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What can you do about the Corona Virus?
Planting Trees can help stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19!
By Chris Leinster - March 17, 2020
There is no reason to read this blog. I’m only writing this for the benefit of the Google web crawlers who continuously search my site for new and relevant content, and COVID-19 seems to be the buzzword that will get Happy Trees to the top of the search engine results. I don’t mean to make light of a potentially serious situation, but perhaps I can bring a little levity to a panic-stricken situation.
Planting trees can actually help prevent the spread of the dreaded Corona Virus. I base this on absolutely nothing. I’m not a doctor, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Trees serve as windbreaks that knock down dust that can harbor the virus. Trees purify the air and pump out oxygen. Pure oxygen kills the Corona virus, and again, I base this on absolutely nothing.
Forget hording toilet paper, trees like Maple and Catalpa have large leaves that could serve the purpose in a pinch. Happy Trees also plants large caliper fruit trees like Apple, Pear, and Peach that can feed your family in perpetuity until reason returns and civilization is restored.
As the stock market crashes and our health care system collapses, you may need to fortify your home against hording marauders. Washington Hawthorn have wicked thorns that when planted as a hedge-row can defend your realm as sure as razor wire. Pine and Spruce trees can screen your domicile so your neighbors can’t see you stockpiling the last few remaining cases of hand sanitizer.
Truth be told a global pandemic isn’t without it’s upside. Traffic congestion is greatly reduced and oil has tanked to around $28 a barrel. This means lower fuel costs and reduced labor expense as crews aren’t stuck sitting on I-25. Happy Trees is operating business as usual so if you’re self-quarantining why not get some trees planted while you’re working from home!
https://youtu.be/-sJ5P5LHK3M
I should mention that Happy Trees is taking extra precautions to keep our workers and clients safe during this time of crisis. While the disease doesn’t seem to be particularly lethal, it is spreading like wildfire so we are of course taking the threat seriously. We are sanitizing vehicles and wiping down tools. Workers are required to wear gloves and we are vigilantly watching for signs of illness. We are following the recommendations from the CDC and local health authorities, and all factors indicate that our operations are low risk for spreading the infection.
If you’re stuck home watching the kids while school is out, why not take some time to browse the Happy Trees website to consider your next tree to renovate your landscape. Whether you need something for shade, screening, or just something flowering to beautify your property, Happy Trees has exactly what you need. You can shop from home so you won’t risk exposure at the nursery, and our crews will deliver and plant your trees professionally as promised. If you feel helpless and have the urge to do something, plant a tree! You’ll feel better I guarantee it.
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Planting trees can actually help prevent the spread of the dreaded Corona Virus. I base this on absolutely nothing. I’m not a doctor, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Trees serve as windbreaks that knock down dust that can harbor the virus. Trees purify the air and pump out oxygen. Pure oxygen kills the Corona virus, and again, I base this on absolutely nothing.
Forget hording toilet paper, trees like Maple and Catalpa have large leaves that could serve the purpose in a pinch. Happy Trees also plants large caliper fruit trees like Apple, Pear, and Peach that can feed your family in perpetuity until reason returns and civilization is restored.
As the stock market crashes and our health care system collapses, you may need to fortify your home against hording marauders. Washington Hawthorn have wicked thorns that when planted as a hedge-row can defend your realm as sure as razor wire. Pine and Spruce trees can screen your domicile so your neighbors can’t see you stockpiling the last few remaining cases of hand sanitizer.
Truth be told a global pandemic isn’t without it’s upside. Traffic congestion is greatly reduced and oil has tanked to around $28 a barrel. This means lower fuel costs and reduced labor expense as crews aren’t stuck sitting on I-25. Happy Trees is operating business as usual so if you’re self-quarantining why not get some trees planted while you’re working from home!
https://youtu.be/-sJ5P5LHK3M
I should mention that Happy Trees is taking extra precautions to keep our workers and clients safe during this time of crisis. While the disease doesn’t seem to be particularly lethal, it is spreading like wildfire so we are of course taking the threat seriously. We are sanitizing vehicles and wiping down tools. Workers are required to wear gloves and we are vigilantly watching for signs of illness. We are following the recommendations from the CDC and local health authorities, and all factors indicate that our operations are low risk for spreading the infection.
