Hydrangea is a genus that has a large diverse number of varieties that are worthy of most landscape gardens. Certain varieties begin flowering by early summer and others have flowers that extend into the fall. Depending on your taste, the dry flowers heads at the end of the growing season may be left on the plant or cut put in a vase for winter enjoyment. In general, the large flower heads are panicle (cone shape) or ball shape (mop Head) and have colors of blooms from white, green, pink, shades of red, blue, and purple. Several have flowers that vary in color as they mature while others have different color of flowers at the same time on the same plant for example vanilla-strawberry & pinky Winky. Also, some are grafted and grown into small tree forms. Because of the large number of varieties of hydrangea, their large showy flowers and their great diversity, they are extensively used and for good reason.
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At our Garden Center the most sought after red-leaf shade tree is the Crimson King Maple. The Royal Red Maple tree looks like and grows about the same as Crimson King, but is not quite as hardy in Northern Michigan. Crimson King grows 30-35 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide. It is a deciduous tree that has purple-red leaves throughout the season. The fall color shows a little more reddish-purple than the summer leaf color.
The Crimson King is a Norway Maple (Acer palinodes ‘Crimson King’) and not a red maple. It contrasts well with other green-leaf maples and other deciduous trees and is often used as a specimen in a residential front or back yard. It transplants relatively easily, but we have found that after planting, the tree grows quite slowly for the first two to four years - then it will grow faster after it establishes. There are upright forms of Crimson King Maple that can be used in areas of limited space or can be grown as a street tree. ‘Schwedler’ maple is a Norway Maple that has purple leaves (similar to Crimson King) in the spring. In the mid-summer the leaves gradually fade to a purple-green to almost green in the late summer. Debra Maple is a more recently improved variety of the ‘Schwedler’ maple. Other red-leaf trees such as Frost Birch and Royal Frost Birch are red-leaf birch trees that have a creamy white bark. They can be grown as a clump or grown as a single stem tree. Blood Good Japanese Maple and red-leaf birch can produce shade, but not nearly as much as the Crimson King Maple. Royalty Flowering Crab has purple-red leaves with small crab apple fruit that persists well into the winter. We are often asked what plants deer are resistant to. We often hear the reply that “deer will eat about any plant” (if hungry enough). That is true, but there are some plants they are less likely to be ate or browsed on than others. Note most plants are not considered “deer proof”. I have talked to some wholesale growers and they say they find the following plants somewhat deer resistant: boxwood, some types of holly, varieties of spirea, microbiota (Russian cypress), Hypericum, red twig dogwood, double file viburnums, cranberry cotoneaster, lilacs and chamaecyparis. Also some of the perennials that have a strong odor are deer resistant such as ornamental onion, sages and peppermint. Some of the thorny or picky plants keep deer at bay. Deer like white cedar and arborvitae’s. A relatively new variety of arborvitae called “GREEN GIANT’ arborvitae is generally quite resistant to deer browsing. As far as trees are concerned, deer like the tender twigs and buds of young trees=maple, flowering crab, fruit trees and others. Winter is the time of year when deer cannot find grass, apples, nuts and food they like the best. Then they are more apt to cause damage to landscape trees. With harsher winter weather, generally more deer damage occurs. At our nursery we attach cloth bags (we call “deer bags”) that contain dry tankage to our nursery tree in the late fall. These bags are prepared with a couple of strings on them and can loop around a lower branch of the tree about 4’ off the ground (deer height). The odor from the bags is quite effective at keeping the deer from chewing on the trees. We put the bags on each tree 8’ to 10’ apart) each year in November as they are only effective for about a year. We have been doing this for over 15 years and have been very successful in deterring the deer. These bags strategically placed can also help prevent damage from rabbits. I understand the Dial soap also repels deer.
We grow several varieties of lilacs at our nursery. The best known of the lilacs are among the first that bloom in the spring and they bloom for 3-4 weeks depending on the average temperatures. They can grow 10 – 12 +in height. Like all lilacs, the more sun they have the more flowering occurs. Large lilacs are often used in border plantings. A variety of the common lilac called Yankee Doodle. Is a wonderfully fragrant, with a single deep purple flower and grows 6-8’ tall and wide. They are of value because the flower is consistently deep purple, whereas the common purple lilac has flowers that vary from blue to purple from plant to plant. Lilacs begin to flower early in the season. Flowers can be white to pink, blue to purple and wine red. Some have single flowers and others have double flowers. Also, The degree of fragrance can vary significantly. Some have leaves that are quite different than the typical leaf of the common lilacs. If you like the fragrance, the flower and unique beauty of the lilacs, you can plant several varieties, so you can enjoy them for several week from spring through early summer. We typical have Common purple, Common white, Yankee Doodle, Miss Kim, Dwarf Korean, Bloomerang, Sentara and Sensation in our inventory.
I have heard this over and over again- “If you are going to do any planting when you purchase or build a new home, consider planting trees first”. We know trees take the longest to mature so it is good to get them in the ground early in your landscape. They also tend to add more value to your investment than other plants over a period, but of course are initially more expensive. Over the years the number of varieties of deciduous trees have dwindled because of insect and disease problems: American Elm, Green and other Ash trees; varieties of white bark birch, oak and more recently Beech Trees are some of the varieties. The front yard is often the best place to start; trees increase the value of a home more when planted in the front yard with some exceptions. Also, consider future areas where you will want shade like decks and patios. Shading the structure of the house itself can help reduce the cost of air conditioning. Also some other considerations when planting shade trees are ultimate height and spread, speed of growth, withstanding wind and storm damage, septic system locations, location of property lines and right of ways, government ordinances, insects and disease, attributes to the wildlife, how it will effect your entire landscaping in the future, and of course fall color. Maples are still some of the best shade trees; in our inventory we have Autumn Blaze Maple, Red Sunset Maple, Crimson King Maples, October Glory, Burgundy, Belle and a variety of Sugar Maple. Trees
I think that I shall never see a poem so lovely as a tree; A tree whose hungry mouth has pressed against earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day; and lifts her leafy arms to pray. A tree that in Summer wears a nest of robins in her hair; upon her bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree! Joyce Kilmore 1886-1918 The bright yellow flower of the forsythia brings signs of the beginning of Spring. They are among the first shrubs to flower in the Spring, and they flower before their leaves appear. They can be used as a single specimen or make a splash as a hedge anywhere in the yard.
Linwood Gold is one of the oldest varieties of forsythia, yet still one of the best; they flower best in sunny situation but will also bloom in the shade. Linwood grows 6’ to 8’ tall, and sometimes taller, but can be kept shorter with some pruning. They are a couple of new varieties that flower even more prolific bloom the Linwood Gold. They are called Show Off and Show Off Sugar Baby. Show off Grows 5-6’ tall and Show off Sugar Baby grows 2-3’ tall. They both Have flowers that cover the stems all the way to the ground. We have a limited quantity of these plants. Call for information (231) 342-0087. |
Dorian's BlogWith over 30 years of experience growing and landscaping plants, Dorian Dobias will describe some unique characteristic along with physical descriptions for over 20 groups or Genera of plants through the 2014 growing season. Many new and older Garden Center plants will be described along with some frequently answered questions about plants. Archives
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