This year, I am completely and totally on the world's teeniest gardening budget. We're talking next to nothing, so I am looking to get the most bang from gardening buck. For that, I am turning to the Arbor Day Foundation where right now (if you hurry and order soon, shipping for Zone 5/6 ends in a couple of days!!!) you can get two free forsythias and a free Red Maple for member orders.
I am thinking of trying my hand at a few nut trees. Hazelnuts in particular... I haven't ever grown nut trees and I don't know anyone who has, but I might give it a whirl. Birch trees have forever reminded me of vacationing lakeside with cool breezes and lapping water, so I am considering planting a couple near our lake for some shade. But, I change my mind every few minutes... Right now I have 12 different things in my shopping cart, but I can't make the final click to buy. What should I do?!?
What are you planting this year? And how did you make a decision? Help!
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I do like the birch trees. Fast growers! And, as to the nut trees, I've wanted to grow one myself for quite some time. This year, I splurged on an espaliered (sp?) pear tree (a 5 in 1). Last year, we planted two apples and a pomegranate. The year before, a Japanese maple. If I stay here any longer, our yard will be an orchard. Not a bad thing.
Check out the Arbor Day Foundation Hazelnut Project. I'm thinking of getting my hazelnut bushes from there...
All the trees I have planted in my yard are from the Arbor Day Foundation's annual Free Tree Day. They are small, I'll admit, but the price is right. The first one, a red maple, is now taller than I am - it was planted my first spring in No. Idaho (2004).
I also have a Austrian Pine from the same year (wh/is only knee-high), and, from subequent years, a Littleleaf Linden, a Green Ash, a Flowering Crab and a Tamarack, also known as a Larch.
Oh, and I have in a pot, to be planted a little later, my free tree from buying the Wall-E DVD - a Colorado Blue Spruce.
Then, in the back yard, I have the 3 fruit trees I bought last year - one each, apple, apricot, plum.
Lots of very tall (50'+) Lodgepole & Ponderosa pines all around the neighborhood/town, but not a one in my yard!
The one thing I didn't like about our house when we bought two years ago-- the former owner cut down all the trees. Now, I'm sort of glad because I have sun for my garden and room to plant what I want. Like you, my gardening budget is tight. I spent my birthday gift money on a few blueberry bushes. (And I am thrilled to see a few blueberries ripening.) The apple trees will probably have to wait until next year, though. I'd also like to plant a maple and a dogwood, but I'd rather focus on fruit-bearing trees first.
Arbor day usually gives 10 free trees when you join. They're VERY small (sticks), but they're free so what do you expect.
We planted 6 apple trees this year, as well as a berry patch and 2 sugar maples last fall. I hope to add a few more fruit trees each year. Our yard was hayfield before we built 2 years ago, so we really felt like we needed trees!
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