Thursday, November 15, 2012

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day: November 2012

It's well into Fall in the northeastern garden and there is a changing array of color everywhere. Long Island has endured Hurricane Sandy and then a nor'easter the following week and this of all Garden Blogger's Bloom Days has been a relief and pleasure to be able to step out into the garden and capture the beauty of nature's color. Come share my passion of nature and join me with a walk through my garden. 

Dried Seed Heads Montauk Daisy
Sedum and Dwarf Grass
Spirea 'Gold Flame' Fall Color
Stachys (Lamb's Ear)
Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'
Dwarf Fountain Grass Plume
Euonymus 'Gold Spot' Foliage
Montgomery Globe Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Montgomery')
Spirea 'Limemound' Fall Foliage
Hydrangea 'Tokyo Delight' Fall Flower Head
Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel' Close Up
Saliva 'May Night' Still Some Blooms
Daylily 'Stella D Oro' One Last Flower
Foliage of Oriental Spruce 'Skyland'
Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' (Coral Bark Maple) Fall Foliage
Sedum Fall Seed Head
Heuchera 'Caramel' Fall Foliage
Blue Atlas Cedar Cones
Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream' Berrries
Hydrangea 'Tardivia' Seed Head
Globe Cyptomeria Foliage
Japanese Iris Seed Pods
Fall Perennial Garden (Astilbe, Lamb's Ear and Daylily)
Dwarf Maiden Grass Miscanthus 'Yaku Jima' Plumes
Fall Color (Coral Bark Maple with Sugar Maple in Backdrop)
Minature Fountain Grass 'Little Bunny' Fall 
  Please be sure to thank our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens and see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in their garden.  Please leave a note so that I know you visited and I will be sure to visit you as well.

Happy Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and

As Always...Happy Gardening!

 
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2012. All rights reserved




Sunday, November 4, 2012

Repairing Storm Damaged Trees: Some Helpful Tips

Storm Damaged Branch on Weeping Japanese Maple
 Hurricanes such as the recent Hurricane Sandy have caused extensive damage to landscape trees along the northeastern coastline.  This Weeping Japanese Maple was a victim to the gale force winds and has suffered major damage to one of its limbs.  Every year extensive damage can occur to tree branches from factors such as hurricanes, ice storms and lightning. If you have experienced similar damage here are a few tips for repairing weakened trees that I hope you find useful.
Storm Damage to Tree Bark
Torn and Peeled Bark:  Repairing torn and peeled bark on your damaged trees in a timely manner can help to preserve their vitality. To remove crevices for moisture accumulation or hiding places for insects use a sharp chisel or knife to smooth the ragged edges where the bark has been torn (see diagram).  Clean ragged wounds and smooth out the area as much as possible so that healing can start.  If possible try to form an elliptical shape without cutting too deeply.  The underlying greenish inner bark (cambium layer) should start the repair process.  If the damaged area is less than twenty five percent of the circumference of the branch the tree should heal over time with no permanent damage. Anything more could be too much and could lead to eventual removal of the limb.  Avoid the usage of any wound sealants or coatings.  There has been recent controversy about the use of wound sealants over the past few years.  Recent studies have shown that sealants may not help in speeding up the healing process but may actually hinder it.  Also as the sealant breaks down possible crevices may form allowing moisture to accumulate.   This can lead to possible fungal infection and further damage to the tree.

U.S. Department Of Agriculture
Damage to Branches:   If the tree branch is severely damaged beyond repair it is best to remove it completely.  First prune smaller branches (less than 3 inches) where they meet larger ones using clean cuts with loppers or larger branches with a saw or chain saw.   Use the three cut method first making an undercut 12- 18 inches from the main stem to relieve some of the pressure of the branch.  Then make two more cuts, one closer to the  main branch (2-3 inches away) then a final smooth flush cut where the branch meets the collar as shown in the diagram.  The tree will form a protective callus tissue and heal itself.

Uprooted Trees:  Smaller trees can be saved if one third to one half of their root system is still in the ground.  Remove some of the soil around the root mass and push upright using several helpers or equipment.  Fill in the soil and cable the tree in place using two to three guide wires and anchors into the soil.  Water the tree to keep it in place and remove air pockets.  It is usual to keep the cables on for one year then remove them as the tree grows.  A spring feeding can help the tree to regain strength and encourage new growth.

Following these practices can allow your tree to heal and help to ensure the extended lifetime of your landscape plants.


Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

 
 
 

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Colors of a Northeastern Fall Garden

 
 
 
The colors of fall are beautiful this year and as Hurricane Sandy stormed up the northeastern coastline I am glad I felt a need to capture the beauty of the foliage before the powerful winds arrived here on Long Island.  I saved the photos on my computer and now that the power is restored I can share them.   The last photo was just taken after the storm.  To much surprise a lot of the fall color is still around.  To say the least...it has been a long week.  Fortunately many of the large aging trees on the property have been removed over the years and the evergreens and flowering shrubs are a bit more flexible. The Crape Myrtle and Magnolia have lost all their leaves so I am glad to have gotten the photos.  The Coral Bark Maple still has its golden yellow foliage which it wasn't about to give up just yet and the Knock Out Roses are determined to still produce blooms. I hope you enjoy the photos of the changing fall garden.

Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' and Magnolia (Backdrop)

Spirea 'Limemound' Fall Foliage and Flowers
Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' and Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' (Left)
Crape Myrtle Foliage (Close Up)
Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima'
Perennial Garden Bed (Astilbe, Daylily and Lamb's Ear)
Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum Sango Kaku)
Spirea 'Goldflame' and Hosta
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' Fall Foliage
Spirea 'Goldflame'
Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' and Coral Bark Maple  (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku')
 
Barberry, Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' and Nepeta with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (Far Left)

Sedum 'Brilliant' Fall Color 


Weeping Japanese Maple (Pre-Storm)...now a little more bonsai but OK...

Knock Out Rose After the Storm
 
And after the storm with gusts of 90 mph winds...the resilient Knock Out Roses are blooming profusely...not about to quit but to keep the colors coming.  

We are very thankful that we made it through the storm alright with just some power outages and clean up.  My heart goes out to all of those who's lives have been affected by Hurricane Sandy and hope for a safe and speedy recovery.

Thank you for visiting.   

 
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2012. All rights reserved