarf Alberta Spruce lightly spray the branches with water.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2012.html

Maple Bladder Gall

Filed under: Uncategorized — arbor @ 10:22 am

Maple Bladder Gall

Many of our customers bring in maple leaves that are covered in little red, bumps. They are worried that the maples have a disease that will kill them, or damage them in some way.

These red bumps (Maple Bladder Gall) are caused by a small mite, and are actually the result of previous damage by the mite. Major damage to the trees is rare.

See this link for further information:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2004.html

June 3, 2010

Trees for Small Spaces

Filed under: Tree Selection — Tags: — arbor @ 11:33 am
Snow Fountains Weeping White Cherry

Snow Fountains Weeping White Cherry

Many of our customers find that their space for trees is limited by the size of their yard, or by the location of buildings and other features. We do have a variety trees that can fill these spaces beautifully. The Snow Fountains White Weeping Cherry is a tree that will reach 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide while providing an abundance of white blooms early in the spring.

Measure your space carefully to make sure that your trees will fit the space as they grow. A common mistake is to place a tree too close to a structure when it is young, and where pruning will ultimately become a burden and will affect the beauty of the tree.

Bring us the dimensions of your landscape bed and note where windows, doors, sidewalks and other building features may affect the placement of your new tree. Sometimes a tree isn’t the proper solution to your landscape problem, but read on for a list of small trees that can fit most tight spaces happily.

Fox Valley Dwarf River Birch
10′ X 10′
Rounded shape with an attractive cinnamon and cream exfoliating bark. Excellent resistance to birch borer.

Coralburst Crabapple
15′ X 15′
Coral pink buds, and double rose flowers. Good disease resistance in a small tree with gorgeous rose flowers and bronze fruit.

Louisa Crabapple
15′ X 15′
A pink flowered weeping crab with excellent form.

Sargent Tina Crabapple
6′ X 6′
Bright red buds opening to single white flowers; bright red ¼” fruit. Most petite crabapple.

Peve Minaret Baldcypress
4′-6′ X 6′-8′
Dwarf version of the bald cypress. Great for screening.

Weeping Japanese Larch
Stake to desired height
Unusual looking specimen with a highly weeping form. All the pendulous branches will droop down from the staked plant in a dramatic fashion.

Japanese Maples
Range from 8 feet by 8 feet to 15 feet by 15 feet when mature.
Many types and sizes that are slow growing. They prefer protection from west winds and afternoon sun and range in color from Orange, to green, to dark reddish purple.

Lavender Twist Redbud
8′-10′ X 8′-10′
Small spring-flowering weeper. Great accent tree.

Cotoneaster Patio Tree
5′ X 5′
Glossy dark green/pink to white flowers Small patio tree with a stiffly weeping habit. Bright orange-red berries in fall.

Fringetree
12′-20′ X 12′-20′
Creamy flowers with bluish-black fruit in fall-attractive to birds.

Hibiscus-”Rose of Sharon” (Tree Form)
10′ X 8′
Showy double flowers bloom all summer amid bright green serrated leaves. Will handle some shade.

Hydrangea (Tree Form)
8′-10′ X 8′-10′
Limelight, Pee Gee, Pink Diamond, Quickfire and Tardiva Hydrangeas in tree form. Bloom late in summer into fall.

Dwarf Korean Lilac and Miss Kim Lilac (Tree Form)
4′ X 5′ head
Rounded Violet-purple flowers late spring Top grafted lilac on a standard. The standard will remain at the same height, but the head will continue to grow. Excellent patio tree.

Weeping Pussy Willow
15′ X 10′
Gray-green Silvery pink catkins that appear in winter or early spring and gray-green foliage. Graceful weeping form.

Dappled Willow Standard
9′ X 6′
The new growth is a glossy bright pink which unfolds into variegated slender leaves dappled with colors of pink, white, and green.

