| Greetings!
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's summer exhibit opens June 5. " Powerhouse Plants" is a unique exhibition exploring the energizing links between plants and people. It includes several interactive displays and juried outdoor art installations. Bio-energized! will explore efforts to develop new sources of energy from plants -- all via fun vignettes and demo plantings. Incredible Edibles will inspire new ways to "eat yourself healthy" with summer's bounty of Minnesota-grown vegetables, fruits, herbs and grains. Amazing Art will present five juried art installations inspired by the "Powerhouse Plants" theme.
The Minnesota Zoo's backyard lecture series will offer information on rain barrels and backyard composting on June 10.
Past newsletters are now archived and available for viewing. |
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Trouble Spots in the Landscape |
Adding top soil to cover roots is detrimental to the tree. Add 2-4 inches of organic mulch instead. |
Landscaping around and under mature shade and evergreen trees is troublesome for homeowners and landscapers alike. More than likely, the lawn grass under the tree is struggling and roots are jutting out from the ground. Why is this and what to do?
Mature trees cast more shade and are notorious water thieves. The sun-loving lawn grass, perennials and shrubs are now struggling under the different light conditions. Plus, the tree's extensive root system is hogging the available water and nutrients. Maples, with their shallow root systems, are even more water greedy.
Pine trees will often lose their lower limbs leaving a bare, semi-shade spot under the tree. Plant drought tolerant, shade loving perennials in this space. It may be difficult to plant anything under mature spruces and firs because these trees are more likely to retain their lower branches. Spreading 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch under the evergreen will keep the space attractive and clean looking.
Recommendations on what dry shade perennials to plant include deadnettle (Lamium), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), ajuga (Ajuga reptens), periwinkle (Vinca minor), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), and goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus). Other recommendations include barrenwort (Epimedium), Soloman's seal (Polygonatum biflorum), and hostas. Or consider planting a no mow lawn seed or a sedge grass like Carex.
Take caution when planting under trees to not destroy the tree's root system. 50-75% percent of a tree's root system is within 12" of the soil. Avoid planting a bed of annuals year after year. Rototilling compost into the bed can't be done. Installing edging may not be feasible due to large tree roots. You may have to consider forgoing edging or increase the bed size in order to install edging on or beyond the canopy's drip line to avoid damaging a large portion of the roots. Avoid cutting into a 2" or larger root. Do not add soil to try and cover up the exposed roots. Doing this could kill the tree because it reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the roots.
Even applying 2-4 inches of organic mulch under a tree will make the space more appealing and avoids having to mow around or over roots.
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| What's Blooming? Arctic Beauty Kiwi |
Tri-color leaf of Arctic Beauty Kiwi Vine | Mentioned in April's newsletter hardy kiwi vines can be grown under normal Minnesota conditions without giving the plant any special winter protection. The fruits will be smaller, but its flavor will be similar to the large, fuzzy kiwis found in stores.
Actinidia kolomikta, sometimes called Arctic Beauty Kiwi, is a twining vine that will grow about ten feet tall and spread about three feet wide. Its foliage is attractive, with variegated pink, white and green leaves, and can be planted for its ornamental value alone. The male plants are commonly more variegated than female plants, and variegation increases as the plants mature.
Plants should begin to bear fruit one to two years after planting, and once established they can live fifty years or more. Only the female plants produce fruit, and they must be grown with a male plant to provide pollen. The small whitish flowers appear in May or June, and pollination is carried out by insects.
A. kolomikta performs best in partially shaded sites with well-drained soil and some protection from strong winds. They are neither drought tolerant nor flood tolerant: if the soil becomes too dry, the vine may survive, but the fruit will drop; and if the soil is too wet, the vine is likely to succumb to root rot.
Arctic Beauty will need a structure, like a trellis, to support the vines. It anchors itself via twining, and not through tendrils.
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I welcome your feedback on the newsletter. If there are topics you want to learn more about, please email me at nancy.dahl@integra.net.
Sincerely,
Nancy Thorman Dahl, CLP
Cattail Design LLC
Creative Designs for Land and Lakeshore | |
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Eco-friendly Tip | |
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Berries on viburnums provide a winter food source for birds |
Recent news coverage on declining bird and bee populations should have us thinking critically about changing our landscape behaviors. Birds and bees play a critical role in our ecosystem as pollinators and as pest controllers.
Reports suggest the decline in bee colonies may be due to viruses. Bees being exposed to pesticides via agricultural and landscape uses weakens their systems and therefore are more susceptible to disease.
Declining songbirds can be attributed to loss of habitat both here in the US and in Central and South America where they overwinter. Other factors include exposure to pesticides in the US and Central and South America. Outdoor and feral cats prey on songbirds too.
What Can You Do?
* Take a more positive approach to having insects and birds around your house
* Use less chemicals in your landscape
* Don't allow cats to roam outside
* Plant bird and bee-friendly trees, shrubs and flowers
* Buy shade grown coffee (no stripping of forest required)
* Support non-toxic food production systems
Bird-friendly Plants
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Dogwood (Cornus)
Crabapple (Malus)
Viburnum
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Black-eyed Susan (Rubeckia)
Bee-friendly Plants
Aster
Black-eyed Susan
Currant (Ribes)
Elder (Sambucus)
Snowberry
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
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