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What are those trees with the magnificant Pink Flowers?
And where can I buy them?
By Chris Leinster - April 23, 2019
Spring flowering trees are bursting into bloom bringing delightful color to our home landscapes. Happy Trees delivers and plants large trees so you can experience this beauty and wonder in your own yard! Follow the links for pricing and planting information…
Pink Flowering Prairiefire Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7263/Prairiefire-Crabapple
Fuchsia colored Royal Raindrops Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7256/Royal-Raindrops-Crabapple
White flowering and fruitless Spring Snow Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7255/Spring-Snow-Crabapple
Crabapple are among the hardiest flowering trees with the showiest display of colorful blooms. They have prolific flowers that can range from ruby red, pink, fuchsia, lavender, or white depending on the variety. I prefer to stick with varieties that produce tiny fruits that persist on the tree and dry up like raisins for the birds to snack on throughout the winter.
Newport plum have delightful pink flowers and burgundy leaves throughout the summer http://happytrees.co/products/7225/Newport-Plum
Canada Red Cherry have showers of white flowers followed by glossy green leaves that fade to burgundy. In June, new bright green growth appears on burgundy branches for a two-tone effect. Check them out! http://happytrees.co/products/7267/Canada-Red-Cherry
Chanticleer Pear are valued for their upright oval appearance, abundant white spring flowers, and a burst of red-orange-yellow fall color! http://happytrees.co/products/7218/Chanticleer-Pear
These are just some of the spring flowering trees available for planting right now. If you don’t see what you want just click or call and Happy Trees will help you find exactly what you are looking for and we’ll do the shopping for you.
Happy Trees is the easiest way for you to buy trees! You don’t need to waste your weekend driving out to the country to shop for trees. Happy Trees will help you determine the best tree for your needs and we will email or text photos of the available trees for your consideration. Once you accept your trees our crews will deliver and plant them for you. It’s easy! Give Happy Trees a call today! (720) 343-7263.
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Pink Flowering Prairiefire Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7263/Prairiefire-Crabapple
Fuchsia colored Royal Raindrops Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7256/Royal-Raindrops-Crabapple
White flowering and fruitless Spring Snow Crabapple http://happytrees.co/products/7255/Spring-Snow-Crabapple
Crabapple are among the hardiest flowering trees with the showiest display of colorful blooms. They have prolific flowers that can range from ruby red, pink, fuchsia, lavender, or white depending on the variety. I prefer to stick with varieties that produce tiny fruits that persist on the tree and dry up like raisins for the birds to snack on throughout the winter.
Newport plum have delightful pink flowers and burgundy leaves throughout the summer http://happytrees.co/products/7225/Newport-Plum
Canada Red Cherry have showers of white flowers followed by glossy green leaves that fade to burgundy. In June, new bright green growth appears on burgundy branches for a two-tone effect. Check them out! http://happytrees.co/products/7267/Canada-Red-Cherry
Chanticleer Pear are valued for their upright oval appearance, abundant white spring flowers, and a burst of red-orange-yellow fall color! http://happytrees.co/products/7218/Chanticleer-Pear
These are just some of the spring flowering trees available for planting right now. If you don’t see what you want just click or call and Happy Trees will help you find exactly what you are looking for and we’ll do the shopping for you.
Happy Trees is the easiest way for you to buy trees! You don’t need to waste your weekend driving out to the country to shop for trees. Happy Trees will help you determine the best tree for your needs and we will email or text photos of the available trees for your consideration. Once you accept your trees our crews will deliver and plant them for you. It’s easy! Give Happy Trees a call today! (720) 343-7263.
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Its Time for Planting Spring Flowering Trees!
The Top 5 Spring Flowering Trees your Family will Treasure for Generations to Come!
By Chris Leinster - April 9, 2019
Another arctic storm is bearing down on Colorado, bringing much needed moisture but also worrisome freezing temperatures. This is happening just as flower and leaf buds are opening up on most trees throughout the region. Hopefully your trees are still holding onto winter dormancy. If so, this storm will pass with little effect. If buds have broken open, they could suffer damage as the temperature dips into the low twenties.
Don’t worry, trees have latent buds for just such an occasion. They will open up after the storm passes in response to a late freeze. Nevertheless, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, your ornamental flowering trees are preparing to burst open with an array of colorful flowers. Here are the top five flowering trees for Colorado’s front range that will decorate your yard for generations to come!
Flowering Crabapple- Crabapple are the undisputed kings of spring color! They have prolific flowers that can range from ruby red, pink, fuchsia, lavender, or white depending on the variety. Most Crabapple are small to medium sized trees that have a perfectly rounded form like a lollipop. There are some with a more upright habit like ‘Royal Raindrops’, and even a columnar form as with ‘Red Baron’. ‘Red Jade’ has weeping branches, and ‘Sargent’, ‘Coralburst’, and ‘Lollipop’ are petit patio trees for small spaces.
