GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Native tree winners and losers

Four years ago, I planted 22 native trees in our back forty.

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Two of each, like Noah and the ark.

We have a narrow, deep lot. Our front yard and much of the backyard is jazzed up as you might expect a landscape architect’s place to be, while the back portion can be described as a meadow.

To be fair, the back forty has its challenges. The soil is very sandy and dries out quickly.

A thick layer of mulch at the base of each tree is only a partial remedy for the dry conditions. The meadow is dominated by knapweed, an invasive, sun-loving, drought-tolerant weed that someday I might want to eliminate.

As for the native trees I planted in fall 2020, the following are my winners and losers:

Paper birch (Betula papyrifa): In year one, both paper birch trees struggled and looked like they were destined to fail. But today, they’re healthy as kittens and have more than doubled in size.

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White pine (Pinus strobus): I planted two, and placed them adjacent to the fence, complementing the neighbor’s native juniper. When planted, they were knee-high; four years later they are magnificent at over three meters.

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum October Glory): Another success. The variety I planted is October Glory, making them nativars rather than 100 per cent native. The maples have not grown much taller, but have become broader, heavier and denser. In a few weeks, we will enjoy their fiery red color.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis): This little-known native tree is proving a solid performer, characterized by dark green foliage, a straight stem and dense canopy.

Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis): The horticulture books say hemlock grows best in rich soil and partial shade, but sometimes the books get it wrong. I love hemlock for its graceful form and soft-textured evergreen foliage.

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Burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa): Oaks have a reputation for being an outstanding tree in the forest, but not the finest nursery tree. Like beech, they grow slowly and take a few years to bounce back after being planted or transplanted. But even after the first year, my burr oaks are loving life with rapid, healthy growth.

Basswood (Tilia americana): Basswood is on my loser’s list because early this spring one fell over and broke, probably the result of a wood-boring insect. The other is surviving, but not thriving like its neighbors.

American beech (Fagus grandiflora): This favorite tree of mine is slow-growing and slow to establish itself. One has nearly given up, but is now sending new shoots from its base. The other is struggling and has not grown much since it was planted. Later this fall, I will add fertilizer and a fresh layer of mulch to encourage growth next spring.

Juneberry (Amelenchier canadensis): More of a large shrub than a tree, I was hoping the Juneberry would be much larger by now. Juneberry is touted for its showy spring flowers and bright fall color, but so far is failing to deliver. I have no doubt it will spring into action after a dose of fertilizer and new mulch.

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