Denny's Soapbox

The Green Machine

There’s been lots of talk lately about the green theme and our environment. We as individuals can help in many different ways. One of the big ways we can help is simply by digging a hole and planting a tree. Trees not only provide us with fresh air, but also help to clean-up dirty air.

The following list of oxygen providers are the newest kids on the block. They not only provide interest to any landscape but will provide beautiful scenery for you to enjoy. The availability on these newer varieties could be limited because of supply and demand so I encourage you to shop early to increase your odds.

‘Bizon Blue’ Colorado Spruce

This specimen is as blue as ‘Hoopsii’, but has proven to be even denser. The Bizon Blue’s brilliant blue coloration is not limited to its new growth, the blue color is retained all the way to it’s core, making it even more striking. This selection has a very formal, conical shape and needs no staking to keep this attractive form. It has a slow growth rate but will eventually reach 30’ tall and 10’ wide.

‘Green Mountain’ Sugar Maple

This is a fast growing (about 12” per year) Sugar Maple that will reach 40-60’ tall and 30-50’ wide. This is a great shade tree that will have enough root space to prevent summer drought scorching but because of this it is not ideal for a street planting. Will provide yellow to orange fall color.

‘Commendation’ Elm

This is a complex hybrid of pumila Elm and carpinifolia Elm from eastern Russia. It is a fast growing tree with large leaves that is tough and robust. This tree is resistant to the Dutch Elm Beetle disease. This tree will grow up to 60’ tall and 40’ wide.

‘Peve Minaret’ Bald Cypress

‘Peve Minaret’ is a dwarf cultivar of Bald Cypress that slowly grows in a dense, pyramidal form to 6’ tall by 2-3’ wide over the first 10 years. It can reach 10’ tall by 5’ wide. Deciduous fern-like foliage turns a yellow to rusty-brown in the fall.

‘Empress of China’ Dogwood

An evergreen Chinese Dogwood! Empress of China is not only evergreen, but exceptionally garden worthy as well. In early summer, thousands of blooms envelope the mature plant, blooming precociously for 6-7 weeks. The 1 ½” four-petal flowers with a tiny green center. They open a pleasing lime-green, maturing to white as the season progresses. In late summer, the flowers are replaced with strawberry-like fruits, providing interest through fall. This is a vigorous specimen, ready to out-perform other Dogwood species with increased bloom strength, dense branching, and overall beauty. Will grow 20-25’ tall by 20’ wide. Availability will be very limited this year.

‘Constellation’ Dogwood

This cross between a Kousa and a Florida Dogwood is a fast grower with large white flowers. This tree is resistant to Dogwood Anthracnose and powdery mildew. Will grow 25’ tall by 20’ wide.

‘Satomi” Satomi Dogwood

This tree blooms in May-June with a rich variety of muted pink flowers on a spreading, horizontal tree. Will grow 20-25’ tall and wide, reddish purple fall color and it’s disease resistant.

‘Princess Diana’ Service Berry

Abundant white flowers and excellent red fall display colors early and lasts late. It’s cold hardy and resistant to leaf spot. Has an upright, spreading growth habit with a height of 20’ and spread of 15’

‘Carnea Briotii’ Buckeye

This tree has spectacular red flowers on a 10” long terminal panicle, blooming early May. This is a beautiful specimen/shade tree reaching 30-40’ with a rounded head.

‘Fox Valley’ River Birch

Finally there is a dwarf variety of birch suitable for the foundation landscape or shrub border. This is a multi-trunked tree that is very popular because of its shape and exfoliating bark. They are usually branched low, making it an excellent choice for screening. It has medium sized leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. Its exfoliating bark creates year round interest. Its average size will grow 10-12’ tall and 6-8’ wide.

Many year’s ago, a nursery man from northern Kentucky gave me a wonderful planting rule. “The best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago. The next best time is today”