Plenty of tree options for smaller yards

Maine gardeners have a special affinity for trees. Even though our state is blanketed in a crop of native deciduous and evergreen species, we still enjoy cultivating a range of indigenous and introduced species in their home landscape. A recent column that encouraged planting trees in the yard generated a host of questions from readers. Here are answers to a few.

Q: I’d love to do what you suggested and plant at least one tree in my yard this year, but the problem is I have very little space. I live right in town in Bangor and have a yard that measures about 50 feet by 100 feet. Some of that space is already taken up by flower beds. Do you have any suggestions for very small trees that might look well in that sort of space? – D.B., Bangor

A: There are a number of woody plants that qualify. If you are looking for deciduous trees, why not consider species that offer pretty flowers, fruits or interesting leaves? Consider magnolia, English hawthorne, spring cherry, crabapple, red buckeye or pagoda dogwood. If you’d like an evergreen species, consider rocky mountain juniper, bristlecone pine, golden Scots pine, English yew and arborvitae.

Q: What should you look for when you go to a nursery to buy a tree? I always wondered if it’s really a good idea to buy one of those great big ones with a huge root ball. They’re so expensive and you don’t know if they’re going to make it through transplanting in the best shape. Should you start out with a smaller caliper tree that’s potted not balled and burlapped? – Travis, e-mail

A: Consider more the health of the specimen than the means by which it is potted. A quality tree has a general look of well-being: intact bark, appropriately colored leaves, and absence of disease and insect damage.

Check the trunk and branches of the tree for abrasions, breakage and disease. Do not purchase any tree with bark injuries on the trunk. Such damage can easily lead to disease and, in turn, decay. Minor damage or breakage to twigs may be eliminated with pruning. Some damage in this area may be tolerable, if everything else about the specimen is favorable.

Leaves are a good indicator of overall plant health. Avoid purchasing plants with curled or discolored leaves. Be careful to inspect the undersides of leaves, where insects tend to lurk. Look for lesions on the surface of leaves that might indicate disease. Avoid purchasing plants that are infected or growing among others that are afflicted with pests.

Finally, be sure your selection has a clearly leading shoot: avoid purchasing a plant that has acutely forking main stems at its center. Over time, a leading shoot will develop into a handsome specimen. A forking stem will typically yield an unsightly and unpleasing canopy.

Q: Last fall, we planted a tree in our front yard. As the snow has receded, I’ve noticed that the roots of the plant are above ground. I can see some of the larger main roots and some of the smaller roots, too. Is it OK for the roots to be showing like this or should I put some mulch over them? – Jan, e-mail

A: Without seeing the situation, it’s hard to say whether your plant is affected by erosion, frost heaving, improper planting or a combination of the three. In any event, it’s not OK for the roots to be aboveground. They certainly need to be covered with soil to do their job gathering nutrients from the soil.

Planting too deep or too shallow is a common problem. Planting too deep often encourages disease to penetrate the plant’s crown. Planting too shallow often results in the sort of problem you’re seeing. It leads to root damage and excessive drying.

When the ground has thawed, it will be best to dig and reset the tree. Dig a hole so that the plant’s crown is just level with the surrounding ground. Backfill, tamp and water well, eliminating any air pockets that may fill the space around the root ball.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, 512 North Ridge Road, Montville 04941 or e-mail dianagc@midcoast.com. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.