Some varieties of Crabapple have rather hefty apples which can be a nuisance as they drop on your sidewalks and lawn. I prefer these in your neighbor’s yard, but if you have a naturalized meadow or pasture these are quite striking. ‘Bechtel’ and ‘Brandywine’ have the most stunning pink flowers that resemble roses, but those are followed by racquetball-sized fruit. ‘Radiant’ Crabapple has reddish-pink blossoms and bright red fruit that is actually quite showy, but again a little messy.
If you want the beauty without the mess, look for varieties that produce tiny apples that shrivel up like raisins and persist on the tree. These include ‘Perfect Purple’, ‘Prairiefire’, and ‘Royal Raindrops’. ‘Spring Snow’ is the only sterile variety. It has abundant white flowers and will produce no fruit. There are hormone sprays that can be applied to disrupt fruit production, but don’t overlook the ornamental attributes of fruit or the forage value to wildlife.
Crabapple tree leaves can range from glossy green to red to burgundy. With a range of shapes, flower colors, and leaf color, there is a Crabapple for every gardener to enjoy all year long! Check out our on-line catalog for more information or give Happy Trees a call for availability.
Flowering Pear- Pear trees are very popular for their upright oval habit and abundant reliable flowers. Unfortunately, Pear trees only have white flowers, but they also pack a punch of fall color ranging from gold to red to burgundy. There are many varieties of Callery Pear that are virtually indistinguishable. ‘Jack Pear’ is a dwarf tree suitable for smaller spaces. Ornamental Pear are fruitless and mostly considered very clean trees.
Plum- Ornamental Plum trees are peppered with delightful pink or white flowers in early spring and burgundy foliage throughout the summer. ‘Newport’ has showers of pink flowers and an upright oval appearance. ‘Princess Kay’ is a petit version with double white flowers, perfect for around the patio. Closely related to Plum is the Canada Red Chokecherry. These have sprays of delicate white flowers in early spring followed by bright green leaves that fade to burgundy over the summer. In June, the tree has a two-tone effect as bright green leaves emerge on burgundy branches.
Serviceberry- a Colorado native that is found in woodland areas, usually along streambanks and marshy areas. It performs best in shade and will tolerate wet conditions. Dainty white flowers decorate the tree in early spring, and the fall color is an explosion of red-orange-yellow. Serviceberry produce berries that are quite delicious if you can beat the birds to them. You can pick them off the tree like blueberries or make jams or pies if you can gather enough.
Serviceberry can be a traditional single-trunked tree, but is perhaps best as a multiple-stemmed tree or large shrub. ‘Autumn Brilliance’ has an upright vase shape. ‘Shadblow’ is smaller with a more shrub-like appearance. There’s even a newly introduced columnar form called ‘Rainbow Pillar’ with a spread of only 10’ and a very colorful fall display.
Redbud- I hesitate to include Redbud as they just don’t like Colorado’s dry air and the failure rate is unacceptably high. They can grow here however, and the lavender flowers are so delightful I would be remis to make this list without including them. They are understory trees in the wild found under the forest canopy, and therefore they prefer shade. They are best planted downtown in established neighborhoods with protection from winter winds. Having said that, I often stumble across thriving Redbud planted out in the open and seemingly doing just fine. Because of the hardiness issue I can sell Redbud at a discount but with no guarantee.
Redbud are still worth considering for the right location. They have very graceful branching with an upright vase-shaped canopy. The prolific flowers sprout right out of the branches and even grace the trunk of the tree! The chartreuse flowers have an orchid-like appearance and the trees stop traffic when in full bloom. They are a perfect compliment to a koi pond or cottage garden, and if you can get one established you will be the envy of your neighborhood each spring.
All of these trees are in stock and available for planting as soon as this last gasp of winter passes this week. Happy Trees is a virtual nursery without a physical location. You can shop online without having to slog through a muddy nursery and Happy Trees will do the shopping for you! We will send pictures of the trees we select for your approval, or you can arrange to shop in person by appointment. Please visit our catalog of trees at www.happytrees.co, or call (720) 343-7263 and we will be happy to assist you.
Â
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Don’t worry, trees have latent buds for just such an occasion. They will open up after the storm passes in response to a late freeze. Nevertheless, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, your ornamental flowering trees are preparing to burst open with an array of colorful flowers. Here are the top five flowering trees for Colorado’s front range that will decorate your yard for generations to come!
Flowering Crabapple- Crabapple are the undisputed kings of spring color! They have prolific flowers that can range from ruby red, pink, fuchsia, lavender, or white depending on the variety. Most Crabapple are small to medium sized trees that have a perfectly rounded form like a lollipop. There are some with a more upright habit like ‘Royal Raindrops’, and even a columnar form as with ‘Red Baron’. ‘Red Jade’ has weeping branches, and ‘Sargent’, ‘Coralburst’, and ‘Lollipop’ are petit patio trees for small spaces.
