Slender trees work well
for smaller landscapes
Brian Jervis: Ask a Master Gardener
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Q: My house and my neighbor’s are only 14
feet apart. I would like to have a tree in that space, but it would have to be
slender. Do you have suggestions? M. A., Tulsa
A:
Many urban homes have
small lawn areas between houses and street-side. A standard 60-foot-tall oak
that might have a 60-foot-spread is not a consideration. To accommodate smaller
landscapes for those wishing to plant a tree, slender versions may be more
attractive and useful. They may be planted in rows for a more formal setting to
define boundaries and as a screen for sight and sound. One loses the shade
benefit but may be compensated by the slenderness asset.
These trees are often referred to as “columnar”
or “fastigiated” forms. As demand for these trees has increased, more and more
slender forms of familiar trees have entered the market to become available.
Many of these trees are needled evergreens, but there are deciduous cultivars
and even fruit trees.
A good place to go to see some of the varieties
of columnar trees is the Monrovia website. There are photos and information
about growing conditions for more than 100 varieties.
A few of the trees that might be of interest to
a Tulsa-area homeowner are listed below.
A slender version of eastern red cedar, the
Taylor juniper is an excellent choice. Junipers, not cedars, love Oklahoma and
will grow up to 30 feet tall and 3 feet wide. No pruning needed, ever. This
tree comes close to an ideal replacement for the Italian Cypress grown commonly
in the Mediterranean region. Italian cypress will grow in Oklahoma but may not
survive an unusually cold winter.
Another tree that is an increasing favorite of
landscapers is a slender form of the southern magnolia. “Little Gem Magnolia”
grows to 20 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide. A smaller cultivar, a dwarf of
Little Gem, grows only to 10 feet. These trees are evergreen, have nice shiny
leaves and huge beautiful blossoms in spring.
Another great tree to consider is the regal
English oak, “Fastigiata.” These may grow to 50-60 feet and up to 15 feet wide.
This European import is elegant and grows well in our area.
The accompanying photograph is of a columnar
sweetgum tree with fall foliage in the North Carolina Botanical Garden. It is
an extreme example of a slender cultivar of a common tree.
There are other slender versions of trees to
choose from. Cultivars of the sugar maple, European hornbeam, hollies,
arborvitae, cedars, bald and other cypresses, tulip tree, cherry, hawthorn and
many junipers are marketed.
Local nurseries have a fairly wide selection to
choose from. If you want a tree not available locally, the nursery may order it
for you, or you can get a smaller plant by mail and grow it in a pot for a
couple of years before planting permanently.
For more information or to ask a question about
gardening, contact the Master Gardeners at 918-746-3701 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Garden tips
§ Most bedding plants, summer flowering bulbs and
annual flower seeds can be planted after danger of frost. This happens around
mid-April in most of Oklahoma. Hold off mulching these crops until soil
temperatures warm up. Warm-season annuals should not be planted until soil
temperatures are in the low 60s.
§ The soil temperature for our area as of
Wednesday was about 59 degrees. Soil temperatures may be found on the Oklahoma
Mesonet website.
§ Harden off transplants outside in partial
protection from sun and wind prior to planting.
§ Don’t plant tomato sprouts too early. The soil
temperature is key and should be above 60 degrees before planting. If the soil
is too cool, the plants will sit there and not grow. Remove the blossoms from
any tomato plant at the time of planting, it needs roots before making
tomatoes.
0 comments:
Post a Comment