Planning to Prune

My wife adores the red color of a burning bush, so I planted a 'dwarf' variety near my driveway. The 'dwarf' size of a 10 feet high and 10 feet wide is too large for the spot, so I am planning to heavily prune the new plant to keep it in check. We'll see how this strategy is going to work out.

Small Shade Trees

So, due to some recently removed trees, I need to find some small shade trees for our back yard. To avoid power lines, I need something 25 feet or less. The local home and garden show gave me quite a few people to talk to. We also made a trip to a nursery yesterday to get some advice and check out their stock. So far the list of options includes:

• Flowering Crabapple
• Cherry
  
• Lilac
• River Birch
• Hybrid Elms

Most all of these trees are also available for either pickup/ delivery in large burlap bound root balls or pots, or available for direct delivery and planting via truck-mounted spade.

I am tending to lean towards the river birch. They are quoted in most places as being able to grow very large, but the specimen at the nursery was in 25 foot range at an age of 15 years in our climate. Similarly, a grove in Ohio was measured in the 25 to 30 foot range. This makes me think it might stay small in our climate, or at least will grow slowly enough to keep it small enough for long enough. The river birch has a nice coloration, nice open structure, and is just a beautiful tree.

This week I am hoping to make a trip out to the tree farm to get some more ideas and perhaps arrive at a final decision.

(*Make note -- bring camera for pictures of trees.)

Zone 5 Adventures

With so much of gardening centered around the population centers in warmer climates (Texas, Florida, and California) it can be hard to find resources on gardening in zone 5. This blog is dedicated to my gardening adventures in zone 5.

My space isn't very large and it is very urban. I do all of my own landscaping, I plant a vegetable garden, and I love to grow flowers. My wife and I have children and a dog. We have neighbors. All of these play a part in the greater scheme of things.