Category: Trees & Shrubs

  • Jack Frost Exceedingly Bad Day

    Jack Frost Exceedingly Bad Day

    Yesterday we had snow, then rain, then ice and then snow again.  When I woke this morning it was a frigid 26 degrees.

    You’d think I’d be used to spring snow.  I’ve lived in southern New England all my life where the weather is anything but predictable.

    I’m not.

    Every time Jack Frost lays waste to the landscape I’m surprised.  Yesterday Jack was having an exceedingly bad day.

    While the pictures below show plants at their worst I assure you they’ll be fine.  In a few day they’ll look as good as when it was in the sixties last week.

    Hellebore (Helleborus sp.) sent to Hell
    Hellebore (Helleborus sp.) thrives in weather like this. In a few days you won’t know the plant was under half an inch of ice and snow.
    Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus officinalis) on Ice
    Can you can see the layer of ice on this Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus officinalis)?
    Pansy (Viola sp.) Covered in Ice
    This pansy is in for a rough couple weeks. Most of the foliage will turn brown and die.  Growth deep inside the plant will survive.  It’s going to take time.  I should have brought the plant inside BEFORE the cold weather arrived.
    Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) Laid to Waste
    These poor Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) were laid out on the lawn. I can’t say the flowers will look as good as they did before the snow. However, they will right themselves and shine again in a few days.
    Tailgatecicles
    Mr. Science Guy how does water run and freeze at the same time?
    Icy on the Outside Warm on the Inside
    The first thing I did this morning was get wood to build a fire. The twine holding the tarp is surrounded by thick ice.

    What’s the weather like where you live?

  • Random Acts of Kindness

    Random Acts of Kindness

    There are good people in this world.

    This morning I stopped at McDonald’s to pick up breakfast. I was short 85 cents and asked for a moment to go to my truck for change.

    The cashier didn’t hesitate to say, “Don’t worry about it.”

    It’s moments like these that I realize how wonderful the world is.

    While waiting for my meal I got the cashier the 85 cents.  I don’t believe in taking advantage.

    Thank you for your Random Act of Kindness.

    P.S. The evergreen shrub in the foreground is a Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo sp.).  Be careful when planting Mugo Pines, they don’t all stay as compact as you’d think.

  • Late Season Blooming Flowers

    Late Season Blooming Flowers

    Last Monday, November 16th I was cutting back perennials in Trumbull, Connecticut in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b.  I noticed a couple of beautiful late season blooming flowers.

    We’ve already had several hard frosts.  Most of the leaves have fallen off the trees and been cleaned up.

    Late Season Blooming Flowers

    I first noticed a grouping of Honorine Jobert Windflower (Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’) flowers glistening in a sunbeam.

    Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Distance

    A little farther away a Fairy Rose (Rosa ‘The Fairy) was strutting its stuff.

    Fairy Rose Closeup

    Here’s a picture from a distance.

    Fairy Rose Grouping - late season blooming flowers

    I admit late season blooming flowers don’t compare to mid-summer.  In the cold and gloomy days of late fall I’ll take whatever I can get.

  • Blue Holly and Bittersweet

    Blue Holly and Bittersweet

    I stepped out of my truck today and viewed gorgeous blue holly (Ilex x meserveae sp.) and bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) growing in a tangled mess.

    If you live in a cave you should know that bittersweet is invasive in Connecticut and against the law to plant.  You’ll often see it growing along the side of the road.

    Here’s a picture with the bittersweet in focus

    Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    This is what the beautiful mess looks like

    Bittersweet and Holly

    Over time the bittersweet will block light to the holly and wrap around it’s branches strangling it.

    Bittersweet and holly do look great together in the fall.

  • Prune Lawn Trees High

    Prune Lawn Trees High

    I just returned from an evening walk with Theo and my forehead burns from a fresh scratch.

    Theo walked around a tree four feet from the road.  As I went around the back a branch caught me 3 inches above the eyes.

    I did have a flashlight.  I was looking at the ground for footing and suddenly smack!

    This is a great example of why it’s so important to prune lawn trees above people’s heads.  Assume folks will be walking in the dark and can’t see where they’re going.

    People driving down the street or your driveway also appreciate not having their cars scratched.

    A final friendly tip.  Don’t leave stubs on a tree, especially at eye height, where someone can lose an eye.

    Theo the Great Pyrenees Mix Pupply
    Theo our Great Pyrenees mix puppy.  He’s 90 lbs at just over a year old.  What a sweetheart.  He loves people, dogs, cats and creatures of all shapes and sizes.

     

  • How Close to House to Plant Shrubs

    How Close to House to Plant Shrubs

    The short answer.  As far as possible.

    Plants are constantly growing taller and spreading wider.

