Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
Garden
Flaxleaf paperbarks are good street trees because they grow well under inhospitable conditions. They are identified by peeling, spongy bark and billowy white flowers. (Photograph by Shari Kaplan) An assortment of topics important to gardeners (By Tony Tomeo) I try to respond to all the telephone and email correspondence I receive in response to this column in a timely manner. I have found that certain issues that concern many garden enthusiasts cause repetition of similar inquiries. For example, I receive many requests for referrals to qualified maintenance gardeners because there is such a demand for their services. (I still don't know of any, so stop calling me!) A few of these broadly relevant topics are worthy of discussion. I have been wanting to discuss the following five topics, so will take this opportunity to do so. The Open House at Bay Laurel Nursery was not described in this column because the event was not conducted this year. The open house is expected to continue next year, however. Of course, I will feature the event at that time and everyone on the mailing list should get an invitation. Although I commonly discuss arboriculture (horticulture of trees), I have neglected to discuss tree preservation ordinances. This is because different communities have established different ordinances, so anyone arranging for major arboricultural procedures - particularly removals - should inquire about local ordinances at the relevant department of their town or city government. Arborists who claim to perform prescribed tree work "for the city" or "for PG&E" but charge for their services are totally bogus! I have not had so many inquiries about this that I believe it to concern many potential victims. However, I find this issue disturbing because so many of my colleagues take arboriculture very seriously. Those who use this tactic likely do so because their proficiency does not promote their business. (I would be inclined to forward their contact information to the police!) I will discuss Sudden Oak Death in more detail in a future column, not because it is a pleasant topic, but because much of the information I have seen publicized is partially inaccurate. It seems many garden columns are written by professional writers, not horticulturists. Similarly, some garden shows lack relevance - because they are created somewhere else - or accuracy - because the hosts are not horticulturists. I have been unable to establish another local show because most radio and television broadcast companies cannot produce their own programs. (I have tried, so stop calling me! Call the stations if you must.) However, one of my arborist colleagues is in the process of producing an entire series of interactive horticultural DVDs that will be directly relevant to the Santa Clara Valley. Accuracy is a priority. I intend to be involved as much as possible with the development of this project in order to facilitate accuracy. Tree of the Week: Flaxleaf Paperbark Flaxleaf paperbark, Melaleuca linariifolia, is the species that "educated" me about the importance of street tree clearance adequate to accommodate freight trucks. During the summer of 1990, a specimen downtown that exhibited low limbs struck the truck that I was parking at the curb. It just came out of nowhere! The truck, the tree and a jogger who happened to be on the sidewalk at the time were all fine. (One runs quickly when followed by a detached tree limb.) Since that violent but necessary structural pruning, the specimen has been remarkably complaisant and resilient. The flaxleaf paperbark tolerates heat, wind, drought, aerial pollution, inhospitable soil and minor traffic altercations. The fibrous root system may be shallow if generously irrigated, but rarely damages concrete. Consequently, the species is appropriate for use as a street tree for narrow streets. Because it is usually less than 25 feet tall and wide, it is not proportionate to wide boulevards. A minor problem associated with the flaxleaf paperbark as a street tree is that the very finely textured foliage and flowers that drop in minor quantities throughout the year are easily blown and "tracked" about over paved surfaces. The stiff evergreen leaves are about one inch long within a somewhat dense and globular canopy. The profuse and billowy clusters of small, pale flowers may be present throughout summer. As the name implies, the grayish white bark is fibrous and papery. It accumulates and becomes thick and spongy on mature trees. Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408-358-2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com. |
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