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Fall is for Planting!
Act now, our season is almost over...
By Chris Leinster - September 19, 2024
Hot air balloons lingered in the sky in the early morning hours above rural Longmont as I headed up to load the day’s trees for planting. I noticed farmers hard at work harvesting corn, pumpkins, and other assorted crops as I traveled along highway 287. The pumpkin patches were stacking hay bales and cutting corn mazes readying for the trick-or-treaters soon to swarm small farms for the autumn celebrations. Fall is upon us, and Fall is for planting trees!
It’s a great time to plant. Temperatures are cooler, we’re receiving more precipitation, and stocks are being replenished with Fall dug trees. Trees still have time to root in before the ground freezes, where they will then overwinter and “wake up” in the Spring with vigorous new growth.
Trees are getting harder to come by, and some of the nurseries are fairly depleted from high demand over the Summer. Happy Trees shops from wholesale nurseries up and down the Front Range, so we can usually source the best available trees from Colorado’s most reputable nurseries.
Pine and Spruce, which have been difficult to find all Summer, are finally starting to arrive. Container grown Pear, Hackberry, and Linden are plentiful, and looking fantastic! If you’re looking for a tree to plant this Fall, Happy Trees can find, deliver, and plant the best trees available.
Snow is already teasing Colorado’s highest peaks, and the Aspen are beginning to turn color at the highest elevations. Happy Trees plants successfully through October, and then will shutter our doors until trees begin arriving next Spring. Now is the time to call if you’re ready to decorate your yard with trees that will grace your yard for generations to come.
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It’s a great time to plant. Temperatures are cooler, we’re receiving more precipitation, and stocks are being replenished with Fall dug trees. Trees still have time to root in before the ground freezes, where they will then overwinter and “wake up” in the Spring with vigorous new growth.
Trees are getting harder to come by, and some of the nurseries are fairly depleted from high demand over the Summer. Happy Trees shops from wholesale nurseries up and down the Front Range, so we can usually source the best available trees from Colorado’s most reputable nurseries.
Pine and Spruce, which have been difficult to find all Summer, are finally starting to arrive. Container grown Pear, Hackberry, and Linden are plentiful, and looking fantastic! If you’re looking for a tree to plant this Fall, Happy Trees can find, deliver, and plant the best trees available.
Snow is already teasing Colorado’s highest peaks, and the Aspen are beginning to turn color at the highest elevations. Happy Trees plants successfully through October, and then will shutter our doors until trees begin arriving next Spring. Now is the time to call if you’re ready to decorate your yard with trees that will grace your yard for generations to come.
Native trees for the residential landscape
The Mighty Pinion Pine!
By Chris Leinster - August 22, 2024
Colorado is tough on trees. So tough, in fact, that very few trees are native to Colorado. If you look at any undeveloped land (getting tougher to find) along the Front Range, you’ll notice that there are no trees naturally growing on the High Chaparral. Long hot Summers, high altitude, low humidity, poor soil, wild temperature swings, extreme cold snaps, and heavy snow loads all contribute to an environment that makes it nearly impossible for trees to take hold.
One exception to consider is the mighty Pinion Pine. Sometimes known as Pinyon Pine, these rugged survivors are found in native stands throughout Colorado and the Intermountain West. Their range extends from Canada down into Mexico. More impressively, they’re found westward, thriving in the scorched deserts of Utah! The cover photo was taken in Arches National Park. Pinyon Pine is the official state tree of New Mexico. You’ll see fine examples clinging to the cliffs and enjoying the music at Red Rocks Ampitheater!
Pinion grow slowly, just a couple of inches per year, although with irrigation their growth can be accelerated a bit. The trees you find in the desert can be hundreds of years old! Native trees are often in various states of decay displaying twisted and gnarled dead and bare branches. This does not detract from their intrinsic beauty, however, as the exfoliating bark and bleached wood provide character and contrast to the surviving branches’ vibrant green needles striving to survive in the relentless desert heat. In fact, Pinion Pine might be one of a few trees that may look just as good dead as they do alive, as their skeletons can remain standing for many decades, a fitting tribute to their immense struggle for survival.
