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small trees
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Posted by Pam_Em WA (My Page) on Tue, Feb 17, 04 at 20:02
I live in a coastal and very windy part of Perth and have planted two Indian Summer Crepe Myrtles, which don't look all that happy. One Nurseryman tells me Prunus Blireana (hope I spelt it correctly) would be FINE to replace them but another says he thinks Blireana would get burned leaves as the Crepe Myrtles have. He suggests Manchurian Pear trees instead. I love the look of the Blireana - cherry plums - and think I would rather them but don't want to make another expensive mistake. The rest of that garden is great and happy - box hedges, day lillies, irises, roses and vibernum with pencil pines in front.
Anybody know lots about these in windy coastal areas please? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: small trees
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Feb 22, 04 at 4:01
| Where are your crepe myrtles? I mean the aspect. I have seen beaut trees in Cottlesloe, so I think they cope with windy conditions. If you still think it is the wind, can you grow some sort of a windbreak? Some people grow wattles as 'nursery' plants, and remove them once the treasured trees and shrubs are more established. Wattles are good as they grow very fast and their roots lock nitrogen, so after you have cut them down, their roots keep feeding the remaining plants. If the block is new, it might be the soil that is at fault, plenty of organic matter and feed with blood&bone+trace elements. |
RE: small trees
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| Hi Meggs, thanks for answering. The aspect is - City Beach, apparently the most windy suburb in the city and they are planted in fantastic soil, worms aplenty, in a raised bed on the North East corner of our block. Pretty exposed and can't grow a windbreak. I am leaning towards Manchurian Pears because they don't appear to take up too much room at the base and it was suggested by a nurseryman they'd be ok with the proviso that anything will bear the brunt of the wind there. I was leaning to Cherry Plums but think I saw some in a garden in Nedlands and they looked pretty established and were really wide at the base. I don't have room for that as other things I love are planted around and it is within a parterre. |
RE: small trees
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 23, 04 at 2:47
| If you ever go for a trip to Joondalup, turn off the freeway at Ocean Reef and go for a ride in Northerly direction up Eddystone ave through Heathridge. They have planted black prunus as a street tree, they look magnificent, a bit young still. You can prune them so they are not wide at the base. Another place I saw them as a street tree was in Kojonup, these were very old, and fruiting, about 3m tall and not wide at all! Just a ? Can you replant your myrtles? How long have they been in the ground? It seems like a terrible waste :-(((( and they are such beautifull trees. |
RE: small trees
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| Yes Crepe Myrtles are gorgeous in bloom, but seriously look somewhat hammered in their current position. THe wind is the biggest problem and maybe the salt. What do you think of Manchurian Pears? As they would be within a parterre they might be better and look nice in an "avenue". Decisions decisions! I will have a look in Eddystone Ave and thanks for that. The garden looks a bit negelected right now as some irises have grown enormous and too hot to do anything. |
RE: small trees
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 26, 04 at 3:43
| Yep, I agree it is hot. I manage to do my tidying up at 6 am, but no serious gardening. Unfortunately I have not seen manchurian pears in a windy position so can't advise you on that. They are planted in a courtyard in ECU in Joondalaup, but it is surrounded by walls all around. The only thing, I have not noticed any colouring in autumn. It might be too warm for them there. |
RE: small trees
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| Are the Manchurian Pear trees attractive? THe time to plant is winter I know; I think they have white blossom? |
RE: small trees
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| Sorry it took me few days to respond, I was dying from heat, and later decided to munch my prunnings. Yes, they are attractive, however do not relly on my taste :-). Try to find some growing, maybe a nursery will have some growing in their gardens, or tell you where to find them or as I mentioned, ECU Joondalup, building 19 courtyard. |
RE: small trees
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| Bit concerned about you munching your prunings meggs! I got quite a vivid picture. THanks I will look. |
RE: small trees
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Ha, ha, my theeth would not take it, I have just returned from a dentist, cracked two teeth over the last month!!! I have an old cranky Granberg, a shredder muncher that does it for me. Though I think I will be looking for a replacement soon as it is leaking petrol :-((((. This dental visit was very untimely. I also wanted to add there was something on this forum about oakville crimson spires, read it. It looks like they are talking about flowering pears or plums.
How about we have a coffee when you make the trip north (my daughter used to call it south Geralton when she was younger, stopped now when she bought a house ten minutes from us)? |
RE: small trees
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| I'll take you up on the coffee Meggs - I don't know when re time commitments but thank you. I am talking to a lady aren't I?? Haven't had a chance to get up that way - it's a busy life. I still haven't decided which way to go re the trees, but my Crepe Myrtles are so leggy they're spoiling the look of the garden. What a shame. The weather is getting beter for getting into it though. Love Autumn. |
RE: small trees
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Mar 5, 04 at 23:21
Me too, autumn is the best :-))). Yep, it is a woman you are talking too, meggs from Margaret.
On the general post you mentioned new soil, perhaps, it will help your Myrtles?
Just let me know when you are going up here we can meet in Sorento or Joondalup, whatever suits you. |
RE: small trees
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| I guess you know that Manchurian Pears get pretty big. So you might be looking at getting one only. I wonder if it is possible to espalier them or (forgotten the correct term) graft them together to form a sort of living screen? |
RE: small trees
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Hi Meggs
Forgot to answer how long my Crepe Myrtles have been in. About 11 months. I would love to replant them but don't have any place for them. Had thought of selling them for lot less than I bought them, but don't know how keen people would be to dig them out. |
RE: small trees
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Mar 7, 04 at 22:25
| Pam, there is a tree company that takes care of such problems, I mean they buy the trees of you. They bought my NZ Xmas tree for $200. Don't remember their name, but if you are unsuccessful with selling your myrtles, try to find this co. I think it was called Mature trees company. |
RE: small trees
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Hi Pam
Did you see any mature manchurian pears growing anywhere. I live in Gnangara and was told to plant manchurian pears by a landscape designer she said they are very hardy for Perth. I visited the tree farm and was told they grow bigger than 5m and should be planted at least 6m apart. Unfortunately this time of year they just look like big sticks. |
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