Friday, December 29, 2017

Garden Destinations - Triangle Gardener Sister Resource

 
About Garden Destinations
 
By Beverly Hurley, Publisher
 
The world is filled with beautiful public gardens and garden destinations waiting to be explored wherever your travels may take you. Garden Destinations Magazine is the online magazine for travelers who want to experience these gardens and destinations.
 
Whether it’s the showcase garden of the city, the off-the-beaten-path local favorite, or a don’t miss garden event, these public gardens are don’t miss destinations worthy of a visit for both the beauty and experiences offered in each.
 
Our writers, tops in travel and garden writing, will guide you on a journey to these unique gardens and garden events, give you insider tips, and help you make plans to include these destinations in your next adventure.  
 
Beverly Hurley, editor and publisher of Garden Destinations, is also the editor and publisher of Triangle Gardener magazine, North Carolina’s leader in gardening news and information. She started Garden Destinations as a result of her love of gardening and the realization that she was always seeking out public gardens when she traveled. As a result, she decided to spread the word that visiting public gardens should be part of the travel experience.
 

Durham Hosts E-Waste Recycling, Paper Shredding & Live Christmas Tree Disposal Event

Durham residents looking for an easy and free way to recycle electronic waste (e-waste), shred confidential documents, and dispose of their live Christmas trees should attend this City of Durham event next month.

The E-Waste Recycling, Paper Shredding, and Live Christmas Tree Disposal event will be on Saturday, January 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Durham County Memorial Stadium on the home side parking lot, located at 750 Stadium Dr. Staff will be on hand to assist with unloading old electronics, paper, and trees.

E-waste Recycling
Nearly all electronic devices with a cord will be accepted including:
• Computers, laptops, keyboards, mice, printers, monitors, speakers, copiers, scanners, circuit boards, hard drives, computer parts, etc.
• Televisions, stereo equipment, tape players, receivers, amplifiers, record players, etc.
• Kitchen electronics, such as microwaves, mixers, blenders, choppers, etc.
• Telephones, cell phones, and fax machines
• Hair dryers, curling irons, alarm clocks, and vacuum cleaners
• Power tools, cordless tools, etc.
• Electronic toys, such as keyboards and video game systems
• This event will NOT accept large appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners or any other appliances that contain Freon in non-working condition.

Paper Shredding
Confidential paper shredding will also be provided on site. Shredding requirements include:
• Paper may contain paper clips and staples; however, hanging file folders will not be accepted.
• Only paper should be brought for shredding. CDs, DVDs, and other non-paper items will not be accepted.
• All paper should be loose and not in binders or other binding items made of non-paper.
• Residents may be present to observe their confidential document shredding if the amount to be shredded can fit into one 96-gallon roll cart (approximately 240 pounds of material or approximately eight small, banker boxes of material).
• Participants with larger quantities will have items placed in boxes to be shredded off-site at Shimar Recycling’s secure facility.

Live Christmas Tree Disposal
• Trees taller than six feet should be cut in half and not placed in bags.
• Remove all decorations and hardware, including tinsel, lights, garland, ornaments, nails, and stands.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

McCown-Mangum House Decked out for Holiday Open House

The McCown-Mangum House Open House in early December 2017
as decorated by the Durham Croasdaile Garden Club. Photos by the Croasdaile Garden Club.
By Connie O'Neil
Croasdaile Garden Club

In 2016, Croasdaile Garden Club accepted the task of decorating the McCown-Mangum House for the “Victorian Christmas: West Point on the Eno” Open House. This December, the garden club continued its new beautification project for 2017.

History

The McCown-Mangum House in Durham is a restored 1850’s farmhouse at West Point on the Eno River Park. West Point may be the most persistently relevant site in Durham—a place of importance to Native Americans, early European settlers, and present-day residents of Durham. 

Herbert Sims and his wife Rachel Cabe McCown ran the mill starting in 1817. Her son John Cabe McCown took over the mill after the Civil War and built his Greek revival farmhouse residence at West Point in the 1850’s. In 1891 McCown’s house was sold to Presley J. Mangum, a postmaster and then his son, Hugh Mangum, an early photographer whose families occupied the house until 1968. In the late 60’s, the property and 700 acres along the Eno River were about to be developed into shopping and housing when the Eno River Association parlayed the property into a city park. Eventually, the 1840’s McCown-Mangum house was restored as a museum with period furniture.The first Festival for the Eno was held on July 4, 1980 and has been held every July 4th since.

Decking the Halls

When decorating the house, the Durham Department of Parks and Recreation requested that the decorations reflect a true Victorian Christmas. With that mission in mind, we created our original period decorations and used only natural objects or items that might have been available in the 1800’s. Members met at our President’s home and had a great time making handmade period ornaments that would be suitable for the tree and house.

