Planting with Natives

Gerard Fournier, Board Certified Master Arborist, For Trees Company Ltd.

Trees for Life... Landscapes for Living

Sustainable Planting with Native Trees and Shrubs

What are trees?

Trees are the largest perennial plants and the largest living things on earth.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and use it to make sugars, then use sugars to make starches, then cellulose, and finally, wood.

Wood is the trees’ long term energy storage.

Shrubs are like trees, except smaller.

Tree Secrets

Trees are like big batteries...

-Alex Shigo

The principle of sustainability is simply that none of our actions should have a negative impact on future generations.

If you agree with this, then you’ll likely agree with Bill Mollison, one of the founders of the Permaculture movement, who has said: “ The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children”

The question of “what trees should we plant?” can therefore be answered as ones that will last a long time and do well. In most cases, these are native species, the ones that have been growing here all along.

What is “Sustainability”?

Before planting anything, consider these questions:

What are the soil conditions you are planting into?

The Right Tree for the Right Place

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

– Chinese Proverb

What kind of exposure to sun and wind will the plant have?

What is the function of your planting?

What are the space constraints where you are planting?

What is the hardiness zone of the plant?

Species Selection

What is the mature size and shape the plant will achieve?

Does the plant have the aesthetics needed fit in the design?

What kind maintenance is required to properly care for the plant?

What is the variety chosen’s susceptibility to insects and disease?

Before planting ...

Call before you dig!

Important Planting Tips

Measure twice, dig once.

Locate trunk flare.

Dig hole wider, not deeper.

Tree Planting Diagram

New Tree Planting……

Dig a shallow, broad planting hole.

Identify the trunk flare

Place the tree at the proper height.

Straighten the tree in the hole.

Fill the hole, gently but firmly.

Stake the tree, only if necessary.

Mulch the base of the tree.

Follow up care.

Be sure to remove the wirebasket and burlap from the top third of the root ball!

Important Planting Tips cont.

Back fill hole with native soil.

Form well around drip line of tree, keeping trunk flare exposed.

Mulch around base of tree keeping trunk flare exposed.

Be sure to water in newly planted trees at least once a week, completely saturating the soil around the tree.

Native Plants

Silver Buffaloberry (Sheperdia argentea)

Silver Buffaloberry is a native thorny shrub that can form a dense thicket through suckering. It withstands cold and wind. Fruits are reddish berries which are edible and very valuable to wildlife. Mature height 3-5 feet.

Site Requirements - alkaline tolerant, good drought tolerance.

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

This tree grows up to 30 meters tall. Plants are either male or female. This is the most common tree in Alberta. It is adapted to many soils but is not especially drought tolerant.

Pincherry (Prunus Pensylvanica)

Pincherry enjoys a sunny spot and will not tolerate full shade. It has adapted to many soil types and is good in sandy soils. Quick flower flush in spring is beautiful.

River Birch (Betula fontinalis occidentalis)

The River Birch is an stunning fall feature. It can grow up to 5 meters. The mature bark is shiny dark reddish brown and looks like cherry. It prefers moist soils and can handle well drained soils.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)

Dogwood can grow up to 3 meters tall. Lower branches can root independently when in contact with the soil. The bright red bark is striking in the winter season. Grows best in moist soils.

Roots and Mycorhizae

Tree Roots often grow far beyond the tree crown drip line.

Most roots seldom grow deeper than 3 ft.

Woody roots support the tree & store energy reserves

Non-woody roots absorb water & essential elements from soil.

Non-woody roots are often associated with beneficial fungi (A)

Fertilizers provide elements that may be low or lacking in soil.

Fertilizers can be helpful only when essential elements are lacking in soil.

Organic fertilizers such as compost, composted manures and manure tea have less of a negative effect on beneficial soil microbes and mycorhizae.

Roots of dogwoods graft to other root systems, especially poplars, through shared mycorhizae.

Shrubs and Trees Living Together

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)

The Highbush Cranberry has year-round ornamental value. Spring flowers, summer foliage and fruit, fall colour, and winter form. The edible berries persist through the winter attracting wildlife. It does best in consistently moist, well-drained soils. Slight shade can be tolerated but better fall colour is achieved in full sun.

Red Elder (Sambucus racemosa)

The Red Elder is believed to fend off mosquitoes. It grows from 1-3 meters in full sun and is adapted to many soil types. It prefers moist soils but will grow in dryer situations. Sometimes described as “European” distribution is circumpolar.

