Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is a 60-90 feet tall shade tree with structurally strong branches. Fast growing zelkova may grow 2 feet or more in a single year. Belonging to the elm family (Ulmaceae), zelkova exhibits several elm-like features, including a vase shaped branching habit. Its very different exfoliating mottled bark distinguishes it from elms. […]
Archive for the ‘Large Shade trees’ Category
Zelkova Becoming Dominant Urban Street Tree
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Zelkova 
Comments Off on Zelkova Becoming Dominant Urban Street TreePromising New American Chestnuts Arriving
Posted by Hugh on November 17th, 2012
Chestnut blight (Diaporthe parasitica Murrill) was first discovered in the Bronx Zoo in 1904. By 1911 the headline in The New York Times read – “All Chestnut Trees Here Are Doomed”. Over the next half century, the pandemic eliminated four billion trees. Today, the airborne bark fungus still persists in the soil and on diseased […]
Posted in acidic soil, Chestnut, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Promising New American Chestnuts ArrivingSugar Maple Is A Four Star Autumn Attraction
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2012
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a native deciduous tree often planted as a large shade or street tree. It commonly grows 60 to 75 feet (and taller) with a dense rounded foliage canopy. Native to central and eastern North America regions, sugar maple grows best in fertile, mildly acidic, moist well-drained soils and in full […]
Posted in acidic soil, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Sugar Maple Is A Four Star Autumn AttractionPignut Hickory: What’s In A Name
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2012
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a medium to large tree that you may fortunately inherit when purchasing property. Pignut deserves a better name like “smooth bark hickory”. The species is commonly found in upland forests. Pignut hickory prefers fertile well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. A young seedling trees start off slowly from a large […]
Posted in Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Nut Producer, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Pignut Hickory: What’s In A NameKatsura Tree Comes Home To America
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2012
Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum japonicum) is a large 50-60 feet tall tree from Japan and China. Katsura became extinct in North America during the Pleistocene Age and was re-introduced in 1862 by botanist Thomas Hogg. It is truly a beautiful tree, yet is still rarely planted. Katsura is hardy in zones 4-8. It prefers a moist well-drained, compost-rich soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Large Shade trees, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Katsura Tree Comes Home To AmericaFor Lovers and Tree Huggers – American Beech
Posted by Hugh on November 15th, 2011
Mighty as an oak pretty much describes American beech (Fagus grandifolia) as well. Enjoy all four seasons of American beech: spring/summer dark green leaves, dark tan colored fall foliage, long pointed winter buds, and bluish gray bark. It is a large 50-70 foot woodland tree and tolerates incredible amounts of shade. Slow growing beeches are long-lived and best planted on […]
Posted in acidic soil, American Beech (F. grandifolia), Attracting birds, Disease prone, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on For Lovers and Tree Huggers – American BeechSummer Leaf Drop From Trees
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2011
It’s late summer in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Outdoor temperatures continue to hit 90°F almost daily, and weekly precipitation is low. Over the past 3-4 weeks leaves have been dropping prematurely from landscape trees. Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), river birch (Betula nigra), willow (Salix spp.), sycamore (Platanus x acerifolia), […]
Posted in Birch (Betula spp.), Elms (Ulmus), Garden Problems, Hackberry (Celtis), Large Shade trees, Premature leaf drop, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Summer Leaf Drop From TreesNo Excuse for Tree Topping
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2011
Why do people top trees? Often, it is because “their neighbor(s) did it”. When asked whether they believe their neighbor to be a wise person, the typical response is “NO”. The Negatives About Tree Topping: 1. A topped tree reduces property values in a community. Topping adds a blight look to a neighborhood or over […]
Ginkgo -Sex Education 101
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2010
Surviving an autumn season with a heavily fruited ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) tree is a foul smelling experience. The odorous yellow fleshy fruits ripen in October and drop onto public streets and home lawns. Several times I have witnessed the Jonesborough Tennessee Fire Department raking up fallen fruit and hosing down a sidewalk too treacherous to walk […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Autumn foliage color, Deer resistant, Gardenia, Ginkgo biloba, Large Shade trees, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ginkgo -Sex Education 101Gather Acorns To Become Mighty Oaks
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2010
Several species of oaks (Quercus spp.) make their home here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Every 3 – 5 years, a majestic oak bears a heavy crop of acorns. Squirrels and gardeners gather acorns (seeds) to plant oaks for future generations. Oaks are divided into two groups. White, swamp, and bur oaks, with rounded […]
Posted in Large Shade trees, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Tags: Quercus spp. Comments Off on Gather Acorns To Become Mighty Oaks