The Happy Trees Pinion Pine we plant for you shouldn’t suffer that fate for generations to come though. Just like all newly planted trees, they will need regular watering until they’re established, being extra careful to not over-water. Once the trees are established you can plug the emitters and it will thrive on natural precipitation only, although keep watering if you desire more growth.
Pinion Pine are mostly collected trees dug off of private ranch land, land slated for development, or off of Bureau of Land Management land by permit. They are genetically variable, meaning that they each have unique appearances and expressions. They can be tall and slender, fat and bushy, somewhere in-between, or even multiple trunked! With so many traits and forms, there’s a Pinion Pine appropriate for any landscape! They’re perfect for anchoring the corner of the home, where their slow growth won’t swallow up the house in the coming years. Consider Pinion for the corner of the yard, to screen utility boxes, or to provide privacy for a hot tub.
One final fun fact is that Pinion Pine produce edible pine nuts! They’re great for snacking, can be milled for baking, or they add a crunchy snap to a garden salad. You can collect your own, but probably better to buy some if you spot them in mountain town tourist shops.
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One exception to consider is the mighty Pinion Pine. Sometimes known as Pinyon Pine, these rugged survivors are found in native stands throughout Colorado and the Intermountain West. Their range extends from Canada down into Mexico. More impressively, they’re found westward, thriving in the scorched deserts of Utah! The cover photo was taken in Arches National Park. Pinyon Pine is the official state tree of New Mexico. You’ll see fine examples clinging to the cliffs and enjoying the music at Red Rocks Ampitheater!
Pinion grow slowly, just a couple of inches per year, although with irrigation their growth can be accelerated a bit. The trees you find in the desert can be hundreds of years old! Native trees are often in various states of decay displaying twisted and gnarled dead and bare branches. This does not detract from their intrinsic beauty, however, as the exfoliating bark and bleached wood provide character and contrast to the surviving branches’ vibrant green needles striving to survive in the relentless desert heat. In fact, Pinion Pine might be one of a few trees that may look just as good dead as they do alive, as their skeletons can remain standing for many decades, a fitting tribute to their immense struggle for survival.
The Happy Trees Pinion Pine we plant for you shouldn’t suffer that fate for generations to come though. Just like all newly planted trees, they will need regular watering until they’re established, being extra careful to not over-water. Once the trees are established you can plug the emitters and it will thrive on natural precipitation only, although keep watering if you desire more growth.
Pinion Pine are mostly collected trees dug off of private ranch land, land slated for development, or off of Bureau of Land Management land by permit. They are genetically variable, meaning that they each have unique appearances and expressions. They can be tall and slender, fat and bushy, somewhere in-between, or even multiple trunked! With so many traits and forms, there’s a Pinion Pine appropriate for any landscape! They’re perfect for anchoring the corner of the home, where their slow growth won’t swallow up the house in the coming years. Consider Pinion for the corner of the yard, to screen utility boxes, or to provide privacy for a hot tub.
One final fun fact is that Pinion Pine produce edible pine nuts! They’re great for snacking, can be milled for baking, or they add a crunchy snap to a garden salad. You can collect your own, but probably better to buy some if you spot them in mountain town tourist shops.
Anticipation
Plant a variety of trees for a progression of bloom!
By Chris Leinster - July 23, 2024
In my former career as a landscape architect, I always tried to incorporate a progression of bloom when selecting trees and shrubs for my clients’ yards. By picking a variety of trees with different bloom times, the property always had a seasonal splash of interest to admire. From the earliest blossoms of the Crabapple, Plum, Pear, and Cherry trees in late Winter to the last flourish of petals of Rose of Sharon that persist until frost, my customers always had something colorful to enjoy while anticipating the next display of marvelous awakening.