If you’re stuck home watching the kids while school is out, why not take some time to browse the Happy Trees website to consider your next tree to renovate your landscape. Whether you need something for shade, screening, or just something flowering to beautify your property, Happy Trees has exactly what you need. You can shop from home so you won’t risk exposure at the nursery, and our crews will deliver and plant your trees professionally as promised. If you feel helpless and have the urge to do something, plant a tree! You’ll feel better I guarantee it.
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It's time to get planting...
Bud Break!
By Chris Leinster - March 5, 2020
It seems as though winter has been particularly relentless this season and much of our streets and shady spots are still covered in snow and ice. Spring is equally relentless however, and it is arriving regardless of what winter has to say about it. The buds are breaking open on many of our regions’ trees, signaling the end of winter’s wrath and the beginning of our wondrous and miraculous spring. It’s time to plant!
The tree in the photo is a Maple tree I happened to notice just this afternoon, March 5th. We generally don’t think of Maple trees as flowering trees but there they are, although the flowers are rather insignificant. Night time temperatures are hovering near freezing, yet these Maple and many other tree species are awakening out of winter dormancy and casting out pollen in an orgasmic frenzy.
We are entering a season of incomprehensible change. All around us trees that have rested in cryogenic slumber will begin bursting forth in a cacophony of flowers, leaves, fruits, and seeds. This will all occur in a matter of weeks. Then, nothing much will happen throughout summer’s scorching heat. Take time each day to appreciate the changes occurring all around you, and you might find yourself better connected to the natural wonders that help support human existence on this fragile planet.
The best way to observe these wonders is to have stewardship over them in your own yard! Trees benefit our lives in myriad ways, providing privacy, shade, windbreaks, or just something beautiful to appreciate in our landscapes.
Right now is an excellent time to plant. Trees can be harvested only when dormant and when the ground isn’t frozen. That means they can only be dug in the fall and spring. If spring-dug trees are planted while still dormant, they will “wake up†in your yard hardly noticing that they were moved at all! They avoid the transplant shock that can sometimes occur with summer planting. If you plant flowering trees like Crabapple or Serviceberry, you can enjoy the flowers now without having to wait another winter for your trees to put on a show.
Many of the trees that are appropriate for Colorado’s Front Range are listed with photographs at HappyTrees.co. Pricing is provided, and shopping is easy! Please call with questions or comments, and thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees!
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The tree in the photo is a Maple tree I happened to notice just this afternoon, March 5th. We generally don’t think of Maple trees as flowering trees but there they are, although the flowers are rather insignificant. Night time temperatures are hovering near freezing, yet these Maple and many other tree species are awakening out of winter dormancy and casting out pollen in an orgasmic frenzy.
We are entering a season of incomprehensible change. All around us trees that have rested in cryogenic slumber will begin bursting forth in a cacophony of flowers, leaves, fruits, and seeds. This will all occur in a matter of weeks. Then, nothing much will happen throughout summer’s scorching heat. Take time each day to appreciate the changes occurring all around you, and you might find yourself better connected to the natural wonders that help support human existence on this fragile planet.
The best way to observe these wonders is to have stewardship over them in your own yard! Trees benefit our lives in myriad ways, providing privacy, shade, windbreaks, or just something beautiful to appreciate in our landscapes.
Right now is an excellent time to plant. Trees can be harvested only when dormant and when the ground isn’t frozen. That means they can only be dug in the fall and spring. If spring-dug trees are planted while still dormant, they will “wake up†in your yard hardly noticing that they were moved at all! They avoid the transplant shock that can sometimes occur with summer planting. If you plant flowering trees like Crabapple or Serviceberry, you can enjoy the flowers now without having to wait another winter for your trees to put on a show.
Many of the trees that are appropriate for Colorado’s Front Range are listed with photographs at HappyTrees.co. Pricing is provided, and shopping is easy! Please call with questions or comments, and thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees!
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Warm days and Cold Nights
Water over the Winter months to protect newly planted trees.
By Chris Leinster - January 21, 2020
Ice is still clinging to storm drains and parking lots but it has been three weeks since it last snowed around town. Daytime temperatures have been reaching into the 50s, while dropping into the mid-20s overnight. This is really tough on trees and shrubs, especially newly planted trees that haven't spread their roots deeply into the surrounding soil.
