Urban Forestry News and Views

A link to a website with extensive rhodie and azalia growing information:  rarhodyho.html

Here is a link to the NW Native Plant Journal  online magazine.  The writer is in Oregon, but you will see many Alaska favorites and lots of new ideas. Enjoy.   emag_index.html

A handy new publication from the Forest Service, the tree owners manual:  tree owners manual  a copy of the manual is also filed in publications.

A new website now under construction. www.alaskaplants.org  A partnership of the Cooperative Extension, American Society of Landscape Architects, and Alaska Division of Forestry.  The goal is to have information on all ornamental trees and shrubs that will grow in Alaska. Keep checking back to see how they are progressing in this big job.

From the website of the American Rhododendron Society  www.rhododendron.org     are chapter lists of species that are proven performers. Here is a link to the Canadian lists:   performers12.htm

An extensive article on Azalias and rhododendrons for Minnesota from the Minnesota Cooperative Extension. Lots of good information  for rhodie fans of all skill levels.   DG2386.html

Questions and answers on soil liming for Master Gardeners.  One possible lime source is shells.  Crushed and rinsed with fresh water to remove salt give  results similar to lime.   limefaq.html

If you will be travelling down to Oregon, you might want to check out some of their wonderful hertiage trees.  The state has a website to help you locate them:  oregon_heritage_trees.cfm  Here are a couple of entries to spike your interest:

27. Big Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
This majestic pine is the biggest of its species ever recorded. It was a giant before the Oregon Territory was established, enduring centuries of fire, insects, disease, and human impact. Recently half of its crown was lost to weather, making another Ponderosa taller, but “Big Red” remains the largest in circumference.
Height: 162′
Circumference: 28′ 11″
Approximate Age: 500 years
Dedicated: April 5, 2000

6. Nyberg Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
The Nyberg Chestnut was part of a 150 tree mixed orchard that was planted around 1903 and owned by John Nyberg, a immigrant from Sweden. When Interstate 5 was being built, the Nyberg home and orchard was located on the highway right-of-way and had to be moved and most of the orchard was destroyed. But John Nyberg stood between the tree Due to the efforts of John Nyberg this tree became one of only a few Oregon trees located on the original I-5 right-of-way that was saved from demolition during construction of the highway. The Nyberg Chestnut is located at the Interstate 5 and Nyberg Road interchange at the City of Tualatin in Washington County.
Height: 65′
Circumference: 14′
Crown Spread: 70′
Approximate Age: 100 years
Dedicated: April 13, 2002

Soon it will be time to get busy in the garden. One technique you can use to increase your plants is taking softwood cuttings. If you do not know about this, it is easy to do with many plants. Here is a short article showing what you need to do:  multiply_your_plants_with_soft.html  And one on how to divide perennials:  how_and_why_to_divide_perennia.html

Link to a publication from West Virginia Cooperative Extension discussing common tree problems:   treeprob.htm