After the Ornamental Fruit Trees already mentioned, Redbud and Hawthorn quickly follow. Lilacs and Elder liven up the understory. Then Viburnum, Serviceberry, and Japanese Tree Lilac reveal their true splendor. Serviceberry then offer up delicious berries that also have an ornamental appeal. They taste like blueberries if you can beat the birds to them.
For most yards, late Spring provides the last show of colorful array. But adding a Golden Raintree would liven up the landscape in late June! Catalpa also explode to life in mid-Summer. Catalpa are white from a distance but have purple striations down the tube of the orchid-like flowers. Incredible! As I write this toward the end of July, my Seven Son Flower tree (featured in the picture) is budding up and beginning to open her flowers. This will soon be followed by cherry-red bracts (modified leaves) which decorate the tree until Fall.
That about does it for the trees, but Roses, Spirea, and Potentilla bloom perpetually throughout the season and will produce through the Fall. Speaking of Fall, make sure you’ve got some Maple and Linden for one last gasp of brilliant color before the leaves drop.
Winter interest is important as well. The Regal Oak Tree is just as impressive barren as it is fully clothed in leaves. The ridged, corky bark of Hackberry really stands out against a snowy backdrop. Christmas lights can dazzle the effect of any tree in the landscape, just don’t be the guy who still has them on in May! Of course evergreen trees such as Spruce, Fir, and Pine will maintain privacy while offering some blues and greens until the snow finally melts and the whole cycle begins anew.
If you’ve been contemplating how to add some interest for any season, Happy Trees has plenty of options to keep your gardens flourishing for generations to come. Browse the website at HappyTrees.CO or give us a call and we can help guide you with your selections. Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and as always, have a great day!
Read More...
After the Ornamental Fruit Trees already mentioned, Redbud and Hawthorn quickly follow. Lilacs and Elder liven up the understory. Then Viburnum, Serviceberry, and Japanese Tree Lilac reveal their true splendor. Serviceberry then offer up delicious berries that also have an ornamental appeal. They taste like blueberries if you can beat the birds to them.
For most yards, late Spring provides the last show of colorful array. But adding a Golden Raintree would liven up the landscape in late June! Catalpa also explode to life in mid-Summer. Catalpa are white from a distance but have purple striations down the tube of the orchid-like flowers. Incredible! As I write this toward the end of July, my Seven Son Flower tree (featured in the picture) is budding up and beginning to open her flowers. This will soon be followed by cherry-red bracts (modified leaves) which decorate the tree until Fall.
That about does it for the trees, but Roses, Spirea, and Potentilla bloom perpetually throughout the season and will produce through the Fall. Speaking of Fall, make sure you’ve got some Maple and Linden for one last gasp of brilliant color before the leaves drop.
Winter interest is important as well. The Regal Oak Tree is just as impressive barren as it is fully clothed in leaves. The ridged, corky bark of Hackberry really stands out against a snowy backdrop. Christmas lights can dazzle the effect of any tree in the landscape, just don’t be the guy who still has them on in May! Of course evergreen trees such as Spruce, Fir, and Pine will maintain privacy while offering some blues and greens until the snow finally melts and the whole cycle begins anew.
If you’ve been contemplating how to add some interest for any season, Happy Trees has plenty of options to keep your gardens flourishing for generations to come. Browse the website at HappyTrees.CO or give us a call and we can help guide you with your selections. Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and as always, have a great day!
Why Happy Trees are the perfect trees!
What to look for when selecting a healthy tree
By Chris Leinster - March 3, 2024
In the olden days, if you desired to plant a tree you would load up the family in the ‘ole station wagon and motor over to your local garden center. There you would encounter thousands of trees over dozens of acres where you could wander through the mud for hours staring up through row after row of trees to find your perfect purchase. But do you really know what to look for when selecting a tree? Here’s how Happy Trees ensures you’ll be Happy when you allow us to select your tree for you.
