Try uncommon trees for disease
resistance and variety.
The
Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) tree's
blue-green leaves flutter in the wind and turn a clear yellow in fall when you
may even notice a faint smell of cookies.
The
musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana) is
a small scale shade tolerant tree. Its
smooth gray bark, unique flowers and fruit along with the yellow, orange or red
fall color give this tree year round appeal.
The
graceful and shade tolerant hemlock makes a perfect focal point in the garden
or backdrop for other plants.
Concolor
or white fir (Abies concolor) may
resemble a Colorado blue spruce, but its softer texture and disease resistance
makes it a better choice.
Check
out the bark on this Heptacodium. In early fall this small tree will be covered
with fragrant white flowers followed by decorative fruit.
Visit your local botanical garden and arboretum for other lesser used trees
that will thrive in your location. These
new additions will make your landscape stand out from the others in the
neighborhood. And, more importantly,
diversifying landscape plantings can help you avoid problems like Dutch elm
disease and Emerald ash borer that occur when we overplant one type of tree.
Visit www.melindamyers.com for more gardening tips.
