Evergreens

Uintah National Forest & Four Great Residential Evergreen Trees for Your Landscape

September 29, 2014 by Lacey 1 Comment

There is something about a rainy Saturday. Something that makes it easier to not be upset about the long to do list remaining undone. Something that calls for a large pot of creamy potato soup and freshly baked rolls. Something that demands a balance between snuggling a four month old baby girl while listening to the rolling thunder and setting out for a drive up the canyon to experience the misty mountains.

We had such a Saturday. There was exterior trim to be painted, weeds to be pulled, attics to be swept out, and {ironically} a rain gutter to be installed. But we woke up to the sound of thunder and our plans for working outside washed away with the raindrops running down my gutter-less brick house. We could have followed the example of the stalwart fans at the park across watching little league football and thrown on our rain coats but we didn’t. Instead we pulled up some Netflix and made a pot of soup. Not to say there wasn’t any work done. Some laundry was definitely folded, and the hardwood was swiffered, but there was definitely more baking of things like rolls and chocolate chip cookies than chores. There’s just something about a rainy Saturday.

In the early afternoon my husband suggested we take a drive up the canyon and although I wasn’t too eager to leave my cozy spot on the couch and pack my giggling, smiley baby into her car seat I agreed. The rain was a little heavy as we headed up Provo Canyon, but it lightened a bit as we turned of the main highway and climbed the mountain towards Sundance.

The mountain meadows were like something out of Tolkien. Varying shades of green were dappled with yellowing leaves of early fall. The fragrance of rain in the mountains was incredible, and the air had the icy chill that signifies the end of summer.

We had intended to go up and over the Alpine Loop but we ended up turning off towards Cascade Springs and heading down the dirt road to Midway. Views of Deer Creek Lake were completely obscured by the clouds and the mist as we wound our way down the mountain. It was truly breath taking, the pictures snapped on my phone don’t do it justice.

I find as much inspiration for my design work in the natural world as I do in formal landscaped gardens. On this particular drive I was reminded about the grounding and foundational characteristics of evergreens. Throughout spring and summer evergreens can be passed over in favor of shrubs, trees, and perennials heavily laden with blossoms, but they get their time in the spotlight come fall and winter.

On our drive I noted the beauty of yellowing aspens, and the fire like hues of transitioning Big Tooth maples. But I also appreciated the structure provided by the firs, pines, and spruces. Some appeared almost black in the landscapes and all ensured consistency during the mountain’s transition.

In residential applications evergreen trees can provide the same consistency and structure year round. Most backyards aren’t well suited for the majesty of Ponderosa pine or fully grown blue spruce. However, there are many varieties whose size is perfect for a residential garden. Click here for my top four favorite residential evergreen trees.

The Best Urban Evergreens

October 15, 2012 by Lacey 1 Comment

My husband loves pine trees. They remind him of Christmas. He loves those huge 50′ scotch pines that grow in city parks, near the library, and {tragically} in residential landscapes. He’ll applaud a 30′ wide blue spruce completely engulfing a 1/4 acre property. I am what you could call an anti-needled-evergreen person. I have been against these huge monsters my whole life. Although I definitely appreciate the beauty and majesty of these giants when in their natural and native habitats of the nearby mountains, I am completely opposed to their ultilization in the captivity of urban landscapes.

Yet through my study of garden design I have come to appreciate the structure that evergreens {both needled and broad leafed} add to a landscape. So now instead of being completely anti-needled-evergreen I am pro-residential-sized-evergreen. This has inspired a compromise between my pine tree loving husband and my need for balanced, harmonious design. Take a look at these urban garden friendly evegreens.

Vanderwolf Pyramid Pine {Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’

This long needled, densley branching pine is a perfect specimen or accent tree. The pyramidal growth habit for which it is named adds year round structure at an appropriate scale. In addition to its compact appearance, Vanderwolfs are both disease and insect resistant adding low maintenance to its list of desirable urban garden traits.

USDA Zones: 2-7
Height: 20-25′
Width: 10-15′
Exposure: Full Sun
Water Requirements: ocassional watering after establishment

Moerheim Blue Spruce {Picea pungens ‘Moerheim’}

This spruce is the largest of my urban evergreen recommendations. But for those who love the silvery-blue of the blue spruce, this is a great replacement. Its 10-20′ spread is more appropriate for residential gardens. Moerheim will work as a great as a screen to reduce noise from traffic, block wind, and increase the privacy of your garden.

USDA Zones: 2-8
Height: 25-30′
Width: 10-20′
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Water Requirements: weekly watering, more in extreme heat

Bosnian Pine {Pinus leucodermis}

Dense, ruffled branches of the Bosnian pine are fast growing, providing a more established appearance at a quicker rate. It thrives in dry, alkaline soils and makes a statement when planted singly.

USDA Zones: 4-8
Height: 20-25′
Width: 10′
Exposure: Full Sun
Water Requirements: regular watering until established

Weeping White Spruce {Picea glauca ‘Pendula’}

This spruce is one of my favorites. Slim and trim, its perfect for any location in your garden where you need a little height but cant go very wide. Its narrow growth habit is perfect for planting right up against a house or fence. Use it on either side of a walkway or porch to add formality and structure. Plant in groupings of three for a manicured woodland garden.

USDA Zones: 2-9
Height: 20-25′
Width: 8-10′
Exposure: Full to part Sun
Water Requirements: moderate

Photos:
Vanderwolf
Moerheim
Bosnian
White

Making Your Own Topiary

August 13, 2012 by Lacey 1 Comment

Summer is in the early stages of its farewell. As gardens are offering their full bounty, pumpkins and gourds fatten on their vines, and summer blooms begin to fade. This is the time of year, after a summer full of coneflowers, daisies, and zinnias, that I ponder on how to add interest to a landscape that can become barren and stark in winter months. I drew inspiration from my summer in Europe, and specifically a wonderful day trip to the palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Evergreens add year round structure to your landscape, and if implemented in a topiary form, will add additional interest. Topiaries can be purchased at any garden center, usually in varying sizes and shapes. As topiaries are more costly than their un-sculpted counterparts, creating your own can be extremely cost effective as well as fun.

1. Choose Your Plant

Its easy to start your topiary with a juvenile shrub. These are more simple because a smaller shrub can be molded as it grows. However a topiary can be accomplished with a grown & established plant as well.

If you have chosen to topiary a new shrub you might want to check out a topiary form. Wire forms can be purchased in a variety of shapes, everything from swans to giraffes, giving you the option for many unique topiaried forms to add interest in your garden. Although it might take a season or two for the plant to fill in the form, you will have a guide to fallow when pruning which makes keeping the shape much easier.

If your plant is established, adding a form might be difficult. Instead begin by clipping your shrub into a rough outline, then create your own guide out of thick wire. Topiary spirals, cones, and balls can easily be sculpted this way.

2. Training

The first thing to remember when it comes to homemade topiaries is that its a process, a slow {but gratifying} process.

Remember that when working with a growing shrub, no more than one inch should be pruned off in areas that need to be filled in. This pruning will encourage additional bushy growth.

For larger, more established shrubs three inches is the limit. More pruning than this will cause die back, and will ruin the topiary. By only taking three inches at a time, your sculpture will begin to take shape, and you wont have to worry about any burnt-looking, dry areas.

3. More Training & Pruning

Topiaries are never “finished”. A growing sculpture needs constant upkeep. If you have a finished product, or are still working on the training and shaping part, its the same: prune every 3 months.

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