Some varieties of Crabapple have rather hefty apples which can be a nuisance as they drop on your sidewalks and lawn. I prefer these in your neighbor’s yard, but if you have a naturalized meadow or pasture these are quite striking. ‘Bechtel’ and ‘Brandywine’ have the most stunning pink flowers that resemble roses, but those are followed by racquetball-sized fruit. ‘Radiant’ Crabapple has reddish-pink blossoms and bright red fruit that is actually quite showy, but again a little messy.
If you want the beauty without the mess, look for varieties that produce tiny apples that shrivel up like raisins and persist on the tree. These include ‘Perfect Purple’, ‘Prairiefire’, and ‘Royal Raindrops’. ‘Spring Snow’ is the only sterile variety. It has abundant white flowers and will produce no fruit. There are hormone sprays that can be applied to disrupt fruit production, but don’t overlook the ornamental attributes of fruit or the forage value to wildlife.
Crabapple tree leaves can range from glossy green to red to burgundy. With a range of shapes, flower colors, and leaf color, there is a Crabapple for every gardener to enjoy all year long! Check out our on-line catalog for more information or give Happy Trees a call for availability.
Flowering Pear- Pear trees are very popular for their upright oval habit and abundant reliable flowers. Unfortunately, Pear trees only have white flowers, but they also pack a punch of fall color ranging from gold to red to burgundy. There are many varieties of Callery Pear that are virtually indistinguishable. ‘Jack Pear’ is a dwarf tree suitable for smaller spaces. Ornamental Pear are fruitless and mostly considered very clean trees.
Plum- Ornamental Plum trees are peppered with delightful pink or white flowers in early spring and burgundy foliage throughout the summer. ‘Newport’ has showers of pink flowers and an upright oval appearance. ‘Princess Kay’ is a petit version with double white flowers, perfect for around the patio. Closely related to Plum is the Canada Red Chokecherry. These have sprays of delicate white flowers in early spring followed by bright green leaves that fade to burgundy over the summer. In June, the tree has a two-tone effect as bright green leaves emerge on burgundy branches.
Serviceberry- a Colorado native that is found in woodland areas, usually along streambanks and marshy areas. It performs best in shade and will tolerate wet conditions. Dainty white flowers decorate the tree in early spring, and the fall color is an explosion of red-orange-yellow. Serviceberry produce berries that are quite delicious if you can beat the birds to them. You can pick them off the tree like blueberries or make jams or pies if you can gather enough.
Serviceberry can be a traditional single-trunked tree, but is perhaps best as a multiple-stemmed tree or large shrub. ‘Autumn Brilliance’ has an upright vase shape. ‘Shadblow’ is smaller with a more shrub-like appearance. There’s even a newly introduced columnar form called ‘Rainbow Pillar’ with a spread of only 10’ and a very colorful fall display.
Redbud- I hesitate to include Redbud as they just don’t like Colorado’s dry air and the failure rate is unacceptably high. They can grow here however, and the lavender flowers are so delightful I would be remis to make this list without including them. They are understory trees in the wild found under the forest canopy, and therefore they prefer shade. They are best planted downtown in established neighborhoods with protection from winter winds. Having said that, I often stumble across thriving Redbud planted out in the open and seemingly doing just fine. Because of the hardiness issue I can sell Redbud at a discount but with no guarantee.
Redbud are still worth considering for the right location. They have very graceful branching with an upright vase-shaped canopy. The prolific flowers sprout right out of the branches and even grace the trunk of the tree! The chartreuse flowers have an orchid-like appearance and the trees stop traffic when in full bloom. They are a perfect compliment to a koi pond or cottage garden, and if you can get one established you will be the envy of your neighborhood each spring.
All of these trees are in stock and available for planting as soon as this last gasp of winter passes this week. Happy Trees is a virtual nursery without a physical location. You can shop online without having to slog through a muddy nursery and Happy Trees will do the shopping for you! We will send pictures of the trees we select for your approval, or you can arrange to shop in person by appointment. Please visit our catalog of trees at www.happytrees.co, or call (720) 343-7263 and we will be happy to assist you.
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Seasonally available large caliper Fruit Trees here now!
Treat your family with a Fruit Tree or Hobby Orchard!
By Chris Leinster - April 3, 2019
Seasonally available large caliper fruit trees are available and in stock now! Fruit trees usually appear only in early spring, and once they’re gone we won’t see them again until next year. Have you ever considered planting fruit trees in your yard? How about a small hobby orchard to feed the neighborhood? Nothing beats stepping out into your backyard and chomping into a juicy apple or peach freshly plucked from a tree in your own back yard. Before you commit here’s a few tips to help you achieve a bountiful harvest year after year.
