New Addition to the Garden

Recently Planted

How I hope it looks in the future.

My garden family has a new member as of March 21, 2009.  I have been contemplating on a small shade tree to give my azaleas and rhododendron some more shade.   I finally decided on a Tatarian Maple, Acer tataricum, that met my requirements of: deciduous tree, medium size, drought-tolerant and fall color. 

I had made my decision weeks earlier, but none of the local nurseries had received their Spring stock.  When I finally found out that Phelan Gardens finally received some, off I went full of excitement like a young boy buying his first car.  Phelan Gardens had a wonderful selection of Tatarian Maples.  Reflecting back on what I had learned on how to select a good tree during a recent CSU Ext. class, I chose a beautiful specimen to place in the garden.

The methodology of planting a tree has really changed over the years.  Some methods were to dig a hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball.  Plant the the tree at the same level as it was in the container.  Then finally pack down the soil with your hands and feet.  Research has shown that those type of planting methods has led to an epidemic of landscape trees dying because they were planted too deep.  Trunk girdling roots accounts for 57% of landscape tree deaths.