This pattern looks like it will continue through at least this week. Please get the hoses out and do a little winter watering to get some moisture into the ground.
If the ground is still frozen or snow covered you don’t need to do anything just yet. Just please keep an eye on the ground moisture and water on a warm day as needed. A good soaking should be adequate to get us to the next precipitation event.
If you have a recently planted tree from Happy Trees, your water gauge can show you if moisture is available in the root zone. Otherwise you might dig a little in the vegetable garden or other inconspicuous place to see if there’s moisture in the soil or not. With Colorado’s intense sunshine and Chinook winds it doesn’t take long for the ground to dry out completely.
One last tip…temperatures are still dropping below freezing at night so disconnect your hose from the tap to prevent freeze damage. Drain your hoses so they don’t freeze as well. Winter watering helps protect roots when the ground freezes, so be aware of your plant’s needs and water as necessary.
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This pattern looks like it will continue through at least this week. Please get the hoses out and do a little winter watering to get some moisture into the ground.
If the ground is still frozen or snow covered you don’t need to do anything just yet. Just please keep an eye on the ground moisture and water on a warm day as needed. A good soaking should be adequate to get us to the next precipitation event.
If you have a recently planted tree from Happy Trees, your water gauge can show you if moisture is available in the root zone. Otherwise you might dig a little in the vegetable garden or other inconspicuous place to see if there’s moisture in the soil or not. With Colorado’s intense sunshine and Chinook winds it doesn’t take long for the ground to dry out completely.
One last tip…temperatures are still dropping below freezing at night so disconnect your hose from the tap to prevent freeze damage. Drain your hoses so they don’t freeze as well. Winter watering helps protect roots when the ground freezes, so be aware of your plant’s needs and water as necessary.
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When is the best time to plant trees?
Now is the ideal time to plant trees your family will love for generations to come!
By Chris Leinster - August 8, 2019
There are many hot days left in the season, but the stifling heat of mid-summer is behind us. With cooler temperatures and rain in the forecast, now is the perfect time to buy trees and to have them professionally delivered and planted in your yard!
I’m often asked “when is the best time to plant a tree?†The answer, of course, is 20 years ago! Kidding aside, if I needed another tree in my own yard now would be an ideal time to plant. The temperature is cooler, precipitation returns, and we still have three to four months of the growing season left. This means trees have a chance to “root in†before winter creeps in.
Truth be told, there is no great time to plant in Colorado. Spring is about as ideal a time as any, but late frosts and hail can ravage newly planted trees. We plant all summer long, but we must take special precautions to alleviate heat stress and transplant shock. Fall is an excellent time to plant, especially as the leaves drop from the trees as they transition into winter dormancy. The trees over-winter in the ground, and roots begin to establish long before any top growth is evident. Still, severe winter weather and frozen ground can take a toll on vulnerable newly planted trees.
All things considered, now is an excellent time to plant! You still have a few months to admire your tree as it adjusts to its new surroundings and spreads its roots into the amended soil of our planting zone. These new roots give the trees an advantage as winter sets in. They will be better suited to handle the stress of wild temperature swings and deep freezes. As the soil warms up in late winter, the roots will “wake up†and begin to soak up nutrients. By this time next year, you should experience a flush of new growth and your trees should be well on their way to providing years of enjoyment for generations to come!
If you look to the east the next time you head to the airport, you’ll get a good sense of what kind of trees like to live here- meaning, virtually none. In my native Virginia, abandoned farmers’ fields would be naturally re-forested within a decade. This is not the case in Colorado.
While Colorado is blessed with about as an ideal climate as possible for us hairless monkeys, she’s about as tough on trees as it gets. Late snow loads and hail storms assault trees in the spring. Summer brings blistering heat and severe drought, intense sun and dry air. Fall can bring early snow storms and drastic temperature swings. Sometimes winters are so cold it will split the trunks of even established trees. Heavy snow can bring massive limbs crashing to the ground.
