Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
Post your letters about trees here and I’ll do my best to help you find an answer! Keep in mind that I do not reply via email. I post my responses HERE in the hopes of SHARING with people who might have similar questions.
Disclaimer: I am not a tree expert, just a novice who has been studying trees for quite some time now. If you require an expert opinion, I suggest the forums over at TreeHelp.com or the tree forum at GardenWeb.
If you leave a letter, please state in the letter where you’re writing from so that we have a general idea of your climate zone. THANKS for all your encouragement and support!
Don’t forget to let us know where you’re writing from! City, town, or even a climate zone number will help! Thanks!
Their innocence and simplicity really get... on 
My family calls me "the mamarazzi."
I enjoyed your pictures and growth information of the Forest Pansay Redbud. We are having one planted this very day, 05-09-08.
We also reciently planted a Hawthorn Crudader. Do you have any details about Hawthorn Crusader?
Ken Holderman, Osceola, IN 46561
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for your help – and for your wonderful website!! (Here’s a link with some pictures http://flickr.com/photos/betsy01/)
Thanks so much for this wonderful site! Like you, I grew up in a very shady neighborhood with many old old trees sheltering our house. I feel like the only person who doesn’t like the sun (and I live in the Northeast!). I finally became a homeowner 4 years ago and am trying to recreate the shady atmosphere that I grew up with. We planted a 12 foot sugar maple in our front yard 3 years ago (April 05) and a 15 foot October Glory last fall (Oct 07). I’m worried about the health of both these trees – and my shade potential! The sugar maple looked great it’s first year, fine the next and terrible last year. It is spindly, has pale leaves and sparse leaf production (it also has aphids and is being chewed by winter moth caterpillars). It looks like it is growing however and didn’t lose leaves early or have any dieback at all. We planted the October Glory correctly, watered it as instructed and thought it would do well this spring, however some major branches in the crown and some smaller branches on the lower level are dead. Do you have any advice for either tree – fertilize, replace, etc? The nursery told us to hold tight and wait and see on the October Glory. I thought maybe you’d have some advice based on your sugar maple experience many years ago
RESPONSE FOR ASHLEY:
No, I never really entertained the notion of planting an Autumn Blaze red maple. I have no more room to plant anything. Boo hoo.
RESPONSE FOR SUSAN:
I know nothing about ash trees, but I can tell you that the royal red will grow very slowly, and will benefit from having plenty of space and light, and make sure you dig a very wide hole so that her roots have a great chance to spread out right from the beginning. (Norway maple roots have a tendency to girdle, so you want to give them nice loose soil to move into.) Ideally, the royal red would be planted at least 20 feet away from anything, and 30 would be even better. I wouldn’t plant it too close to a driveway or house. It has a rather boring summer and fall color, so keep that in mind when planting as a focal point. It’s really only a pretty tree for about a month or so in spring with its red leaves. (They turn bronze by July, and stay that way until they all fall off in November here.)
RESPONSE FOR JEFF FROM LINDEN:
Love the Cherokee Princess idea. I’m so jealous that you have room to plant. I need 80 acres!
I am not testing those serviceberries for you, but I’d be more than happy to send some of my squirrels your way.
Hello Julie,
I wanted to see if you have ever thought about planting an Autumn Blaze Maple. They are my favorite Maple cultivar. They have a very distinct leaf shape, similar to a Silver Maple. Actually they are a mix between a Red and Silver, but with the best qualities of each. I really like your website, especially the tree pictures! I’m from Middle Tennessee.
Hello. I was wondering if you could tell me how far apart to plant trees. Specifically, I have an ash tree in my front yard, and I want to add a Red Royal Maple tree. I just don’t know how far apart from each other and from the house, sidewalk, and driveway they need to be. Or, perhaps I should just replace the ash with the maple (and move the ash tree to somewhere else).
Jules, I backed out of the Forest Pansy Redbud and am going with a Cherokee Princess White. There’s a Japanese Maple nearby, which I kind of thought would be competing, and I think the dogwood might give more coverage. It won’t be planted for another 9 days, but I’m not changing my mind…I don’t think.
If you ever do the field trip this summer, be prepared to try a few serviceberries, or bring someone to try them for you. I need confirmation of the safety before I’ll consume any
RESPONSE FOR BECKY about the red cloud dogwood:
Hi Becky. My dogwood was planted in about 1986 (not by me) about 5 feet from the house and it’s too close by a long shot. Ideally, it would have been planted at least 15 feet from the house, but like you, we are short on space and 15 feet wouldn’t have been possible if the tree was to be outside the dining room window. Truthfully though, I do like that it’s right outside the window now. It does a nice job of blocking the neighbor’s house, even though I love my neighbors! It also does a nice job of shading the air conditioning unit all summer and making a pretty dappled shade in my dining room. I really can’t recommend planting a tree that close to the house though. I’d say give yours a minimum of 10 feet. It’ll be fuller and have more room to grow a nice shape.
RESPONSE FOR JEFF from Linden.
You’re making me tired! But the forest pansy redbud does sound nice there. Just make sure you’re planting it where you want to plant it! And about those cedars — those are going to be a bear to replant, so be certain you’re putting them where you want them!!
You crack me up! One of these days, I need to take a field trip to see your trees.
RESPONSE FOR CAROL about the corkscrew willow:
Hi Carol. I don’t know a lot about willow trees, but if I were planting a willow tree on my property, I would plant it as far away from the house as possible, a minimum of 40 feet away, and I would take care to plant it far away any water pipes as possible. I’ve heard that for the best corkscrew effect, make sure to prune the tree heavily after it gets established. They grow back fuller. Good luck!
HI Julie,
I am wondering if you know how close I can plant a red cloud dogwood to our house. We are short on space, but would really like to plant a dogwood. Thanks so much for any help….
Well, here I go again. A couple of weeks ago, I was praising my European Hornbeam’s marscent leaves and the oval shape. It was planted near the house, slightly to the left of the bay window. There has been an awful lot done this season… 1. Serviceberry planted to the right of the walk, 2. October Glory transplanted to the foreground, 3. Alaska Weeping Cedar transplanted so it would show up better, 4. Moonglow Juniper added to take the place of the cedar for “framing the house”. So, one would think I’d be done. However, I have started to obsess. The European Hornbeam is simply too big for the spot. It is bigger than the maple now, and just doesn’t look right. So, on Friday, it takes a new home in the backyard, and a “Forest Pansy Redbud” will be in front of the window.
I can hear echos of the cash register now
The only thing left is to put Western Red Cedars as a screen in the back yard, but NOT THIS YEAR!
Hi Julie,
I am about to plant a corkscrew willow in Raleigh, NC. I need to know how far it should be from the house and if it sheds a lot. Are there any maintenance tips that would be helpful for me to know. I have just discovered your site and can’t wait to spend more time on it. Thanks in advance!
Carol
Jules, It wasn’t my October Glory which had the clinging leaves, I was talking about s Columnar European Hornbeam. It’s greening up now though.
Jeff