River or Mountain Alder (Alnus tenuifolia)

This shrub is a nitrogen fixer. It likes moist, cool sites. It is somewhat shade tolerant when young, but becomes intolerant when older. It can grow up to 6 meters tall.

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta latifolia)

The lodgepole can grow anywhere from water-logged bogs to dry sandy soils. It can reach a height of 12 to 25 m, with a spread of 6 m. The branches curve upward creating an attractive form year round. Alberta’s provincial tree.

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)

Growing up to 10 meters tall, the limber pine has a very interesting form. It grows on dry to moderately moist sites. Naturally it grows in subalpine environments. Its extremely flexible branches makes it tolerate large snow loads and winds.

Wild Roses (Rosa sp.)

Woods Rose (Rosa woodsii)

Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis)

Prairie Rose

(Rosa arkansana)

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

The Doug Fir can grow 60' to 80' tall in a conical form with pendulous branches. Moist, slightly acid, well drained soil and full sun is the best environment. Doug generally dislikes hot, dry sites .

Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata)

The silverberry grows from 3 to 13 feet tall. It is erect, strongly rhizomatous, and often forms thickets of flexible willow-like branches. It can tolerate moderately alkaline soils and is somewhat drought-resistant. The plant fixes nitrogen, which may be available to other plants growing nearby.

Snowberry

(Symphoricarpos albus)

Buckbrush

(Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

Both of these plants will grow up to 1 m tall. Their extensive root systems are used to stabilize soils on banks and slopes. They can grow in dry areas but prefer a moist soil. The berries are not suitable for eating.

Common Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)

This native potentilla can grow up to 1 meter tall in a very spherical form. It is very soil adaptable and does well in extremely cold temperatures. It can get disfigured if snow is piled on it. Full sun is best for this shrub.

Common Chokecherry

(Prunus virginiana)

This chokecherry can grow to a height of 10 – 25 feet. The chokecherry prefers a loam soil, can withstand some shade, and will survive while exposed to short periods of low moisture. Fragrant flowers in spring, good fall color and useful fruit make this a good all round shrub.

Willows (Salix sp.)

Pussy Willow (Salix glauca)

Sandbar Willow

(Salix interior)

Dwarf Yellow Willow (Salix lutea)

Willows are the most genetically diverse plant in Alberta. Willows tend to like moist soils as they grow in wet habitats. They can grow 1 meter tall to 6 meters tall.

Willow Flower

Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

Balsam Poplars grow from 75 to 100 feet tall and prefer soil that is relatively rich in nutrients and less acidic. Balsams are best suited for large parks where they have room to grow and are in full sun or partial shade.

New dwarf variety - Populus balsamifera ‘Paskapoo’ BowPoint Nurseries

Narrowleaf Poplar (Populus angustifolia)

The Narrowleaf Poplar has a height of 60 ft in a pyramidal form. prefers moist soils. As its name suggests, the leaves of this poplar are much more elongated than other species.

Sargent Poplar (Poplus sargentii)

The Sargent poplar has a pyramidal form when young but becomes rounded with age. It can grow up to 80 feet tall. This tree likes wet soils.

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

Well the climate is changing...So like the plants, we must adapt as well. Our climate will get drier and warmer, so heat and drought loving plants from south of the border may eventually do well here.

Global Warming Plants

Ponderosa Pine

Rocky Mountain White Oak

Global Warming Plants cont.

Black Walnut

Rocky Mountain White Pine

Global Warming Plants cont.

Ohio Buckeye

Bristlecone pine

Global Warming Plants cont.

Colorado Blue Spruce

Russian Olive

Jenni Pearson, production

Brad Studier, photo

Joelle Battram-Fournier, photos

Pam and Ken Wright, inspiration

Bill Mollison, Permaculture

Donald Hoag, “Trees and Shrubs for the Northern Plains”

Alex Shigo, “A New Tree Biology”

Credits and References

For Trees Company Ltd.

www.fortrees.ca

International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.)

Trees Are Good- www.treesaregood.org

Prairie Chapter I.S.A

www.isaprairie.com

Landscape Nursery Trade Association (LANTA)

www.landscape-alberta.com

Websites to visit

Thanks very mulch!

Gerard Fournier For Trees Company Ltd.

Trees for Life... Landscapes for Living

gerard@fortrees.ca 403 335 8956

Planting with Natives