Happy Trees makes it far more convenient for you to shop for trees by category and to pick the right type of tree for your needs. We provide pictures of trees for all four seasons so you can see how they look when barren over Winter, when donned in Spring flowers, leafed out during summer months, and when shrouded in Fall color! We also do the shopping for you, so there’s no need to waste a weekend driving up to Longmont or down to Franktown to fight crowds and pick through the trees remaining in stock.
For shade and ornamental trees, the first thing most folks consider most important is a straight trunk. In my retail days I would wonder as couples fought over which tree had the straightest, most perfectly aligned trunk. In my professional view a straight trunk is desirable, yet hardly the most important predictor for a glorious tree at maturity. It is perfectly normal for trees to have slight bends or bows in their trunks, and rarely do we find perfectly straight trunks on many varieties. Good luck finding a Hackberry that likes to grow straight, yet as they age the bends and bows add character and become desirable characteristics for these and many other varieties. For most trees slight bends and bows don’t actually straighten out but as the trees add layers of tissue through the years the bends become hardly noticeable. Still, I try to select the straightest trunks for the best possible initial impression.
Probably a balanced basket is a more important consideration. This means that branching is evenly dispersed about the tree. This ensures that the tree looks marvelous no matter from which angle you view it. It’s not the end of the world if a tree has a flat side or a gap in branching. It will fill in over time. Sometimes its desirable to have a flat side if planting near a house or where you need clearance over a driveway. For most trees a central leader is also preferred. This is the central vertical post from which the lateral branches will emerge.
Closer scrutiny should be paid to ensuring that the tree is free from physical damage or any type of disease. This is often overlooked by the novice shopper, but I obsess over this as I abhor warranty. Nurseries commonly wrap the trunks of trees during transportation and storage to protect the bark from scrapes and scratches. Its important to lift or remove the wrap to inspect for gashes, gouges, or other damage. I also check the graft if its visible to make sure it’s healed properly. I make sure the tree is solid in the root ball and not wiggling around. Minor snaps of twigs and branches are sometimes unavoidable, but I watch closely for major splits or broken scaffold branches.
Diseases can be difficult to spot, but for most varieties I know what to look for and am always vigilant for telltale signs. Oozing sap or any discharge would indicate a bacterial infection. Soft spots in the bark reveal canker. Discoloration of the bark or other anomalies are to be avoided. Pinholes indicate the tree may have been infected with borers. Its rare that I encounter any of these problems from my reputable vendors, but I’m aware and always verify that I’m bringing out a healthy tree.
Read More...
Happy Trees makes it far more convenient for you to shop for trees by category and to pick the right type of tree for your needs. We provide pictures of trees for all four seasons so you can see how they look when barren over Winter, when donned in Spring flowers, leafed out during summer months, and when shrouded in Fall color! We also do the shopping for you, so there’s no need to waste a weekend driving up to Longmont or down to Franktown to fight crowds and pick through the trees remaining in stock.
For shade and ornamental trees, the first thing most folks consider most important is a straight trunk. In my retail days I would wonder as couples fought over which tree had the straightest, most perfectly aligned trunk. In my professional view a straight trunk is desirable, yet hardly the most important predictor for a glorious tree at maturity. It is perfectly normal for trees to have slight bends or bows in their trunks, and rarely do we find perfectly straight trunks on many varieties. Good luck finding a Hackberry that likes to grow straight, yet as they age the bends and bows add character and become desirable characteristics for these and many other varieties. For most trees slight bends and bows don’t actually straighten out but as the trees add layers of tissue through the years the bends become hardly noticeable. Still, I try to select the straightest trunks for the best possible initial impression.
Probably a balanced basket is a more important consideration. This means that branching is evenly dispersed about the tree. This ensures that the tree looks marvelous no matter from which angle you view it. It’s not the end of the world if a tree has a flat side or a gap in branching. It will fill in over time. Sometimes its desirable to have a flat side if planting near a house or where you need clearance over a driveway. For most trees a central leader is also preferred. This is the central vertical post from which the lateral branches will emerge.
