Planters Choice Potting Bare Root 2012.mov

Behind the Scenes: Potting up Bare Root Shrubs

Geordie and his crew are busy planting bareroot shrubs in the lower barn here in Newtown.  He talks us through the steps taken to turn a mass of sticks and roots into potted shrubs available for your landscapes. 

Take a look!  

Winterhazel (left) and Cornelian Cherry

Who would ever say no to two more options for early spring color? These are under-used plants that flower after Witchhazel but before Forsythia.  Corylopsis spicata (Winter Hazel) and Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) make a nice change of pace.  The small yellow buds on both these plants create a haze of color in March and April.  

Winter Hazel is a large shrub growing 10' high and 4-6' wide. Plant in full sun to light shade. Though native to Japan, they look great in the woodland garden.

Cornelian Cherry is considered a small tree growing up to 20' tall. The small clusters of bright flowers are best seen against an evergreen background or a darker building. It's a tough tree that tolerates roadside conditions as demonstrated on the Merrit Pkwy planted in the divider on the south side of the Sikorsky Bridge. Plant in full sun to part shade for best bloom.     

      "I need an idea for a dense hedge along the roadside for dry shade - the more impenetrable the better as kids have been cutting through the area. It also needs to be salt tolerant as it's right near the road, and deer resistant. Any ideas?"

Submitted by Brid at Growing Solutions 

Viburnum prunifolium

Answer: Why not try Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum. They have a stiff, rigid character with a habit similar to Hawthorns. They do well in dry soil, can be planted in sun or shade, are also fairly tolerant of road salts and "seldom severely damaged by deer" according to a
 study done at Rutgers University. They will grow 12' but can be pruned to make a large hedge.

Bonus - They also have creamy white flowers in May, followed by clusters of fruit that turn blue/black. Nice fall color, too! Best of all - they're a native plant!   

Submit your landscaping question via email to sbarbier@planterschoice.com and be entered in a monthly drawing to receive 10% OFF your next purchase! Please use 'Question of the Week' in the subject line and let me know if you want your name and business mentioned. 

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) 'Fireglow', 'Green Cutleaf', 'Red Dragon', 'Red Select', 'Sango Kaku' (Coral Bark Maple), 'Sharp's Pygmy', 'Shishigashira', 'Tsuma gaki'
A. shir. 'Aureum' (Golden Fullmoon Maple)
Fagus syl. (European Beech) 'Red Obelisk'
Quercus 'Green Pillar'
Stewartia pseudocamelia 'Japanese Stewartia'

Syringa ret. 'Ivory Silk' (Japanese Tree Lilac)

Broadleaf and Specimen Evergreens 

Unloading Japanese Holly

Buxus mic. (Boxwood) 'Winter Gem'
B. semp. 'Suffruiticosa' (Dwarf English Boxwood)
B. sin. 'Justin Browers'
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', 'Glauca Pendula'
C. deod. (Deodar Cedar) 'Snow Sprite'
Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki Cypress) 'Cripsii', 'Nana Gracilis', 'Verdoni'
C. pis. fil (Gold Thread Cypress) 'Golden Charm', 'White Pygmy'
Cryptomeria jap. 'Black Dragon'
Juniperus chin. 'Daub's Frosted'
J. horizontalis 'Icee Blue'
Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly) 'Compacta', 'Helleri', 'Hetzi', 'Hoogendorn','Schwoebel Upright','Soft Touch', 'Steeds'
I. glabra (Inkberry)

I. x 'Dragon Lady' (Holly)
Picea abies '(Norway Spruce) 'Acrocona', 'Clanbrassiliana', 'Cupressina', 'Elegans', 'Formanek', 'Lanham's Beehive'
P. glauca (Dwarf Alberta Spruce) 'Conica' several sizes. 3-ball Poodle and Spirals also available in limited quantity.
Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce) 'Skylands', 'Tom Thumb'
Picea pungens (Blue Spruce) 'Baby Blue', 'Fat Albert', 'Globosa', 'Montgomery', 'Procumbens', 'Sester's Dwarf', 'St. Mary's Broom'
Pinus leuc. (Bosnian Pine) 'Emerald Arrow', 'Mint Truffle'
Pinus mugo '(Mugo Pine) 'Big Tuna','Pumilo', 'Snow Mound', 'White Bud' 

Dwarf conifers are here!

P. parviflora (Japanese White Pine) 'Glauca Bervifolia'
P. strobus 'Blue Shag', 'Niagara Falls'
P. sylves. 'Albyn Prostrata'
P. thunbergii (Japanese Black Pine) 'Thunderhead'
Sarcococca humilis (Sweetbox)
Sciadopytis vert. (Japanese Umbrella Pine) 'Winter Green'
Skimmia japonica (Japanese Skimmia)
Thuja occidentalis (Eastern Arborvitae) 'Degroot's Spire'
T. plicata 'Western Arborvitae', 'Whipcord'
Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock) 'Pendula
T. mertensiana (Mountain Hemlock) 'Elizabeth'

Evergreens for Screening Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar) 'Hillspire'

Picea abies (Norway Spruce) 6/7', 7/8', 8/10'
P. pungens (Colorado Blue Spruce) 6/7', 7/8', 8/10'
Pinus strobus (White Pine)
Thuja plicata (Western Arborvitae) 'Green Giant'
Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock) 

Pachysandra and English Ivy