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Why is my blue spruce struggling?

April 25, 2020 • Leave a Comment

About 4 years ago, a company planted 11 blue spruces in my yard. The following year, 4 of them died and the company replaced them. The next year, 3 died and the company replaced them. Last year 2 died. The soil is mostly clay and that side of the yard sometimes stays damp. I also have a lawn sprinkling system which waters them each day when hot. Any ideas on what’s happening? The remaining trees, now 9, don’t look very blue like blue spruce should, and are kind of yellowish.

Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is native to the Southwestern U.S., not Michigan. It prefers rich, well-drained, yet moist soil in full sun. They are overused by landscapers for screening and large vista plantings because they have greater tolerance for less than ideal growing conditions. Unfortunately, your clay soil holds water like a sponge. “Moist soil” does not equate with saturated soil. Since your yard stays damp and you are augmenting it with lawn irrigation, the roots are simply drowning. The chlorotic needles are also an indicator of excess water in soil that does not drain.

The tree roots are in the top two feet of the soil. Sacrifice some turf grass for 2 to 3 inches of organic compost to enrich the tree roots out to the drip line. Redirect your sprinkling system away from the trees, and reduce the frequency of water, if possible. Consider installing a field drain to move water out of the area. Trees and lawns simply have different water needs.

If you lose any more blue spruces, try replacing them with white spruce (Picea glauca), a Michigan native that also has a pyramidal shape and a blue-green cast to the needles. Consider breaking up the monoculture by interspersing lacy Eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). They will tolerate more moisture. Still want groundcover? Consider a mix of low-maintenance sun and shade perennials. Canadian ginger (Asarum canadense) works well in shade, and woodland geranium (Geranium maculatum) will work well in the sun-shade margin at the turf line, with a bonus of light purple flowers in late spring.

LEARN MORE: The Blue Spruce at The Morton Arboretum

Why are the leaves on my Japanese maple scorched?

April 14, 2020 • Leave a Comment

I have a dwarf Japanese maple that gets a lot of sun. Last summer I noticed many of the leaf edges were brown and curled. That was the first time I’ve noticed it. The maple is planted near the front of the house so I see it every time I come home. My neighbor had the same problem with his two trees as well.

Although Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) can handle full sun, they do need protection from strong afternoon sun, heat, and wind. Otherwise they respond with the leaf scorch you are observing. Since this was the first time you had seen it, review any changes to the ambient shade it might have originally received in afternoons. Consider your watering frequency. Water thoroughly but less frequently. Make sure the soil is enriched with organic compost and that it is well-drained. Clay soil retains water and drains slowly, encouraging roots to rot. Watering every day never gives the soil a chance to dry out. Provide 2 to 2-1/2 inches of mulch over the root zone to stabilize the surface moisture loss between waterings and keep the soil temperature cooler. If there is no ambient tree shade for the potent afternoon sun, be creative and mount a golf umbrella to a stake to give protection to your favorite welcome-home specimen.

Per NOAA records, in Michigan, the summer of 2010 had approximately 67 days over 80 degrees. The average is 53. It was the 8th warmest summer on record. So it is not surprising you and your neighbor saw your dwarf maple leaves curl up.

Plant Focus: Pasque Flower

March 31, 2020 • 2 Comments

The spring days are growing longer, the birds are quickly emptying the feeders, and the flowers have begun to emerge. Bulbs like crocus and daffodils are in bloom, but in time, only the old, tattered foliage will remain. Some of the woodland wildflowers, like trillium and bluebells, are also in color, but they too will quickly disappear. Unlike so many early bloomers, pasque flower, will perform well in the spring and continue to be showy well into the summer.

Botanically referred to as Pulsatilla vulgaris, pasque flower sends up purple, reddish, pink or white 2-1/2 inch flowers in April and May. These flowers have 6 large petals (actually sepals) and a bright yellow center. After flowering begins, the spring leaves emerge and are equally showy. These leaves glisten with silky hairs that are exceptionally ornamental.

The performance has just begun, for when the spring flowers finish blooming, the seed pods form. These beautiful, silky, puff balls last well into the summer when all of the flowers have passed. The beautiful spring blossoms and clusters of seed pods make this an outstanding perennial for the front of the border or rock garden. Pasque flower grows 10 inches tall and 10 inches wide, and in our climate, it thrives in both full or partial sun. The plant will last for several years in most gardens, but performs best in a well-drained soil. Rarely does it suffer from insect or disease problems.

Pasque flower is somewhat difficult to find, but is well worth the effort. Young plants offered at garden centers quickly mature to showy clumps of vibrant flowers and striking foliage. ‘Rubra’ is the red form and the species is the purple form (just Pulsatilla vulgaris). These varieties are the easiest to locate, but I especially like the pink form, which, unfortunately, is rarely available. However, a more common German variety called ‘Papageno’ is a wonderful mixture which contains all colors, including the elusive pink.

Take advantage of the many features of this very underused perennial. Few spring-blooming perennials rival the extended display that pasque flower can provide. A tidy habit, wonderful flowers, and beautiful foliage are just some of the traits that make pasque flower a worthwhile addition to your garden.

Pasque flower

Botanical name: Pulsatilla vulgaris
Plant type: Perennial
Plant size: 10 inches wide and tall
Flower colors: Purple (most common), red, pink, or white
Flower size: 2-1/2 inches
Bloom period: April and May
Leaf colors: Silky green
Leaf size: Up to 6 inches long
Light: Full to partial sun
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil
Uses: Front of the perennial border or in the rock garden
Remarks: Leaves appear after the flowers. Silky hairs on the leaves make them glisten. Puffy seed heads form after the flower blooms are finished and are as attractive as the flowers.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Township, MI.

Read more: Growing pasque flower from seed

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Pasque flower