Dwarf Burning Bush Standard
8′ X 8′ head
Dwarf Burning Bush grafted on a standard. Bright red fall color.

Fragrant Viburnum Standard
8′ X 8′ head
Viburnum with fragrant, white, round clusters of flowers in spring.

Tiger Eye Sumac
6′ X 6′
Beautiful golden-leafed form. New growth is a lively green, quickly changing to yellow showing a nice contrast with the rosy-pink leaf stems.

Baby Blue Eyes and Sester Dwarf Colorado Spruces
12′ X 6′
Dwarf forms of blue spruce with a very slow growth rate.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce
6′-8′ X 5′
Dwarf form Alberta Spruce with a slow growth rate and conical shape.

 

Take a look at our tree lists to find the perfect fit for your landscape.

June 2, 2010

Powdery Mildew

Filed under: Plant pests and diseases — Tags: , — arbor @ 1:40 pm
 
Powdery Mildew on Ninebark

This spring we had warmer than usual temperatures during some days with very cool, damp nights. Though plants in general have been beautiful this year; this kind of weather can lead to very specific problems with some. We have been having many questions about ninebarks with a white, fuzzy substance on the leaves. This is powdery mildew.

There are some general care tips to keep powdery mildew from spreading:

  • Prune leaves and stems affected from the plant and carefully discard any plant debris. Clean up any leaves that have dropped and any plant litter beneath the affected plant.
  • Spray with a fungicide and develop a regular routine of spraying every 10-14 days.
  • Discontinue heavy watering of the plant. Ninebarks may need extra water to become established, but they are tough plants and can withstand dry conditions later.
Here are two links with great information on controlling powdery mildew.

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-5-W.pdf

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3047.html

May 4, 2010

Small Evergreen Shrubs

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — arbor @ 3:46 pm
Hedgehog Spruce

Hedgehog Spruce

Hedgehog Spruce.  Low, cushion-shaped plant. Greyish blue-green, thin, short needles. Excellent for rock or trough garden. Slow-growing to 1.5’ X 2.5’ 

Slowmound Mugo Pine

Slowmound Mugo Pine

Slowmound Mugo Pine.  The dense, dark green mound is one of the best, with highly reliable color, texture, growth rate and habit.  Beautiful year-round, it produces many showy buds and matures to a wide, even shape that is naturally compact.  Slow-growing to 1’ -2’ tall.

Golden Sprite Hinoki Cypress

Golden Sprite Hinoki Cypress

Golden Sprite Hinoki Cypress.  A rounded, little bun-shaped plant with small, thin foliage tipped bright yellow gradually shaded to green.  Can take some shade.  Very slow-growing to 1.5’ X 2’

Tom Thumb Oriental Spruce

Tom Thumb Oriental Spruce

Tom Thumb Oriental Spruce.  Striking golden fingers of tight foliage point out from the center of this attractive layered globe. Desirable for small garden spaces, tucked beneath taller trees or in trough or rock gardens. For best color, site in plenty of sun, but protect from super hot conditions. American Conifer Society 2007 Collector’s Conifer of the Year.  Prefers ample moisture and rich, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Slow-growing to 1.5’ X 2.5’

White Pygmy Sawara Cypress

White Pygmy Sawara Cypress

White Pygmy Sawara Cypress.  Tiny strands of feathery, white-tipped foliage that produce a fine, velvety texture. Unique white color provides year-round color in the rock garden or trough and maintains its size without pruning. Growth tends to be more open in shadier sites, but plants prefer protection from scorching sun.  Slow-growing to 1’ – 3’ tall.

Pixie Dust Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Pixie Dust Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Pixie Dust Dwarf Alberta Spruce.  Extremely dense, compact and slow growing—miniature Dwarf Alberta Spruce with yellow new growth in summer. Contrasts dramatically with the deep-green, mature foliage. American Conifer Society 2006 Collector’s Conifer of the Year. Trough, container or rock garden. Provide ample moisture and full sun for the best color.  Slow-growing to 3’ – 5’ tall.

