Dan's Papers - April 18, 2008

Not everyone has a large open expanse on their property to plant spring flowering trees. However a wonderful blooming understory to the big oaks on the moraine is possible. Dogwoods, redbuds, and shads light up the woods and work well in combination with some of the larger shrubs that tolerate shade and get almost as large.

Shads begin the spring season with their delicate white petals flickering in the woodland breeze. Also known as Amelanchier canadensis, this lovely native tree can be seen out on the cliffs of Montauk. It is extremely tolerant of the sea winds, which actually sculpt the trunks into interesting spirals. There have been hybrids sold in the past, which, like crab apples, were seriously affected by a leaf disease that left the tree practically bare in late summer. Planting a fall blooming clematis at the base to crawl up into the canopy and fill it in with foliage and starry white fragrant flowers can ameliorate this problem on existing shads in the landscape, if you don't like to spray your trees. But there are also new varieties available like "Brilliance" that have made the shad more tolerant to humid summers.

The next to bloom in the local woods are the lovely native American dogwoods, Cornus florida. Their geometrical, almost square flowers blossom in late April and early May. Red berries that the birds just love follow later. Cornus florida rubra is actually not red but a dusky deep pink. The forest's edge in Northwest Woods out by Cedar Point Park once was lined with white American dogwoods, and escapees from gardens can be seen in North Sea. A disease issue almost wiped them out about 15 years ago, but having survived that, the local trees have re-grown in the area with a slightly more rugged look than what you would find in a nursery grown plant.

Cornus Kousa, the Korean dogwoods, bloom in June and can be seen in all their glory through out Shelter Island where it seems that they stay in flower for almost 6 weeks. Cornus k. "Stellar Pink" is a newer pink variety that is now available in larger sizes, occasionally Cherokee Chief or Cherokee Princess can be found, too. "Wolf's Eye" has a variegated leaf that is really outstanding in a shady area.

Cercis canadensis, the red bud is slightly off the mark in name. The tightly bunched tiny flowers that cling to the branches as if they are outlining them in color are bright rose purple. "Forest Pansy" has been very popular in the last decade. The typically large heart shaped leaves are purple instead of green. This would be a good substitute for a flowering pear in a shadier spot. Cercis canadensis alba, the white bud, is truer to its name and will sparkle in the woods the way dogwoods and shads do.

All these trees grow to about 20-25' maximum, which is why they make up the understory, a transition zone from the horizontal plane of the sunny lawn or garden to the vertical architectural trunks of the larger shade trees like oaks and maples. They tolerate shade well, as will Corylopsis and Corylus, two soft yellow flowered shrubs that have dramatically different flowers.

Corylopsis, also known as winter hazel, doesn't have a flower like a witch hazel. The blooms are like a small stack of delicate inverted cups that come out in early April and are shown off well by a backdrop of evergreens. This shrub is delicate and slightly vase shaped. It takes pruning well but if left alone it can reach 15 feet in height.

Corylus is another kind of hazel. The flowers are most striking on the hybrid "Contorta," also known as Harry Lauders walking stick. The pendulous flowers look like they'd make a fantastic pair of earrings - 2 1/2'' to 3" chains of golden yellow hang down from the branch tips. The regular variety is an upright grower and there are ones native to this area that can be seen around Trout Pond. "Contorta," however, is a true specimen that would be best set off by itself as a piece of garden sculpture with it's weeping, twisted branches and dangly flowers that move in the breeze.

The deer are best put off by some kind of taste repellant sprayed on the plants. Dan the Deer guy from Unindeering can come and do it for you on a weekly basis or you can do it yourself. Durkee or Frank's Red Hot sauce work on everything but arborvitaes, since they're not tolerant of wiltproof. Dan uses a product with putrefied egg solids, and yes it smells for a while when it goes on but it works. Start early in the season before any nibbling begins to train the deer away from your property rather than convince them not to come back once they have begun browsing. More and more fencing issues are arising. There are limits to how much fencing can be done in East Hampton, and Southampton only allows deer fencing around agricultural land. If you have existing deer fencing it will become an issue if you need a certificate of occupancy for an addition or renovation, and you may be required to take it down. And finding an injured or dead animal or bird stuck in the fencing has been an increasing problem that is very upsetting for all concerned.

For more than 20 years, April Gonzales has been involved in garden design, installation and maintenance on the East End, as well as specimen plant scouting and site supervision for landscape architects.