Nursery is full of great new plants! Triple Oaks Nursery and Herb Garden in Franklinville, New Jersey

Search Articles

Nursery is full of great new plants!
posted on: March 25 2010

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now. ‘

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now. ‘   When our youngest son was in junior high he made us a little sign on his computer with this saying on it. It hung in the shop for a long time and I have used the saying in newsletters and for classes over the years. It is an old Chinese proverb that is surely timeless in its message.
`   The prettiest streets, parks and yards are those with trees. The simplest home looks charming and inviting when surrounded by trees. If you haven’t planted any trees lately perhaps this is the springtime   to do so.
   There are so many trees from which to choose. Here in the Delaware Valley, especially south Jersey we have wonderful nurseries where trees are grown. For best results it is good to pick a local grown tree that is good for your soil and exposure. Look at trees, then read about ones that appeal to you to see if they are what you need.
   People who want shade often choose an oak, maple or other tree with spreading branches. For a narrow spot a chalice shaped zelkova tree might be good.
   For color there are flowering cherry, plum, pear, redbuds, magnolia and dogwood. The list goes on and on and on. Trees mark boundaries, they make shade, they clean the   air, hold the soil, are nesting places for birds, resting and food sources for butterflies and moths, and sources of inspiration for poets.
    It you choose the right tree for the right spot you will have a lifetime companion. For instance, if the soil is on the wet side a swamp magnolia or maple might work a lot better than a cherry.
   Maples are wonderful trees for color and shade. The Red Maple, Acer rubrum is one of New Jersey’s most colorful native trees and is plentiful in low, moist swampy woods as well as higher and dryer places. Not to be confused with the Japanese red maple, which is considerably smaller and not a native, Acer rubrum is a large shade tree. All maples are in the Acer (their botanical name) family with a second name to better identify them. Of course there are a few maples such as the silver and Norway to avoid because they have really terrible root systems.   Others such as the paper bark, trifoliam, Japanese red   maple and most red maples are very sought after ornamentals. Colorful red or sugar a maples and their cultivars are fast growing shade trees. It is always a good idea to keep the large maples away from cesspools, sewer pipes, or sidewalks. They do   have vigorous roots that seek moisture.
A real favorite for smaller gardens is the Japanese Red Maple tree, Acer Palmatum This popular ornamental plant is a small deciduous tree that is usually used, as a single specimen but it can be very nice in groupings. Japanese maples   include an incredibly diverse and beautiful variety of hybrids. (Over 300 cultivars.) These vary in leaf shape from the 'typical' Maple leaf, to deeply cut 'Lace leaf' varieties. The foliage colors range from light green to a deep burgundy. The growth habit may be anywhere from a low growing, dwarf weeping variety to a 20 foot tall shade tree.   Japanese maples might   give an impression of being delicate but they are hardy and easy to grow trees that look good in most all settings. They can be a single-stemmed small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. The leaves are reddish to deep wine in spring and often become more brilliant in fall. The Japanese Red Maple tree can be used to create a unique bonsai tree.
    The Red Sunset Maple tree, Acer Rubrum Red Sunset, is considered one of the best trees for early fall color! This will become a very large deciduous shade tree. Glossy green leaves turn brilliant orange-scarlet, making this one of the showiest in autumn.   The species name of rubrum means red. This tree has red flowers in dense clusters in late March to early April before the leaves appear, two-winged red fruit and reddish stems and twigs. The Red Sunset is one of the best red maple cultivars and an excellent choice for homeowners.
   It is often recommended that both Norway and Silver maples be avoided as they have very invasive, large root systems. The have been known to push up sidewalks, break through cement pipes and get in sewers. The Norway is very pretty in fall, often the first to change color, but the large, protruding roots have made it a very unpopular street tree. It trips people and breaks sidewalks. So it is best to plant a maple that does not have invasive roots.
Planting how to
   If your garden needs a shade tree or just some color, this is a good time to plant. Use common sense when planting. Make nice holes; mix in some good compost or manure and place the tree ball in. Fill no higher than the top of the soil that was in pot or the root ball . Tamp gently and water well. Be sure to saturate the soil all around the ball of dirt. If you do nto water deeply each time you water the root will grow up to the surface and become vulnerable to heat and cold. A slow running hose for hours   once a week is what is needed. Not a tease of lawn irrigation for a short period all the time.   This only brings roots up to the surface for water. Add light mulch, not more than 2 inches   and keep it away from the bark of tree. Never heap much around the tree trunk, this is called volcano mulching and is bad for the tree trunk. Don’t feed newly planted trees until next spring.
So in summary there are many good trees to choose from. Of course oaks are long lived, maples are pretty and fast growing, and both make great shade. They have long been used for lumber and beautiful country and early American furniture is made from them.
My husband Ted jokes that if the maple tree doesn’t work out you can always make   bowling pins from it. Some sense of humor, huh?   But all joking aside if you have never planted a tree in your lifetime, now is the time to do so. Give mother Earth a gift this spring. Plant a tree. It will be even more beautiful 20 years from now.