All that said, trees have many benefits that enhance our lives and landscapes. With a little extra effort and lots of care we can enjoy many of our favorite trees from around the world in perpetuity. All they need is a little water and nutrition, especially during the establishment period. Downtown Denver is an urban forest with many splendid specimen trees- proof enough that you can successfully grow trees for your kids and grandchildren to adore.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a tree to your yard, whether it be for shade, privacy, or just something beautiful to admire, now is a great time to get it done. Call Happy Trees today and we will help you select the perfect tree for your needs. It’s easy! Give Happy Trees a call today!
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Read More...
I’m often asked “when is the best time to plant a tree?†The answer, of course, is 20 years ago! Kidding aside, if I needed another tree in my own yard now would be an ideal time to plant. The temperature is cooler, precipitation returns, and we still have three to four months of the growing season left. This means trees have a chance to “root in†before winter creeps in.
Truth be told, there is no great time to plant in Colorado. Spring is about as ideal a time as any, but late frosts and hail can ravage newly planted trees. We plant all summer long, but we must take special precautions to alleviate heat stress and transplant shock. Fall is an excellent time to plant, especially as the leaves drop from the trees as they transition into winter dormancy. The trees over-winter in the ground, and roots begin to establish long before any top growth is evident. Still, severe winter weather and frozen ground can take a toll on vulnerable newly planted trees.
All things considered, now is an excellent time to plant! You still have a few months to admire your tree as it adjusts to its new surroundings and spreads its roots into the amended soil of our planting zone. These new roots give the trees an advantage as winter sets in. They will be better suited to handle the stress of wild temperature swings and deep freezes. As the soil warms up in late winter, the roots will “wake up†and begin to soak up nutrients. By this time next year, you should experience a flush of new growth and your trees should be well on their way to providing years of enjoyment for generations to come!
If you look to the east the next time you head to the airport, you’ll get a good sense of what kind of trees like to live here- meaning, virtually none. In my native Virginia, abandoned farmers’ fields would be naturally re-forested within a decade. This is not the case in Colorado.
While Colorado is blessed with about as an ideal climate as possible for us hairless monkeys, she’s about as tough on trees as it gets. Late snow loads and hail storms assault trees in the spring. Summer brings blistering heat and severe drought, intense sun and dry air. Fall can bring early snow storms and drastic temperature swings. Sometimes winters are so cold it will split the trunks of even established trees. Heavy snow can bring massive limbs crashing to the ground.
All that said, trees have many benefits that enhance our lives and landscapes. With a little extra effort and lots of care we can enjoy many of our favorite trees from around the world in perpetuity. All they need is a little water and nutrition, especially during the establishment period. Downtown Denver is an urban forest with many splendid specimen trees- proof enough that you can successfully grow trees for your kids and grandchildren to adore.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a tree to your yard, whether it be for shade, privacy, or just something beautiful to admire, now is a great time to get it done. Call Happy Trees today and we will help you select the perfect tree for your needs. It’s easy! Give Happy Trees a call today!
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Many shrubs are available in tree form!
The top tiny trees for tight spaces
By Chris Leinster - July 15, 2019
As the population continues to proliferate along Colorado’s Front Range, builders are cramming houses closer together. Yard space is sacrificed for expansive living spaces, and massive McMansions are crammed onto lots where quaint bungalows once stood. In many neighborhoods, roof top patios offer the only place to plant, and rooftop gardening is becoming increasingly popular. Happy Trees is receiving many requests for smaller stature trees that won’t outgrow the slender spaces afforded them. The following are the best picks for petite trees for smaller spaces.
There are a few columnar or “fastigiate†forms of trees that provide screening and privacy where space is at a premium. If you need four season privacy, evergreens such as Juniper, Pine, and Spruce offer the best seclusion. There are many varieties of upright Juniper. ‘Skyrocket’ is the skinniest with about a 3’ span. ‘Wichita Blue’ spreads about 6’ wide and has lacy blue needles that give it a soft appearance. Check out ‘Arnold Sentinel’ for a columnar pine. If you like Blue Spruce, you’ll love the ‘Fastigiata’, an upright form.