Be warned, fruit trees are a hobby and considerable attention is necessary to protect your tender fruit from voracious insects and pesky bacteria and fungi. This can be done organically, but timing and careful monitoring is required to treat the trees as pests appear.
Horticultural oils such as sesame oil can be used to control most insects such as aphids, scale, mealy bugs, and mites. Oils are also effective in preventing the introduction and spread of many fungi and bacteria, and most can be applied up until harvest.
Insecticidal soaps are also an effective way to control insects without harming your fruit or loved ones. The soap dries out the exoskeleton of most soft-shelled insects, and also helps control bacteria and fungi.
Pyrethrins are organic chemicals extracted from geranium plants that act as a natural insect repellent. These are generally considered organic and safe, however care should be taken not to inhale or consume the chemicals, and fruit should be washed before eating.
Trees that become infected may require more aggressive chemical treatments. Some are available commercially, but you may want to have your trees treated by a professional arborist.
Even if you’re fruit survives the summer, ravenous squirrels often ravage the fruit just before harvest! Having said all that, spraying the trees a few times a year and warding off the squirrels really isn’t all that much work and the payoff is sensational! With a little patience and the right know-how you’ll have baskets of fruit for your family and neighbors to enjoy in no time.
Don’t overlook the ornamental characteristics of fruit trees either. Most have stunning flowers and handsome leaves as well. After all, most of our ornamental flowering trees like Crabapple and Chanticleer Pear originate from the same parent lineage, they have just been hybridized for ornamental attributes rather than produce. If you’re going to plant a tree for screening or ornamentation anyway, you might consider one that produces edible fruit as well!
Commercial fruit growers prune their trees into tortured habits. Some of this is to promote fruit production but mostly they do it to make the fruit more accessible at harvest. You don’t need to aggressively prune your home fruit trees to get results. Let them grow naturally, prune mostly for aesthetics or to thin out branches, and you’ll have more fruit than your family could possibly consume.
I don’t include fruit trees in my on-line catalog, but here’s pricing for delivery and planting for 2†caliper trees currently available. Call for pricing and availability on larger caliper trees or just delivery only:
Apple- Royal Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious-Â Â $775
Apricot- Moorpark, Chinese- Â Â $775
Cherry- Bing, Montmorency, Black Tartarian, Bali-Â $775
Peach- Elberta, Polly-Â $800
Plum- Santa Rosa, Mount Royal, Toka,
Pear- Bartlett, Summercrisp-Â $775
Price includes delivery, soil amendment, tree stakes and supports, and top dress mulch, just like our other trees. Other than treatments described above, care for your fruit trees just as you would any other tree as described in our tree care guide. Consistent watering is essential for fruit production, and winter wrap is definitely recommended, as it is for all newly planted trees.
* This article is intended to introduce gardeners to the possibilities of growing fruit trees and is not intended to be an authoritative reference. Happy Trees can provide more information to prospective clients upon request. Always buy chemicals and seek advice from local independent garden centers. unlike the big-box stores, they usually have experienced experts on staff. Always follow label directions and wear protective clothing when applying any pesticides. Use caution not to harm bees or other beneficial insects. Take extra precautions around koi ponds and pets.
Â
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Be warned, fruit trees are a hobby and considerable attention is necessary to protect your tender fruit from voracious insects and pesky bacteria and fungi. This can be done organically, but timing and careful monitoring is required to treat the trees as pests appear.
Horticultural oils such as sesame oil can be used to control most insects such as aphids, scale, mealy bugs, and mites. Oils are also effective in preventing the introduction and spread of many fungi and bacteria, and most can be applied up until harvest.
Insecticidal soaps are also an effective way to control insects without harming your fruit or loved ones. The soap dries out the exoskeleton of most soft-shelled insects, and also helps control bacteria and fungi.
Pyrethrins are organic chemicals extracted from geranium plants that act as a natural insect repellent. These are generally considered organic and safe, however care should be taken not to inhale or consume the chemicals, and fruit should be washed before eating.
Trees that become infected may require more aggressive chemical treatments. Some are available commercially, but you may want to have your trees treated by a professional arborist.
Even if you’re fruit survives the summer, ravenous squirrels often ravage the fruit just before harvest! Having said all that, spraying the trees a few times a year and warding off the squirrels really isn’t all that much work and the payoff is sensational! With a little patience and the right know-how you’ll have baskets of fruit for your family and neighbors to enjoy in no time.
Don’t overlook the ornamental characteristics of fruit trees either. Most have stunning flowers and handsome leaves as well. After all, most of our ornamental flowering trees like Crabapple and Chanticleer Pear originate from the same parent lineage, they have just been hybridized for ornamental attributes rather than produce. If you’re going to plant a tree for screening or ornamentation anyway, you might consider one that produces edible fruit as well!
