"The Shagbark Hickory Tree, `Carya ovata,' features a bold-textured, jagged branch structure and thick twigs to give it a very striking appearance in ... more
"The Shellbark Hickory Tree, `Carya laciniosa,' is a deciduous tree that is similar to the Shagbark Hickory, but its bark is not so shaggy. Its fruit... more
"The Black Locust Tree, `Robinia pseudoacacia,' can be found growing naturally on a wide range of sites, but will grow best on rich, moist, limestone ... more
"The Shademaster Honey Locust Tree, `Gleditsia triacanthos inermis,' is a moderately fast growing deciduous tree. It is most commonly found on moist ... more
"The Sunburst Honeylocust Tree, `Gleditsia triacanthos inermis,' will display yellow new growth, and its yellow leaves persist throughout the season. ... more
"The Thornless Honeylocust Tree, `Gleditsia tracanthos,' is a deciduous tree with high tolerance to drought, salt and high pH levels. This tree grows... more
"The Ann Magnolia Tree, `Magnolia x Ann,' is the result of crossbreeding that took place at the United States National Arboretum. It will develop a s... more
"The Jane Magnolia Tree, `Magnolia x Jane,' is a strong, upright and vigorous grower that is distinguished by its large flower that resemble tulips. ... more
"The Sweetbay Magnolia Tree, `Magnolia virginiana,' is often grown as an ornamental landscape tree for its attractive flowers, foliage and fruit. It ... more
"The Autumn Blaze Red Maple, `Acer fremanii,' can grow up to three feet per year under the right conditions. This extremely fast-growing maple is tol... more
"The Autumn Flamer Red Maple Tree, `Acer rubrum,' is one of the first trees to exhibit its fall color. This fast growing tree is very popular, primar... more
"The Box Elder Maple Tree, `Acer negundo,' is a deciduous maple tree that is small to medium in size. It can reach a height of fifty to seventy-five ... more
Pruning trees and shrubs to enhance garden views
by Nicole Martins
For a homeowner who doesn't nec-essarily spend much time in their garden but wants to enjoy it from above, taking into account the garden views from upstairs windows and/or decks will help in dictating the planting plan.
In San Francisco, where garden space is typically 30' X 30', people look to maximize the design effects: creating outdoor rooms with patios, paths, fountains and arbors. The same is true with a garden that is mainly viewed from an upstairs deck or window. One example is a garden that we have been main-taining and restor-ing for over a year. The objective is that homeowner be able to see as much of the garden as possible from the 2nd and 3rd story decks.
An existing 35' Podocarpus tree adjacent to the deck requires annual pruning and is due to be thinned and reduced on our next visit in October. While we typically schedule an arbor-ists to prune trees larger than 25', deck access from the homeowner and neighbor's property make it possible for us to safely work on the tree.
Once the Podocarp-us has been pruned the garden will require only minimal adjust-ments for the next 8 to 10 months. In the past year, we have pruned several Plum trees along the fence line and through out. At this point, they are in far better aesthetic shape: having opened up the garden as well as enhanced views.Tip pruning the canopy and
select branches of Angel's Trumpet: Datura, is also necessary through-out spring and summer for maintaining the deck views of the rear planting areas. Although this tree is frost tender in many climates, we are fortunate that it thrives in the Bay Area, and that there are several nice varieties to choose from.
Badly formed plants such as the leggy growing, purple flowering Princess Tree: Tibouchina, are also candidates for a severe heading back. While this pruning technique leaves the tree looking hacked and butchered for several months afterwards, on a healthy specimen, dormant buds will grow from the woody stumps creating a new floriferous head.
As with all gardens, the seasons bring about changes, creating new expressions. With fall upon us, our job for view enhancement is nearly complete, once the Podocarpus tree is pruned. After that, we will have many months to concentrate on the under story and plantings.
Trees
Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.
was originally founded as 2 Shop Trees, Inc. a conifer and decid-uous tree nurs-ery. Nature Hills Nursery started as a local tree nursery serving a limited geograph-ic area. To keep up with the times Nature Hill Nursey launched its first web site, in August 2001.
As Nature Hill evolved and respond to the customers' de-mand of quality nursery products, they continued to improve their on-line capabilities and expand their product offerings.
Nature Hills Nursery mission is to continually improve all aspects of their business in order to exceed their nationwide customers' expectations. Nature Hills Nursery strives to offer one of the largest selections of high quality live plants and related products, complete with extensive plant information, while maintain-ing an exception-al level of custom-er service. Nature Hills Nursery will not sacrifice the personal atten-tion given their customers.
Nature Hills Nursery is still mostly a family operation, they are proud of the strides made in customer satis-faction through expanded offer-ings and enhanc-ed capabilities. Nature Hills Nursery successes are attributed to marketing and competitively priced products.
Nature Hills Nursery guarantees all of its products.
