Archive for the ‘Redbud’ Category

Formerly A Tree… Now A Hat Rack

Tree topping continues! The concern about a large tree falling on the house, garage, autos or pedestrians sends out calls to cut the tree back. If the tree in photo does recover (grow), the new branches will be mostly weak suckers. After 2-3 years, the sucker growth will be susceptible to high winds and snow/ice storms […]

What Can Be Done About Phytophthora

Phytophthora disease (Phytophthora spp.) is the fatal cause of root rots, stem cankers and crown rots. Several hundred species of plants are susceptible, including redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendrons, camellias, white pines, firs, yews (Taxus spp.), and fruit trees. It thrives in warm moist saturated soils. Phytophthora may lie dormant in the soil for several years, waiting for a […]

Summer Leaf Drop From Trees

  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), […]

A Perfect Small Garden Tree– ‘Ace of Hearts’ Redbud

Ace of Hearts redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ace of Hearts’) is an arboreal treasure, a compact form of our native redbud. Heavy clusters of light purple pea-like flowers cover twigs and branches from late March into early April, depending on your locality. Ace of Hearts grows 12 by 15 feet in height and spread, roughly one-third […]