Commercial fruit growers prune their trees into tortured habits. Some of this is to promote fruit production but mostly they do it to make the fruit more accessible at harvest. You don’t need to aggressively prune your home fruit trees to get results. Let them grow naturally, prune mostly for aesthetics or to thin out branches, and you’ll have more fruit than your family could possibly consume.
I don’t include fruit trees in my on-line catalog, but here’s pricing for delivery and planting for 2†caliper trees currently available. Call for pricing and availability on larger caliper trees or just delivery only:
Apple- Royal Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious-Â Â $775
Apricot- Moorpark, Chinese- Â Â $775
Cherry- Bing, Montmorency, Black Tartarian, Bali-Â $775
Peach- Elberta, Polly-Â $800
Plum- Santa Rosa, Mount Royal, Toka,
Pear- Bartlett, Summercrisp-Â $775
Price includes delivery, soil amendment, tree stakes and supports, and top dress mulch, just like our other trees. Other than treatments described above, care for your fruit trees just as you would any other tree as described in our tree care guide. Consistent watering is essential for fruit production, and winter wrap is definitely recommended, as it is for all newly planted trees.
* This article is intended to introduce gardeners to the possibilities of growing fruit trees and is not intended to be an authoritative reference. Happy Trees can provide more information to prospective clients upon request. Always buy chemicals and seek advice from local independent garden centers. unlike the big-box stores, they usually have experienced experts on staff. Always follow label directions and wear protective clothing when applying any pesticides. Use caution not to harm bees or other beneficial insects. Take extra precautions around koi ponds and pets.
Â
The Crocus are here! The Crocus are here!
Top 5 chores to tackle now to enjoy a beautiful garden all summer long!
By Chris Leinster - March 19, 2019
And just like that, spring arrived! You’re probably still shoveling out from the so-called Bomb Cyclone last week, but the Crocus have bloomed on schedule nevertheless. I love crocus in the garden as they are among the very first blossoms of spring and they cue us in as to when to start our spring garden chores.
I always design every garden with low maintenance in mind. Nobody has ever said to me “what we’d really like is a labor-intensive garden that consumes all our spare timeâ€. The key to low maintenance is knowing what to plant and how to care for it. Timing is critical for some tasks and the spring awakening is perhaps the most active time for gardeners. Yes, you’re going to spend some weekends toiling away in the yard, but if you perform these jobs now you can sit back and enjoy your personal habitat through the rest of the year. So, sharpen up the garden tools, here’s a list of the top 5 most essential tasks to accomplish over the next few weeks. Â
1             Clean up perennials. Perennial flowers are those plants that die back each winter but grow back each spring. Its best to leave the dead foliage on the plants through the winter, but now is the time to remove those dead leaves and vegetation. Some perennials remain evergreen or don’t die back entirely. Cut those back too. It will invigorate the plants and promote a burst of new growth. If plants are mature and overgrowing the space available, dig them up and divide the root mass. Re-plant half and transplant the rest wherever space allows in the garden.
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cut back ornamental grasses. Most ornamental grasses die back each fall, but the straw-like remains have ornamental value through the winter and most gardeners leave them standing until now. The arrival of Crocus means new grass blades will be resurfacing soon, so remove the old growth to make way for fresh foliage. Tip: tie up the bundle with twine or a bungee cord and chop away the base. The debris will be easily discarded with little clean-up.
3             Restorative prune semi-woody shrubs. Semi-woody shrubs are a class of plants that never develop rigid woody branches. These include Spirea, Potentilla, Caryopteris, Butterfly Bush, and Russian Sage. These plants reach mature size in one growing season and usually top out at a determined height. After 3-5 years they may grow too thick or gangly, flower poorly, or just generally lose their luster. Chop the whole plant down to about 6†from the ground to give them a restorative pruning.
This advice may sound counter-intuitive and you may resist chopping down your valuable landscape plants. Many folks mistakenly go out in the middle of summer and clip these plants into cubes or balls, sheering off the soft flowering outer growth and exposing the coarse twiggy branches beneath. This is just wrong. Whacking back the whole plant encourages healthy new growth that will reveal a natural appearance and an explosion of flowers throughout the summer months. Timing is crucial however, so this must be accomplished now or just as the leaves appear on the plants.
4            Maintenance prune Juniper- To keep Juniper in check, selectively prune back now and allow the new growth to fill in as desired. Many homeowners wait until the Juniper have spread half-way across the sidewalk to take any action. They then go out in mid-summer and whack back the branches to the edge of the sidewalk. This lops off the lacy vibrant growth at the tips of the branches and exposes the barren twiggy branching underneath. If done late in the season, no new growth will appear and you’re stuck with this unsightly mess until next year. The plants spread across the sidewalk the following spring, and the cycle repeats itself. This is wrong!
