I need about 10 saplings to plant in my yard for privacy.
Any kind will do, I just need something that grows fast, good leaf coverage and is hardy.
Where can I buy trees at a good price in the GTA or in the Orangeville/Georgetown area? I have no idea where to shop.
I'm off to go dig some holes now...1 down, 9 to go!
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Thanks Mary Anne, I will go to the library and see if they have that book for me. Thanks for all your advice, I am going to use it!
Still say the best I know of is this book -- likely your local library has it..."Gardening with Trees and Shrubs" by Trevor Cole
Thanks everyone, I still want to plant now, to get the garden started, I can't wait until Fall!
I am checking out the bhg garden site and will first plan the garden properly and see what interesting trees the site comes up with. The problem being, the site is for the States, so I am not too sure if the trees recommened there will work here, even if the zone is right.
I have dug 7 holes, shoo, hard work, so this weekend is hopefully tree shopping, or looking around at least.
I guess all the nurseries charge the same price for their plants, am I right?
Or are their bargain places I am not aware of?
Hi Catherine,
This is my first time posting but since I work in the nursery business I figured I could be of some help to you - or at least I hope I can.
I know that you want to plant now but if you can wait until the fall, I do know that Sheridan Nurseries in Georgetown has a HUGE wholesale sale that is open to the public. There are some incredible prices for some really great plants.
Don't worry about losing precious growing time by waiting - we can easily plant into December in southern Ontario without much worry (borderline hary material would be the major exception to that rule mind you). In the first year after transplanting, very little real growth is put on. You should be more worried about the root growth in the first year than the top growth - it is significantly more important.
I'll be honest by telling you that with my 20+ years of nursery experience, you are MUCH better off getting a mature tree over a fast growing sapling (example: a poplar sapling will grow incredibly fast but its life span will be much shorter than a slower growing sapling - don't go for the super fast growing stuff, you will regret it when you are cursing over the suckers and the dying tree in a few years.)
My advice would be to buy a specimen tree (ie. balled and burlap). Don't worry about the 'planting time' - we don't have a ideal planting time around here. Anytime is OK as long as you water. Summer is as good a time for planting as any time now.
I hope this help a bit.
Miriam
PS. Just in case you are wondering, I don't work for Sheridan Nurseries.
Halls Tree Farm in Newmarket supposedly has the best prices for mature trees. Unfortunately they don't have a website to list the types of species they carry but maybe you can call them and ask.
yes, you can plant trees any time now, provided your soil is thawed out and dry enough to walk on without being soggy.
Here in Canada, we are all itching to get out early as soon as the weather is good, especially at this time, but we do need to exercise some restraint (it's so hard!!!:D because we forget that the frost may not be out of the ground yet, even though the soil on the surface is thawed, there can still be killing frosts until the last frost free date, and we can do damage walking on soggy soil early in the season. Sooooo, be patient a little. Although you are probably far ahead of us here in Ottawa, since you are in Toronto area, right?
As far as planting trees and shrubs, however, you can plant them well into the fall, esp. if you are in the Toronto area. As late as September/October. So you don't have to rush either. I have planted as late as November.
Thanks MaryAnn, we won't rush into buying just anything. But it is planting season now, so we have to move fast to get max. growing time, am I right?
We are planting along another wall too, so not all 7 or 10 are going in one area. We will consult the nursery, and get good trees. I am hoping for something interesting like a flowering one, but not too messy. Maybe a cherry tree too? And I guess some Maples or Birch.
Our yard is a good size and needs trees, so we thought we would start with planting them, and then make one continous wavy bed along the wall/trees and fill in with perenials.
Catherine --
I know you are disappointed right now, but I would take the time to think carefully about what I really want there and what they will be like in a few years. Some of the fastest growing trees can be a pain in the butt later on because they become unstable and suck up lots of water from all around, and some are downright messy. (notably poplars, Manitoba maple). Consult garden books -- an excellent one is "Gardening with Trees and Shrubs" by Trevor Cole. If you have access in your area to an arboretum or botanical garden, consult them. Talk to your local nurseries. And, finally (but you probably know this) select good strong specimens and take the time to plant them properly. Cheap trees may also be a snare...
4 down, maybe 3 to go...10 holes are too many!!!!