Swimpy's Landscaping Thread

@ossobuco,

It's Malus ioensis http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?23246

I don't know how resistent it is. I definitely don't want a tree that will give me problems.

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@Swimpy,

You can probably find that online/talk with nursery people.
A native could have something going for it in that regard, though not necessarily given various new devastating visitors to our native forests.

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@Swimpy,

Osso, according to this link

http://www.iowalivingroadway.com/NativePlants.asp you posted in the beginning of this thread It's not commercially available.

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Swimpy do you have juniper or cedar trees/shrubs in your (or your neighbor's) yard? What I understand about this tree from very brief browsing is that it is susceptible to the usual crabapple problems.

edit: but the big book of Dirr says rust can get it.

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@littlek,

Quote:

Swimpy do you have juniper or cedar trees/shrubs in your (or your neighbor's) yard? What I understand about this tree from very brief browsing is that it is susceptible to the usual crabapple problems.

I have lots of dead junipers in my yard. something has been killing them, only a few survive. Are you saying that crabs are susceptible to the same diseases as junipers?

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@littlek,

Rust, cripes, I hate rust..

Do you have Dirr? I'm jealous. (We had one at work, but I left it. First of all, it was my partner's, and second, she was going to continue designing full force.

We also had a fantastic two volume set that I don't remember the name of on conifers, important back in north north..

What am I saying, I'm trying to get RID of books..

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@Swimpy,

The rust needs two hosts, it seems. Or at least they attack both apples and junipers. If you have dead junipers I'd stay clear of apples until you get them cleaned up and maybe a a good cold winter in between.

Do your junipers have brown balls hanging from the branches?

Osso, my mom gave me her old Dirr. It's a soft cover from 1983. I love it!

The apple-cedar rust starts on cedars looking like this:

http://www.plantpath.iastate.edu/pdc/files/Image/c-a_%20gall_cedar.jpg

After it does this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/506980060_5a4986ca22.jpg

It spores to infect nearby apples.

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@littlek,

I've never seen anything hanging from the branches. We've had other plants die for unknown reasons. A sugar maple that was fairly well established, just up and died one year. We have had very good luck with rhodies, azaleas and Japanese maples. Does that tell you anything?

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@Swimpy,

It tells me you have shady areas.....? And maybe wet soil?

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@littlek,

Yes to both. The soil here is pretty heavy. The tree service guy just gave me an estimate for cutting down the trees and clearing the shrubs. Not as high as I had expected and he is available. I have a retaining wall contractor coming this afternoon to give me an estimate. Have called several others, but no callbacks yet.

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@Swimpy,

Good to do the hardscape first. Ask them about trees for the front. See if they have any suggestions.

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@littlek,

Retaining walls are very expensive it turns out. Going to wait for all the estimates to come in, but it's not looking good.

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@Swimpy,

They are. Do you need one? Why?

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@littlek,

The terraces are very steep. Grass is not an option. I thought about making them into rock gardens, but was intimidated by the amount of work involved. The largest terrace is 90'long and 4' high. The second is 25' long and about 3' high.

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@Swimpy,

Swimp, sometimes it is cheaper if both walls are aome kind of equal middle height, perhaps with a slight slope inbetween, because as walls get taller, the footing required is relatively more expensive. It might not make a difference at your place, but you might ask about that. On the other hand, the shorter front wall might work as what we call a seat wall, sittable even if it isn't particularly wide (a real seat wall takes bigger concrete blocks, if one is using blocks.)

Decisions, decisions.. facing it with brick?

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@ossobuco,

Ah, we cross posted. Hmm, 7 feet total. Ne'er mind. Dollars.

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@ossobuco,

The two walls aren't related. They are on separate sides of the yard. I can put in one or both.

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@Swimpy,

Ah, that's clarifying. What I was talking about doesn't apply then.. (well, it didn't anyway, given what would have been the total height. What I was getting at was that if you had a six foot grade difference, and plenty of room to do it in, you could have one 2.5 foot wall and one 3.0 and slope 6" in x number of feet in between.)

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@Swimpy,

So... is it a safety issue? Aesthetic? Privacy? Grass isn't an option, but possible other plants could be.

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@Swimpy,

Swimpy, instead of a retaining wall, why not have a hedge for privacy.
This time I looked up your Zone (no Crepe Myrtle Very Happy

) and have found this
http://www.paulowniasupply.com/Privacy-Hedge/

1 Reply

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