Instead, go out now and cut back Juniper 1-2’ from the sidewalk’s edge. Within weeks the new growth will emerge and spread toward the sidewalk or garden border. As summer advances the growth slows, and the lacy, desirable foliage remains on the plant throughout the season without encroaching over your walkways.
You can also thin out the bushes by selectively pruning 1/4- 1/3 of the branches back to the base. Admittedly this may look like a disaster immediately after pruning, but this opens up the plant and allows for air movement and sunlight to penetrate to the interior, encouraging new growth and revitalizing the Juniper. Plus, you’ll recover all the baseballs and frisbees long forgotten under the dense overgrowth.
5             Plant trees! Everybody waits until the flowers burst open on the trees to rush down to the garden center to buy their trees. Sure, that’s a fine time to plant, but not as good a time as right now! The trees have a few more weeks dormancy until their buds open up. Its best to transport them before the leaves emerge. The roots will begin to establish themselves immediately, even before any signs of life appear above ground. The trees will blossom or leaf out in your yard, and you can enjoy the show for the duration of the season! If you buy trees in flower chances are the petals will decorate the roadways along the route to your home, leaving little for you to admire for the inaugural year.
Trees can only be harvested when dormant, and a mad rush is on to get the trees out of the ground. New stock is arriving daily, and we have the best selection you will encounter until digging resumes in the fall.
Happy Trees is a virtual nursery, meaning we don’t have a physical location for you to tour. The only retail places left to buy large caliper trees are beyond the suburbs off into the countryside. But you don’t need to waste your weekend driving across the state to slog through the mud to pick your tree. Use our Happy Trees website to shop online or give us a call and we’ll help you select the perfect tree to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for shade, privacy, or just something to beautify your yard, let us do the shopping for you. We will send pictures of the trees we select for your approval and arrange for fast, professional delivery and planting. It’s easy! Happy Trees makes happy customers and happy memories for generations to come!
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I always design every garden with low maintenance in mind. Nobody has ever said to me “what we’d really like is a labor-intensive garden that consumes all our spare timeâ€. The key to low maintenance is knowing what to plant and how to care for it. Timing is critical for some tasks and the spring awakening is perhaps the most active time for gardeners. Yes, you’re going to spend some weekends toiling away in the yard, but if you perform these jobs now you can sit back and enjoy your personal habitat through the rest of the year. So, sharpen up the garden tools, here’s a list of the top 5 most essential tasks to accomplish over the next few weeks. Â
1             Clean up perennials. Perennial flowers are those plants that die back each winter but grow back each spring. Its best to leave the dead foliage on the plants through the winter, but now is the time to remove those dead leaves and vegetation. Some perennials remain evergreen or don’t die back entirely. Cut those back too. It will invigorate the plants and promote a burst of new growth. If plants are mature and overgrowing the space available, dig them up and divide the root mass. Re-plant half and transplant the rest wherever space allows in the garden.
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cut back ornamental grasses. Most ornamental grasses die back each fall, but the straw-like remains have ornamental value through the winter and most gardeners leave them standing until now. The arrival of Crocus means new grass blades will be resurfacing soon, so remove the old growth to make way for fresh foliage. Tip: tie up the bundle with twine or a bungee cord and chop away the base. The debris will be easily discarded with little clean-up.
3             Restorative prune semi-woody shrubs. Semi-woody shrubs are a class of plants that never develop rigid woody branches. These include Spirea, Potentilla, Caryopteris, Butterfly Bush, and Russian Sage. These plants reach mature size in one growing season and usually top out at a determined height. After 3-5 years they may grow too thick or gangly, flower poorly, or just generally lose their luster. Chop the whole plant down to about 6†from the ground to give them a restorative pruning.
This advice may sound counter-intuitive and you may resist chopping down your valuable landscape plants. Many folks mistakenly go out in the middle of summer and clip these plants into cubes or balls, sheering off the soft flowering outer growth and exposing the coarse twiggy branches beneath. This is just wrong. Whacking back the whole plant encourages healthy new growth that will reveal a natural appearance and an explosion of flowers throughout the summer months. Timing is crucial however, so this must be accomplished now or just as the leaves appear on the plants.
4            Maintenance prune Juniper- To keep Juniper in check, selectively prune back now and allow the new growth to fill in as desired. Many homeowners wait until the Juniper have spread half-way across the sidewalk to take any action. They then go out in mid-summer and whack back the branches to the edge of the sidewalk. This lops off the lacy vibrant growth at the tips of the branches and exposes the barren twiggy branching underneath. If done late in the season, no new growth will appear and you’re stuck with this unsightly mess until next year. The plants spread across the sidewalk the following spring, and the cycle repeats itself. This is wrong!