The fresh Christmas tree was adorned with pine discs with wood-burned or painted designs from fresh wood cut on a member’s lot, raffia bows hand-tied by members, paper chains cut from wall paper borders, candy canes, cookie cutters, tin ornaments and pine cones. We decorated three fireplaces with fresh greenery, pine cones, candles, and holly berries. The stairway was decorated with pine roping and handmade stockings of burlap and lace. Six chests of drawers and tables were dressed with beautiful handmade centerpieces of fresh greenery, candles and fruit. 

In all, we decorated the living room, kitchen, hallway, master bedroom and stairwell.

The exterior was not left out of our decorating design. The entrance door, front gate posts, and front porch flower boxes all received special Victorian Christmas touches as well. The front door wreaths were made with elaeagnus branches and the following greenery was used throughout the house inside and out: magnolia, elaeagnus, holly berries, white pine, Leland cypress, holly and boxwood. When we were finished the smell of the fresh greenery and the beautiful decorations were all set for the Holiday Open House events on December 3-4 and December 10-11.

Twenty-two members of the Croasdaile Garden Club donated 82 hours of their time to decorating the McCown-Mangum House in 2017. Many of the materials and decorations were donated by Garden Club Members and cut from their yards.

The project expenses were taken out of the Garden Club budget each year. Because we created so many decorations by hand our expenses were less than $35. Our funds came from our membership dues and our bi-annual spring auction.

Besides receiving many positive comments about decorating “the old fashion way” our efforts were also recognized by the local newspaper. The decorations were described in the December 12, 2016 issue of the Herald-Sun in an article entitled “Victorian Christmas: West Point on the Eno recalls Yule-Past at Open House”.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Town & Country Garden Club 2017 Awesome Auction Raises $32K for Durham

Awesome! Holiday shoppers at the Town & Country Garden Club
2017 Awesome Auction. Photo by Becky Wood.
Fundraising is the backbone of all non-profit organizations, but some groups really know how to get the cash flowing while having a joyful time. Consider the Town & Country Garden Club of Durham one of those wildly successful and joyful groups.

While the garden club boasts 60 members, their annual holiday Awesome Auctions brings in three times the attendance and includes women from other Durham garden clubs and also members of the general public. Auction monies are raised in the tens of thousands of dollars, and have been spread throughout Durham for support for projects for the Durham Public Schools Hub Farms, the Museum of Life and Science, scholarships to NC Beautiful, and many other organizations.
 
Garden club members sharing holiday joy.
Photo by Becky Wood.
Town and Country's 17th Annual Awesome Auction was held Wednesday Nov. 8, 2017, at the Hope Valley Country Club. About 187 attendees came out for the lunch and auction to bid and buy scores of gifts and items. Gross proceeds from the 2017 T&C Awesome Auction totaled $32,000. Garden club members will learn of net proceeds and vote on charitable allocation at their January meeting.
 
History
 
The Town & Country Garden Club was organized in 1964, and its annual fundraiser started out as a bake sale, raising a charitable profit of $53. The bake sale continued five more years and was then expanded to a Christmas greenery sale in 1970, netting $630. That small beginning has grown into an annual holiday auction, the aptly-name 'Awesome Auction,' raising about $35K in recent years.
 
Through its generous philanthropy the Town & Country Garden Club has contributed to 47 major projects of the Durham area over the last 40 years. These contributions include: beautification and landscaping plantings, donations and scholarships for local schools and various civic organizations, including work with the Ronald McDonald House, Museum of Life and Science, Healing Garden at Caring House, Durham Rescue Mission, contributions toward a cistern system at Durham Farmer’s Market, garden therapy workshops with Emerald Pond and the Caring House, and two significant projects in the Hope Valley neighborhood. The most recent projects include the Durham Public Schools Hub Farm, the Caring House Memory Gardens, and NC Beautiful scholarships.
 
Barbara Yowell, a longtime member said, “Our return to the community in over 50 years is more than $250,000! Not bad for a bunch of Town and Country gardeners!”
 
Rita Davis, Town & Country Garden Club, contributed to this article.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Poinsettias in Scarlet Bloom at the Durham VA Medical Center

Photo archive by Marcia Loudon, Heritage Garden Club.
The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center is again in holiday scarlet bloom with poinsettias thanks to the sponsorship of the Forest Hills Garden Club and fellow members of the Durham Garden Clubs participating in the 2017 Poinsettia Project for Veterans.

Dr. Sue Woods, President of Forest Hills Garden Club, and Treasurer Moe Berry spearheaded the Poinsettia Project, assuming the mantle held and created by the Heritage Garden Club. This year's poinsettias totaled 64 plants. Each of these contained a plant tag honoring a US service member whom the sponsor recognized with their plant purchase.

