Make Like a Tree...

Today I'd like to talk to you about something that is generally overlooked when planting a yard/garden, and then thrown in as an afterthought latter. Trees!

Trees are a big investment in money and time, but without them your yard or garden will be sparse, windburnt, and lonesome. Just like fences, good trees make good neighbors. I hear a lot of people saying that they can't grow trees, the deer eat them, the wind blows them over, winter freezes the bark off of them, or they just die. I have tried and true advice to stop all of those things. And true to form, here is a list:

1. Pick the right tree for the right place. Trees need to be proportional to the area they are being planted in. You don't plant a Blue Spruce 10' from your house, or a Cotton Wood underneath power lines. At least not on purpose. When you are researching trees it is very important to know their growing habits. Are they large or small when mature? Do they create a lot of waste? How deep does their root system grow? (a very important question to ask if you are planting near your sewer/water lines or septic tank) How hardy are they?

2. Know your planting conditions. If you live in Bridger Valley, or anywhere else in Wyoming, your soil is alkaline (salty) with a pH Balance of around 7-9 depending on where you live. Parts of Urie, Lyman, and north of I-80 are incredibly alkaline usually between 8 & 9. Anywhere in The Valley your soil is from 1/2" to 4" inches thick, or in other words, there isn't any. From what I've seen there is a lot of clay soil in The Valley too, and a very high water table. Our climate is harsh to say the least, we are a solid Zone 3, and lean more towards a Zone 2. This means our growing season is very short, around 72 days. You may not have noticed, but sometimes the wind blows here. You need to pick strong hardy trees to thrive in this environment.

3. Buy good quality trees. I might take a lot of flack for this, but discount plants from Wal-Mart and Home Depot and other big box stores are generally a waste of money. There are many reputable nurseries out there that will spend time making sure that you purchase the right trees, and most of them have warranties on any trees you buy from them. Some of them will even come plant them for you. I know you Valley-ites are so tight you squeak when you walk, I've lived with you for 20 years now :) Buying from a reputable establishment will save you money and headaches in the long run, so don't be seduced by "a cheap deal." As far as the best way to buy trees I would rate it, 1st balled and burlaped, 2nd container, 3rd bare root. Balled and burlaped trees are usually more expensive, but they are usually healthier. I would not buy and plant a tree that is more than 5 years old. Interesting fun fact: If a tree is 3 years old when you buy it, it will generally take 3 more years to find out if it is going to take off in your yard.

My all time favorite place to shop for trees is the Green River Nursery. They are the bees knees when it comes to customer service, and have a huge selection of other plants and shrubs that thrive in Wyoming. A close second choice is the Park City Nursery, they have a similar climate to ours, and you can always go get lunch at The Red Rock Brewery afterwards. In a tie for third place is the nursery in Evanston out by the movie theater, and of course High Desert Nursery (Bill Jeske) who sells plants out in front of Benedicts. A plug for Bill, he knows what he is talking about and has lots of good advice. His plants are top quality, but due to his size, usually has a limited selection of trees. My Aunt Ruth (Shelton) has Grandma's Greenhouse over in Lyman, and while she has many other fun things she usually avoids selling trees.

4. Plant your trees correctly! Sorry honey, a backhoe is not the tool you plant a tree with. Even if it is a large tree. There is a wonderful video section here on how to do it. I would think the Arbor Day people know what they are talking about, and watching a video will make more sense to you than me trying to walk you through it. http://www.arborday.org/trees/video/howtoplant.cfm

Trees prefer to be planted in early spring or early fall. However, planting them in the middle of summer is not terrible, it's just not their favorite.

5. Not Tonight Deer! No, really there is a product out there called Not Tonight Deer! and it is a organic method of repelling deer. No weird chicken wire contraptions required. There are actually many variations of organic deer repellent out there, and they work rather well. Just remember to reapply after a serious rain or snow storm. Shooting deer with a pellet or airsoft gun is frowned upon by the Game Warden. I know of a certain rancher who uses a 410 Shotgun with rock salt to take care of teenagers and deer, but I wouldn't recommend it.

And now, Penny's Top 5 Tree Picks for the Bridger Valley, in no particular order:

Canadian Red Chokecherry: Ornamental, small to medium tree. Beautiful year round. Tolerates poor soil conditions and high water tables rather well. Doesn't create a lot of waste or fruit.

Crabapple Trees: Small to medium sized with white or pink blossoms. Show stoppers in spring and early summer. Grow Your Own Tip: There are fruitless varieties! If you don't care about the fruit May Day is my favorite variety, and they will attract deer and moose to your yard. Which in my book is a plus. Also tolerant of poor soil conditions.
Colorado Blue Spruce: A very large Conifer (by our standards). Especially beautiful all year. Can be planted with success in areas that are not too wet or with visible signs of alkali. Most of the healthy ones I've seen are in Mountain View, and Fort Bridger. I have two rather large ones in my front yard, and even though they are too big for the space they are in I love them. Hummingbirds love to build nests in them also.

Cottonless Cottonwoods: Yay! No cotton or sticky, nasty waste. Rather large trees, beautiful summer through fall. Excellent when planted as a wind break. Economical to buy. A good option for dry areas. These grow well throughout The Valley, and they grow quickly. The are a top choice for wind breaks.

Globe and Golden Willows: Lovely, large trees. Quick growing and excellent wind breaks. Excellent habitat for birds.

A few more thoughts on trees--

Quakies: they are beautiful...in the mountains. They are especially hard to grow "in town" and if you don't want suckers (small tree sprouts) popping up all over your lawn they aren't for you. The largest living organism in the world is a stand of Quaking Aspen in Colorado. They spread via their roots and grow in large colonies. It's just what they do. I know you love them, I do too. There are other tree choices that are related to them or mimic their white bark and fall colors and don't want to take over your yard. Pick one of those. Don't go dig up a quakie and try to bring it home. It won't like it and if it doesn't die you will probably grow to hate each other.

Digging Up Trees and Bringing Them Home: Don't do it. Even if your buddy says "Hey y'ant me to dig tha tree up with muh backoe and brin id over?" Your chances of success are slim, very slim. If the tree happens to be on public lands you could be looking at a misdemeanor and a fine. Mostly, don't be cheap or do things half way. I won't spread tales of your tree piracy, but seriously it's a bad idea and probably not worth the effort.

Tree Configuration: Odd numbers make more interesting and beautiful patterns. Plant in groups of 3, 5 or 7. These are magic numbers. Triangles, and diamond shapes are more pleasing to the eye than squares and rectangles. Also, soft wavy lines are more pleasing to the eye and much easier to maintain that a hard edge so, stagger your trees a little. Remember to plant shorties on the leeward side of larger trees to help form a windbreak.