Watch for a new blog posts on small deciduous shrubs, shrubs that are short but wide, long and lean shrubs and trees, and small ornamental trees.  Our staff members are willing to help you select the shrubs and trees that fit your space requirements.  Also take a look at the  product sheets that are available on our website.

Annuals and Tropicals

Filed under: Uncategorized — arbor @ 11:56 am
Thriller, Filler, Spiller

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

Our sales staff members are “Proven Winners” certified and can aid you in selecting the correct annual plants for any location in your yard. We sell a wide variety of annuals, vegetables and herbs along with many containers so that you can create your own annual displays.

Container creation—rules of thumb

• Thriller—This is your plant that adds excitement and height to your container. It is your showpiece and doesn’t need to be an annual plant. Try combining small shrubs, a grass, or maybe a larger tropical plant as your “thriller.” Start with your thriller, then add your spiller and filler to bring your composition together.

• Spiller—This plant will trail over the edge of your container. We carry licorice plant, dicondra, ivy, vinca, ivy geranium, verbena, sweet potato vine and other types of annuals that will fill this need. Spillers are great for hanging containers that are at eye-level or above.

• Filler—These plants will blend well with your “thriller” and compliment the colors and textures of that plant. They will fill space, but allow the thriller to be the star.

Some other things to consider while creating your container:

• The light and water needs of each of the plants that you use. Use plants with similar growing needs so that they will grow together in harmony. As an example: We have a hanging container that includes begonia and Euphorbia “Diamond Frost.” Begonias prefer to dry out a bit between waterings, and Euphorbia can survive in a dry location.

• The size that the plants will become and the size of the pot that you are using. You wouldn’t want to use a sweet potato vine as a spiller in an 8” pot.

• The proportion of the pot, and the weight of the plants that will be distributed toward the top of the container. You won’t want your plants to overwhelm your container, or appear to be very small in comparison. You also don’t want your container to tip over every time the kids and dog run by.

• Consider using vegetables as part of your design. Squash and tomato plants can make great spillers, while peppers and lettuce or kale can make great fillers. Millet for your birds can provide a “thriller” in purple.

Annual house

Container plants can deplete the nutrients in the potting soil quickly. We “feed” our containers using Fertilome’s “Blooming and Rooting” plant food every week or two. This keeps the flowers coming and promotes healthy growth. You can also use this on any blooming plant (Endless Summer Hydrangeas love it), and your vegetables will like it too.

Check our blog regularly to see more hints and information about Annuals and Tropicals available at Arbor Farms.

April 26, 2010

Wisteria in Bloom

Filed under: Nursery News — Tags: , — arbor @ 10:03 am
Wisteria in bloom

Wisteria in bloom

This year the Wisteria on our arbor is blooming as it’s never bloomed before. Some serious pruning and root pruning sometimes does a blooming plant some good. Always be sure that you are pruning at the correct time of the year to make sure that your blooms will be just as gorgeous as these.

April 23, 2010

Annuals and Vegetables are here!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — arbor @ 10:33 am

We received our first shipment of annuals and vegetables yesterday. Our tropicals should arrive some time next week.

April 14, 2010

Now Blooming!

Filed under: Uncategorized — arbor @ 1:27 pm
Ann Magnolia Blossoms

Ann Magnolia Blossoms

Blooming trees and shrubs look great this year. One favorite is the Ann Magnolia. It is our smallest magnolia; growing to about 8 feet.
Cherokee Brave Dogwood blossom

Cherokee Brave Dogwood blossom

Cherokee Brave Dogwoods are small trees that enjoy some protection from wind and hot afternoon sun. Place them around other trees or buildings.
Double Pink Weeping Cherry Blossoms

Double Pink Weeping Cherry Blossoms

Clear pink flowers and a larger mature size to about 25 feet are points in favor of the Double Pink Weeping Cherry.
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