As with tradition, at New Year's the 2017 holiday poinsettias will be distributed to patients in residence and staff at the VA Medical Center. Many of the keepers are able to grow the plants all year and are deeply appreciative of the gift, according to Woods.


Members of the Forest Hills Garden Club and Junior Garden Club ready to decorate the VA Chapel.
Photo by the Forest Hills Garden Club.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Protecting Plants from Cold Damage

Water loss is the main concern in the
garden during winter months.
Slow drip water to woody plants and water
cool grasses when precipitation is scarce.
During the winter months it is necessary to offer protection to certain North Carolina landscape plants. Winter protection does not mean to keep plants warm, as this is virtually impossible but to provide protection from damaging wind, heavy snow and ice, the alternate freezing and thawing of the soil beneath the plants and heat from the sun on very cold days.

Protection should be offered to evergreen plants by reducing water loss. Plants transpire water through their leaves. Evergreens continue to lose water during the winter, therefore moisture must be taken up by the plants' roots. Homeowners are more conscious of watering shrubs during the summer months and often this garden chore is neglected during cold weather. The roots will absorb moisture when it is available but when the ground is frozen or during a dry period the moisture is not available. The plants continue to transpire water but at this time draws moisture from living cells. If too much is given off from this source the cell dies. Consequently leaves brown out and die.

High winds and a warm sun on cold days result in a higher rate of water transpiration. Protection could be offered by planting susceptible plants in a sheltered location and providing additional water during dry periods or prior to hard freezes.

Foundation plantings are often injured by ice and snow falling from the roof on their frozen branches. It is sometimes necessary to construct a temporary shelter for shrubs in a precarious situation.

Wide tape or cloth can simply be wrapped around an evergreen to prevent broken branches. This is quite helpful to boxwoods and arborvitaes. If branches are bent and broken over by heavy ice or snow it is advisable to wait a few days before pruning and cleaning up. Often branches will recover to a degree of satisfaction on their own--so don't be hasty to prune drooping limbs.

An additional layer of mulch is usually recommended during winter months after the first freeze. Mulches will reduce water loss from the soil thus aiding in transpiration, and also reduce 'heaving' of the soil as the soil freezes and thaws.

To protect plants from cold damage, the following 6 steps are suggested:
  1. Plant only varieties that are hardy to your area.
  2. If you have a choice, locate less hardy plants in the highest part of the yard. Cold air settles to the lowest part of the yard.
  3. Protect plants from cold wind. A fence or tall evergreen hedge of trees or shrubs gives good protection.
  4. Shade plants from direct winter sun, especially early morning sun. Plants that freeze slowly and thaw slowly will be damaged the least. Obviously, the south side of the house with no shade is the worse place for tender plants.
  5. Stop feeding plants quickly-available nitrogen in late summer. Let them "harden off" before cold weather.
  6. A covering of plastic is excellent protection. Build a frame over the plant or plants, cover with plastic and seal plastic to the ground with soil. Shade plastic to keep temperature from building up inside. This plastic traps moisture and warm air as it radiates from the soil. It also knocks off cold wind. Be certain not to allow plastic to come in contact with plants.

Repair to Storm Damaged Plants

Knowing how and when to offer first aid to an ice, snow, or wind damaged plant will often save the plant from future decay and possible loss. Do not be in a hurry to start pruning a branch which is bent out of shape. Often in a few days following the damage the plant will straighten up on its own.

Broken limbs can be pruned immediately. Make clean cuts with sharp tools. If the plant is completely misshapen after the corrective pruning - consider pruning the entire plant where the subsequent growth will be in balance.

Trees can be straightened by cabling or guying. Straighten them by attaching a cable or guy about 3⁄4 of the way up - pulling them back into position. Be certain to pad the tree to protect against wire damage.

Trees which are uprooted should be immediately straightened and staked. Remove any damaged roots or limbs by pruning. Keep the tree mulched and watered during stress periods.

Author: Kim Powell, Spec (Commercial Landscaping)
Horticultural Science Publication date: Sept. 30, 1993

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Pathogen Spotlight: Phomopsis Blight of Juniper

Phomopsis blight is a serious disease problem on eastern red cedar in Missouri. The fungal disease, caused byPhomopsis juniperovora, is widespread in this region and can infect arborvitae and cypress as well as juniper. Phomopsis is more of a problem on junipers in landscape plantings because young tissue is most seriously infected. Older plants are seldom killed by Phomopsis, thus it is not a concern in natural stands of juniper.
 
Yellowing juniper tips (Juniperus) showing early signs of phomopsis blight.
Symptoms and Diagnosis

The first sign of infection is the browning of needle tips. New shoots, in the yellow-green stage, will brown and die in their first summer. Progressive dieback follows, eventually killing an entire branch by girdling the stem. The fungus will progress to the main stem and can infect and girdle stems less than 1/2 inch in diameter. