South Carolina ETV

Making It Grow! News Articles

December 22nd, 2005

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We have many gifts living in South Carolina. Our mild winters,
generally moderate rainfall, and a long growing season make the
Palmetto State an ideal place for gardeners. As our major crops
shift from agronomic to horticultural ones, we are still connected to
the soil by growing plants both indoors and out of doors. I wish all
of you a Merry Christmas and encourage you to give thanks for the
bounties of nature that we South Carolinians enjoy.

Question: We bought a small balled and burlapped white pine for
our Christmas tree this year. I'd like to plant in over the holidays
but don't know much about what it needs our how big it will get. Any
ideas about how to handle it? Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, is
easily transplanted and is one of the fastest growing of the pines
used in landscaping. That little fellow you've got inside your house
may reach 50 feet in 25 to 30 years so you need to plant it in an area
with plenty of room. Remove the burlap carefully before placing the
tree in the planting hole. As with almost all conifers, this tree will
grow best in full sun. Moist, well-drained soil will give the best
growth but these pines are very adaptable. This tree will grow in both
of our SC hardiness zones, but occasionally in zone 8 these trees die
out for no obvious reason. These pines have a softer growth habit than
most pines and can serve as a beautiful specimen in the landscape.

Question: We've recently built a house on what was an old field. The
winds coming across the yard are about to blow me away. I've heard
that trees can make a good windbreak. Can you make any
recommendations? Trees planted on the northern exposure can indeed
help keep your house warmer in winter by blocking those arctic blasts.
This would be an idea time to establish trees in your old field. I'd
start by taking a soil test since your pH probably is going to be so
low that you'll need to apply lime before doing anything else. Our
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana, is an excellent choice for a
windbreak as it is tolerant of harsh conditions and it provides
shelter and food for feathered friends. Small, bare- root, liners of
this tree are available from many sources and, if mulched and watered
until established, will quickly grow into a sheltering grove.

Question: My children want to plant a tree in our yard that we can
decorate for Christmas each year. I don't want just another pine tree
or a Leyland cypress. What do you suggest that would be somewhat
unusual. An old favorite of mine is the Deodora cedar which has
pendulous branches when young, making it very graceful and refined. As
it ages, it gets broad topped and has great character. Much breeding
work has gone into this species and you should be able to find an
improved variety with a little research. This tree is less cold hardy
than most other cedars and is a good choice for the warmer areas of
South Carolina. Many adults in South Carolina remember climbing in
these trees in their youth. If you plant one now, your future
grandchildren could one day be scampering through its soft foliage.