Closer scrutiny should be paid to ensuring that the tree is free from physical damage or any type of disease. This is often overlooked by the novice shopper, but I obsess over this as I abhor warranty. Nurseries commonly wrap the trunks of trees during transportation and storage to protect the bark from scrapes and scratches. Its important to lift or remove the wrap to inspect for gashes, gouges, or other damage. I also check the graft if its visible to make sure it’s healed properly. I make sure the tree is solid in the root ball and not wiggling around. Minor snaps of twigs and branches are sometimes unavoidable, but I watch closely for major splits or broken scaffold branches.
Diseases can be difficult to spot, but for most varieties I know what to look for and am always vigilant for telltale signs. Oozing sap or any discharge would indicate a bacterial infection. Soft spots in the bark reveal canker. Discoloration of the bark or other anomalies are to be avoided. Pinholes indicate the tree may have been infected with borers. Its rare that I encounter any of these problems from my reputable vendors, but I’m aware and always verify that I’m bringing out a healthy tree.
A December to Remember!
Brutal winter weather decimates trees.
By Chris Leinster - January 1, 2023
Happy New Year! As we kiss 2022 goodbye, let's bid last December good riddance. Our Colorado Climate is brutal on trees, and December gave us a stark reminder why most trees don't grow here. In fact, without human interference, most trees can't grow here at all. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and a bit of effort, many of our favorite trees from similar climates around the world can thrive for generations to come, but last December may have been damaging or fatal to many of our leafy friends.
The month started mildly enough, with temperatures comfortably in the 50s and even poking above 60 on a couple of occasions. Then on December 21st, the temperature plummeted from a balmy 51 degrees to 24 below zero overnight! This marked a 75 degree drop in temperature in just a matter of hours. How wildlife and livestock survive such a rapid shock is beyond me. It's remarkable that trees and plants can withstand such whiplash. Unfortunately, some won't.
The most catastrophic consequence of such dramatic temperature declines is frost cracking. This occurs when water within the tissue in the trunks of the trees freezes. Water expands as it freezes, and rapidly freezing water within trees can split the bark and rupture the heartwood. Have you ever tried to chill a bottle of beer in the freezer and forget to take it out? You likely encountered a shattered bottle, as water in the beer expanded and cracked the glass. The same phenomenon can occur in trees. Trees have defenses to counter cold temperatures, but this historic event is sure to have wreaked havoc on trees all over town.
There's really nothing that we can do to try to mitigate this. We winter wrap trees to protect from the sun, but there is really no practical way to prevent trees from freezing. Most seasons the trees own strategies can protect them from winters' wrath. December's nearly unprecedented drop will test even the hardiest of trees.
Just as we were beginning to thaw out, even reaching 62 degrees on 12/27, the bottom abruptly dropped out and a ferocious snowstorm dropped almost a foot of heavy, wet snow over much of the Denver region Wednesday the 28th. Snow accumulated at the rate of several inches per hour. In fact, by the time I finished shoveling my driveway I turned around to find almost 2 inches piled up where I had started!
Snow has an insulating effect and can actually protect the trees from freezing temperatures. The moisture it brings is of course welcome as well. The problem with rapidly accumulating heavy wet snow is the weight. Snow loads up on branches and boughs, bending them to the ground, and inevitably breaking some. Snows of this magnitude can clobber newly planted trees and can even rip mature trees completely apart.
This is why winter tying of trees, particularly upright evergreens like Juniper and Columnar Spruce, and multi-stemmed trees like Serviceberry and Canada Red Cherry, is essential along Colorado's front range. It's also wise to run out during a snowstorm to gently brush or knock the snow off your trees. Check out my prior blog on tree tying and even link to a poorly made video detailing how its done http://happytrees.co/blog/22314/Happy-Trees-Pro-Winter-Preparation-Tips-
Unfortunately, Happy Trees cannot warranty against physical damage as a result of unprecedented freezing or snow load. I'm not looking forward to the many uncomfortable conversations I'm predicting for this upcoming spring, as homeowners venture back outside and some discover fatal damage to recently planted trees. Happy Trees guarantees that trees are healthy at the time of purchase, and that trees were properly handled and planted. Even if we did everything perfectly, there's nothing we could have done to prevent frost cracking or storm damage. We wouldn't warranty your tree if it was hit by a car. Last December was more like a runaway freight train!
