The Landscape Revealed... 

This past week's rain did more than flood a few basements - it melted a lot of snow! Finally we get to see the landscape again, and along with that, a lot of maintenance issues.  Broken branches, especially on low weepers are the result of a snow/ice combination frozen in place since that big storm in January. Evergreens like Boxwood and Spreading Juniper, though normally pretty flexible, couldn't handle the weight so branches split. Obviously the damage seen above is minor compared to the damage on some larger specimens.  But it may not be as bad as you think. Consider these points as you take inventory of your customer's landscapes: 

• Some shrubs may just be smashed with minimal breakage like the 'Donlon' Boxwood seen bottom left. There are hardly any broken branches on these and they'll look better when they get a trim in June. All in all they came through like champs. 
• Assess how much of the plant is damaged. 20-30% of the 'Green Velvet'  Boxwood (top left) was crushed by a huge mound of shoveled snow. Carefully prune out what was broken or split. New growth will fill in, but be patient, it may take more than just 2011's growing season to restore it to it's former perfect shape.
• Neaten up breaks by giving them a clean cut with sharp pruners. Clean out debris and fallen leaves so it receives good air circulation. Be vigilant throughout the whole growing season...see Mark's article on Sanitation, the First Line of Defense.
• Finding split limbs on larger specimen material? In some cases, on thicker, more substantial  branches,  you can try saving the limb by driving a rust-free stainless steel bolt in place to hold it together. While not fool-proof, often the split will knit together. 
• To increase vigor use an appropriate fertilizer such as PHC 3-4-3 Healthy Start or 3-4-4 for Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
• Other damage you'll most likely see is rodent damage to the lower trunk. All that snow gave voles some good cover and plenty of time to gnaw at the bark damaging the cambium. If damage is around the entire stem there may be little chance of survival - replacement may be inevitable.  Read more about voles at Penn State's site.

We are here to help you with any questions you may have and so is the Cooperative Extension System .

Cornus kousa 3.5-4"

Week three has brought us some gorgeous deciduous trees and shrubs, dwarf evergreens too, to both sales yards. A nice selection of containered fruit trees came in as well. 

Abies koreana (Korean Fir) 'Horstmann's Silberlocke'

A. pinsapo (Spanish Fir) 'Aurea', 'Glauca' (zones 6-7) limited

Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) 2" 

A. palmatum 'Bloodgood', 'Orangeola', 'Red Dragon', 'Tamukeyama', 'Inaba Shidari' (Japanese Maple-upright and weepers) 

Betula nigra 'Dura Heat' 14-16' (River Birch)  

Buxus m. 'Green Mountain' 

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'  (Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea' (Dwarf Hinoki Cypress)

Cornus kousa specimen (Kousa Dogwood) 

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' (Star Magnolia) gorgeous! 

Picea glauca 'Conica' 10g (42-48") (Dwarf Alberta Spruce)

Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa' (Dwarf Blue Spruce)

P. abies 'Little Gem' Standard (Dwarf Norway Spruce) 

Pinus mugo  30-36" (Mugo Pine)

P. strobus 'Horsford's Dwarf' (Dwarf White Pine)

Prunus serrulata 'Snowgoose' 4" (Japanese Flowering Cherry)  

Quercus 'Regal Prince' (Oak) An awesome fastigiate English Oak.

Syringa vulgaris and hybrids (Lilac), 'Katherine Havemeyer', 'President Grevy', 'Ludwig Spaeth', 'James McFarland' and others. B&B 4.5 & 5'    

Tsuga canadensis ' Sargentii' (Sargent's Weeping Hemlock) 4-5'

 ...and much more! 

             You asked for it! 

Edible Fruit Trees Containers.  All limited. First come, first serve.

Apple-Semi-dwarf; Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Melrose, Red Fuji, Royal Gala, Espaliered MacIntosh

Cherry-Semi-dwarf ; Black York, White Gold

Peach-Dwarf; Belle of Georgia, July Elberta, Sensation

Pear-Dwarf; Hosui (Asian, zone 6), 'Moonglow'

Plum-Semi-dwarf; Melrose

So stop by either yard to get your first look at this fresh material - we'd love to see you!