Since we’re outside mostly over the summer months, deciduous trees like Crimsonspire Oak and Franz Fontaine Hornbeam offer super slender screening or stately accents. Many families of trees have upright forms. Maple has ‘Autumn Gold’, which is still a big tree but with a skinnier profile. There are a few Crabapple varieties like ‘Red Baron’ with upright canopies. Crabapple even have dwarf varieties like ‘Sargent Tina’ with a weeping habit. ‘Coralburst’ makes a petite patio tree, and ‘Lollipop’ is almost comical with its perfectly globular 8’ crown. There’s even a columnar form of Golden Raintree!
I hesitate to include Japanese Maple as they just don’t like Colorado’s dry air. They are irresistible though, and avid gardeners can try to pamper them to maturity. Another rarity for our climate is Seven Son Flower, which is about as close to a Crape Myrtle as we can grow at our altitude. Check it out!
Japanese Tree Lilac, Saskatoon Serviceberry, and Winter King Hawthorn are smaller trees for confined areas. Where space is really restricted, you might look to tree forms of what are generally considered shrubs. Many of our favorite shrubs can grow quite large, and if pruned properly they can lose their bushy form and be trained into small trees.
Viburnum, Ninebark, Rose of Sharon, Lilac, and Smoketree can grow upward of 15’, which is generally considered the transition where woody plants are classified as trees or shrubs. By selectively pruning out competing branches, these shrubs can be transformed into multi-stemmed small trees. As the plants mature, 3-9 stems can support an overhead canopy. If left alone, these manipulated plants will eventually revert to their bush form, so trim off unwanted leaves and branches like a Bonsai master as they appear.
Single trunked forms of these plants are sometimes available where the growers graft the shrub onto a single stem. These are specialty items that are seasonally available.
Happy Trees can provide the perfect tree for your needs whatever they may be. There’s the right tree for every situation, so if you don’t see what you need on our website, just call and we’ll fix you up with exactly what you need.
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There are a few columnar or “fastigiate†forms of trees that provide screening and privacy where space is at a premium. If you need four season privacy, evergreens such as Juniper, Pine, and Spruce offer the best seclusion. There are many varieties of upright Juniper. ‘Skyrocket’ is the skinniest with about a 3’ span. ‘Wichita Blue’ spreads about 6’ wide and has lacy blue needles that give it a soft appearance. Check out ‘Arnold Sentinel’ for a columnar pine. If you like Blue Spruce, you’ll love the ‘Fastigiata’, an upright form.
Since we’re outside mostly over the summer months, deciduous trees like Crimsonspire Oak and Franz Fontaine Hornbeam offer super slender screening or stately accents. Many families of trees have upright forms. Maple has ‘Autumn Gold’, which is still a big tree but with a skinnier profile. There are a few Crabapple varieties like ‘Red Baron’ with upright canopies. Crabapple even have dwarf varieties like ‘Sargent Tina’ with a weeping habit. ‘Coralburst’ makes a petite patio tree, and ‘Lollipop’ is almost comical with its perfectly globular 8’ crown. There’s even a columnar form of Golden Raintree!
I hesitate to include Japanese Maple as they just don’t like Colorado’s dry air. They are irresistible though, and avid gardeners can try to pamper them to maturity. Another rarity for our climate is Seven Son Flower, which is about as close to a Crape Myrtle as we can grow at our altitude. Check it out!
Japanese Tree Lilac, Saskatoon Serviceberry, and Winter King Hawthorn are smaller trees for confined areas. Where space is really restricted, you might look to tree forms of what are generally considered shrubs. Many of our favorite shrubs can grow quite large, and if pruned properly they can lose their bushy form and be trained into small trees.
Viburnum, Ninebark, Rose of Sharon, Lilac, and Smoketree can grow upward of 15’, which is generally considered the transition where woody plants are classified as trees or shrubs. By selectively pruning out competing branches, these shrubs can be transformed into multi-stemmed small trees. As the plants mature, 3-9 stems can support an overhead canopy. If left alone, these manipulated plants will eventually revert to their bush form, so trim off unwanted leaves and branches like a Bonsai master as they appear.
Single trunked forms of these plants are sometimes available where the growers graft the shrub onto a single stem. These are specialty items that are seasonally available.
Happy Trees can provide the perfect tree for your needs whatever they may be. There’s the right tree for every situation, so if you don’t see what you need on our website, just call and we’ll fix you up with exactly what you need.
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