    When planting small to medium shrubs my goal is 1-2 feet of air between the edge of a shrub and the home.  Not just when I plant.  For the life of the landscape.

    You can prune the back of a shrub, where no one sees, as often as needed to keep the gap.

    If there isn’t a gap you’re in trouble.

    Shrub too Close to House
    I saw this Rhododendron slammed against the house this Spring.  It motivated me to write this post.
    Shrub planted too close to house
    This Rhododendron is an extreme example of planting too close.

    Medium shrubs like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Spirea, Holly and Boxwood go  2.5-3′ from the side of the house.

    I can easily walk behind the shrubs after planting.

    Rhododendron Planted Next to House
    This rhododendron has a 2′ gap between the foliage and the side of the house.

    Large shrubs and small trees like Viburnum, Dogwood and Stewartia go a minimum of 6′ from the edge of the house and preferably 8′.

    Viburnum Planted Next to House
    This Viburnum is 8′ from the house. Imagine the pruning nightmare if it was 3-4′ away.

    When in doubt plant farther from the house.  You’ll never regret it.

     

     

  • I Saved a Life Today

    I Saved a Life Today

    Today, while walking in Trumbull, CT I saved a Yoshino Cherry choking to death.  As a horticulturist, I did what I’ve been trained to do.  I took my knife, bent down and removed the obstruction.

    Yoshino Cherry Girdled By Twine
    The synthetic twine around this root will cut off the flow of nutrients to the rest of the tree.
    Yoshino Cherry Girdled By Twine
    Carefully cutting the twine. Point the blade away from the bark to avoid injuring to the tree.
    The Synthetic Twine is Cut
    The tree can breathe after cutting the synthetic twine.
    Synthetic Twine Girdling Tree
    I discovered this tree years ago in the last stages of death. It had synthetic twine embedded into the trunk.

    As the tree roots expand the twine cuts the flow of nutrients eventually choking the tree to death.  This tree would have died a slow and agonizing death.

    I gave the Yoshino Cherry a chance to live.  A chance to brighten people’s spring with blooms and summer with shade.

    Please carefully remove all twine, synthetic or natural, from around the trunk and roots when planting trees.

    By John Holden

  • What are the Beautiful Red Berries by the Road?

    What are the Beautiful Red Berries by the Road?

    As I drove down the road this week I spotted the most beautiful red berries.  They caught the morning sun and lit up the bare Fall landscape.

    The shrub was winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata).  It has bright red berries in the Fall and early Winter that are about 3/8″ in diameter.

    Winterberry holly is a deciduous shrub.  You usually see it growing along the edge of a swamp or stream in the wild.  If you are going to plant winterberry holly in your landscape plant it in the dry soil next to the stream or swamp, not in the stream or swamp.

    Winterberry holly grows six to ten feet tall depending on the light.  There is a lot of variation in fruit set between.

    Ilex verticillata Winterberry Holly
    Gorgeous!
    Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata
    This group of winterberry holly is on the edge of a wetland.

    I often plant winterberry holly in woodland plantings because it is a native shrub and very easy to grow.

    If you’re looking for a reliable and easy to grow shrub that provides winter interest give winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) a try.

    By John Holden

  • Solutions for Frost and Freeze Damage on Tree and Shrub Foliage

    Solutions for Frost and Freeze Damage on Tree and Shrub Foliage

    Temperatures below freezing often cause frost and freeze damage on trees and shrubs from mid to late spring.  Often the damage is minor and effected trees and shrubs will grow out of it.

    Look for signs of frost and freeze damage such as leaves on the tips of branches that are browning out.  The foliage will turn black or brown and may become gooey or limp.  If you are lucky the damage will only be on the tips of trees and shrubs where new growth is emerging.

    Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Katsura Tree Frost Damage

    Sometimes frost and freeze damage will affect growth farther back from the tips of trees and shrubs.  This is rarer but does happen.

    If frost and freeze damage is minor the best solution is to wait and see if the plant grows out of the damage.  In about a month dead foliage will be gone and you should see new growth.  Prune out all remaining dead foliage after two months.

    Clethra barbinervis Japanese Clethra Frost Damage

    If the damage is more extensive, effecting growth deeper into the tree or shrub, the best course of action is to wait a couple of months and see if new growth emerges.  Often a branch that looks dead will have swollen buds and fresh growth emerging.  Have patience before you make drastic pruning decisions.

    Some trees and shrubs are more vulnerable to frost and freeze damage than others.  The most notable example is the Laceleaf Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’.  You may also see damage similar to the Katusura, Clethra and Pieris pictured.

    Pieris japonica - Japanese Pieris Frost Damage

    It is important to know what frost and freeze damage looks like so you don’t mistake it for a pest or disease.

    By John Holden