I don't mean to sound overly pessimistic. As I walk the grounds of the Westminster Arboretum and the world headquarters of Happy Trees, I observe no evidence of frost cracking and only minimal damage from snow load. Still, a quick drive around the neighborhood reveals major damage to an unfortunate few mature trees. Winter is the bane of Colorado gardeners, only cherished by skiers and arborists.
Read More...
The month started mildly enough, with temperatures comfortably in the 50s and even poking above 60 on a couple of occasions. Then on December 21st, the temperature plummeted from a balmy 51 degrees to 24 below zero overnight! This marked a 75 degree drop in temperature in just a matter of hours. How wildlife and livestock survive such a rapid shock is beyond me. It's remarkable that trees and plants can withstand such whiplash. Unfortunately, some won't.
The most catastrophic consequence of such dramatic temperature declines is frost cracking. This occurs when water within the tissue in the trunks of the trees freezes. Water expands as it freezes, and rapidly freezing water within trees can split the bark and rupture the heartwood. Have you ever tried to chill a bottle of beer in the freezer and forget to take it out? You likely encountered a shattered bottle, as water in the beer expanded and cracked the glass. The same phenomenon can occur in trees. Trees have defenses to counter cold temperatures, but this historic event is sure to have wreaked havoc on trees all over town.
There's really nothing that we can do to try to mitigate this. We winter wrap trees to protect from the sun, but there is really no practical way to prevent trees from freezing. Most seasons the trees own strategies can protect them from winters' wrath. December's nearly unprecedented drop will test even the hardiest of trees.
Just as we were beginning to thaw out, even reaching 62 degrees on 12/27, the bottom abruptly dropped out and a ferocious snowstorm dropped almost a foot of heavy, wet snow over much of the Denver region Wednesday the 28th. Snow accumulated at the rate of several inches per hour. In fact, by the time I finished shoveling my driveway I turned around to find almost 2 inches piled up where I had started!
Snow has an insulating effect and can actually protect the trees from freezing temperatures. The moisture it brings is of course welcome as well. The problem with rapidly accumulating heavy wet snow is the weight. Snow loads up on branches and boughs, bending them to the ground, and inevitably breaking some. Snows of this magnitude can clobber newly planted trees and can even rip mature trees completely apart.
This is why winter tying of trees, particularly upright evergreens like Juniper and Columnar Spruce, and multi-stemmed trees like Serviceberry and Canada Red Cherry, is essential along Colorado's front range. It's also wise to run out during a snowstorm to gently brush or knock the snow off your trees. Check out my prior blog on tree tying and even link to a poorly made video detailing how its done http://happytrees.co/blog/22314/Happy-Trees-Pro-Winter-Preparation-Tips-
Unfortunately, Happy Trees cannot warranty against physical damage as a result of unprecedented freezing or snow load. I'm not looking forward to the many uncomfortable conversations I'm predicting for this upcoming spring, as homeowners venture back outside and some discover fatal damage to recently planted trees. Happy Trees guarantees that trees are healthy at the time of purchase, and that trees were properly handled and planted. Even if we did everything perfectly, there's nothing we could have done to prevent frost cracking or storm damage. We wouldn't warranty your tree if it was hit by a car. Last December was more like a runaway freight train!
I don't mean to sound overly pessimistic. As I walk the grounds of the Westminster Arboretum and the world headquarters of Happy Trees, I observe no evidence of frost cracking and only minimal damage from snow load. Still, a quick drive around the neighborhood reveals major damage to an unfortunate few mature trees. Winter is the bane of Colorado gardeners, only cherished by skiers and arborists.
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