Instead, go out now and cut back Juniper 1-2’ from the sidewalk’s edge. Within weeks the new growth will emerge and spread toward the sidewalk or garden border. As summer advances the growth slows, and the lacy, desirable foliage remains on the plant throughout the season without encroaching over your walkways.
You can also thin out the bushes by selectively pruning 1/4- 1/3 of the branches back to the base. Admittedly this may look like a disaster immediately after pruning, but this opens up the plant and allows for air movement and sunlight to penetrate to the interior, encouraging new growth and revitalizing the Juniper. Plus, you’ll recover all the baseballs and frisbees long forgotten under the dense overgrowth.
5             Plant trees! Everybody waits until the flowers burst open on the trees to rush down to the garden center to buy their trees. Sure, that’s a fine time to plant, but not as good a time as right now! The trees have a few more weeks dormancy until their buds open up. Its best to transport them before the leaves emerge. The roots will begin to establish themselves immediately, even before any signs of life appear above ground. The trees will blossom or leaf out in your yard, and you can enjoy the show for the duration of the season! If you buy trees in flower chances are the petals will decorate the roadways along the route to your home, leaving little for you to admire for the inaugural year.
Trees can only be harvested when dormant, and a mad rush is on to get the trees out of the ground. New stock is arriving daily, and we have the best selection you will encounter until digging resumes in the fall.
Happy Trees is a virtual nursery, meaning we don’t have a physical location for you to tour. The only retail places left to buy large caliper trees are beyond the suburbs off into the countryside. But you don’t need to waste your weekend driving across the state to slog through the mud to pick your tree. Use our Happy Trees website to shop online or give us a call and we’ll help you select the perfect tree to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for shade, privacy, or just something to beautify your yard, let us do the shopping for you. We will send pictures of the trees we select for your approval and arrange for fast, professional delivery and planting. It’s easy! Happy Trees makes happy customers and happy memories for generations to come!
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Spring is coming, birds are returning!
The six best trees that feed birds in late winter!
By Chris Leinster - March 14, 2019
Winter is stubbornly holding Colorado in its icy grip with more storms lining up off the California coast. Nevertheless, as sure as the sun will rise in the morning spring is coming and signs of spring are already making their appearances. If you can brave the cold long enough to be outside for a few minutes you might notice song birds are starting to arrive. With the ground frozen and snow covering the ground birds may be having a tough time foraging for dried berries and seeds. Here’s a few trees that provide excellent nutrition to welcome back migrating birds to your backyard.
Crabapple- Crabapple trees are abundant throughout Colorado and are venerated for their explosion of colorful flowers that decorate the trees in early spring. The apples they produce are often a nuisance for gardeners as they can drop on walkways and patios creating a sticky mess, however many varieties produce minute fruits that persist on the branches well into winter. The apples shrivel up like raisins and remain attached to the trees until they are plucked by grateful song birds returning from their winter hide-a-ways. Popular examples are ‘Royal Raindrops’, ‘Prairiefire’, and ‘Indian Magic’.
Hawthorn- the berries on most Hawthorn trees are so vividly bright that they are considered an ornamental characteristic and a valuable visual asset. They are usually orange, but can be red or yellow depending on the variety. Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and even wild Turkeys will forage on Hawthorn berries. Most gardeners will opt for thorn-less varieties like ‘Cockspur’, but thorny trees like ‘Washington’ are extremely hardy and are preferred nesting hosts for many bird species. I suspect birds like the thorny defense that Hawthorn provide, as cats and other predators may find the tree canopy impenetrable. They also sport white flowers in spring and an explosion of red-orange-yellow fall color.
European Mountain Ash- An underused small tree with tropical looking leaves, white flowers, and abundant red or orange berries that persist into winter. Mountain Ash are susceptible to a number of insects and diseases, but mostly these aren’t prevalent in our climate. The berries can be messy, so plant away from patios and walkways, but they are very tasty and will attract many bird species. The common name ‘Ash’ is a misnomer and it is not impacted by the Emerald Ash Beetle.
Spruce and Pine- These mighty evergreens produce nuts in the cones favored by Finches. They also provide habitat for nesting and offer cover from predators. The common varieties grow quite large, so select cultivated varieties for skinnier, more slender selections if space is an issue. Pinion Pine produce delicious nuts that are tasty for us humans too!
Birch and Alder- These closely related trees produce seeds popular with Chickadees. In the wild, these trees are found in the forest understory, usually by streams or marsh areas. They are weak-wooded and won’t stand up to snow loads and summer storms, so they are probably not a great choice for Colorado. Still, many fine examples exist in downtown Denver and around the state, so they’re worth a try if you understand the risks.
Hackberry- I can’t tell if the Hackberry is an attractive tree or not. Maybe it’s the name that throws me off. Its growth habit could best be described as irregular. While I rarely find a symmetrical Hackberry, the bizarrely branched structures have a certain appeal I guess. The fall color is yellow, but not particularly bright or stunning. Its best attribute as a Colorado native is that it is extremely hardy and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including heat, cold, and pollution. Its second best attribute is that it attracts Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Cardinals, and Mockingbirds. It’s a great choice for farms and rural properties, and makes a great street tree for cityscapes as well.
In addition to trees that provide food throughout the winter, there are dozens of shrubs that feed our wildlife during the winter months. Currants, Sumac, Barberry, Quince, Roses, Cotoneaster, Buckthorn, Viburnum, and Coralberry all offer a banquet of seeds and berries for our feathered friends. Also plant ornamental grasses and perennial flowers to provide seeds and nesting material. If your HOA will allow it, remove your rock beds and re-establish a native prairie with wildflowers. This will not only attract birds, but will also bring back bugs, worms, caterpillars, ants, and many other critters upon which birds prey all summer.Â
If you are interested in attracting birds to your yard, consider the food value of our ornamental trees and shrubs when selecting your plant choices. Happy Trees can help you determine the best trees to plant with the space and exposure you have available. Give us a call and we’ll plant the perfect tree for your family, and for all of the birds you welcome to your yard.
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Crabapple- Crabapple trees are abundant throughout Colorado and are venerated for their explosion of colorful flowers that decorate the trees in early spring. The apples they produce are often a nuisance for gardeners as they can drop on walkways and patios creating a sticky mess, however many varieties produce minute fruits that persist on the branches well into winter. The apples shrivel up like raisins and remain attached to the trees until they are plucked by grateful song birds returning from their winter hide-a-ways. Popular examples are ‘Royal Raindrops’, ‘Prairiefire’, and ‘Indian Magic’.
Hawthorn- the berries on most Hawthorn trees are so vividly bright that they are considered an ornamental characteristic and a valuable visual asset. They are usually orange, but can be red or yellow depending on the variety. Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and even wild Turkeys will forage on Hawthorn berries. Most gardeners will opt for thorn-less varieties like ‘Cockspur’, but thorny trees like ‘Washington’ are extremely hardy and are preferred nesting hosts for many bird species. I suspect birds like the thorny defense that Hawthorn provide, as cats and other predators may find the tree canopy impenetrable. They also sport white flowers in spring and an explosion of red-orange-yellow fall color.
European Mountain Ash- An underused small tree with tropical looking leaves, white flowers, and abundant red or orange berries that persist into winter. Mountain Ash are susceptible to a number of insects and diseases, but mostly these aren’t prevalent in our climate. The berries can be messy, so plant away from patios and walkways, but they are very tasty and will attract many bird species. The common name ‘Ash’ is a misnomer and it is not impacted by the Emerald Ash Beetle.
Spruce and Pine- These mighty evergreens produce nuts in the cones favored by Finches. They also provide habitat for nesting and offer cover from predators. The common varieties grow quite large, so select cultivated varieties for skinnier, more slender selections if space is an issue. Pinion Pine produce delicious nuts that are tasty for us humans too!
Birch and Alder- These closely related trees produce seeds popular with Chickadees. In the wild, these trees are found in the forest understory, usually by streams or marsh areas. They are weak-wooded and won’t stand up to snow loads and summer storms, so they are probably not a great choice for Colorado. Still, many fine examples exist in downtown Denver and around the state, so they’re worth a try if you understand the risks.
Hackberry- I can’t tell if the Hackberry is an attractive tree or not. Maybe it’s the name that throws me off. Its growth habit could best be described as irregular. While I rarely find a symmetrical Hackberry, the bizarrely branched structures have a certain appeal I guess. The fall color is yellow, but not particularly bright or stunning. Its best attribute as a Colorado native is that it is extremely hardy and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including heat, cold, and pollution. Its second best attribute is that it attracts Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Cardinals, and Mockingbirds. It’s a great choice for farms and rural properties, and makes a great street tree for cityscapes as well.
In addition to trees that provide food throughout the winter, there are dozens of shrubs that feed our wildlife during the winter months. Currants, Sumac, Barberry, Quince, Roses, Cotoneaster, Buckthorn, Viburnum, and Coralberry all offer a banquet of seeds and berries for our feathered friends. Also plant ornamental grasses and perennial flowers to provide seeds and nesting material. If your HOA will allow it, remove your rock beds and re-establish a native prairie with wildflowers. This will not only attract birds, but will also bring back bugs, worms, caterpillars, ants, and many other critters upon which birds prey all summer.Â
If you are interested in attracting birds to your yard, consider the food value of our ornamental trees and shrubs when selecting your plant choices. Happy Trees can help you determine the best trees to plant with the space and exposure you have available. Give us a call and we’ll plant the perfect tree for your family, and for all of the birds you welcome to your yard.
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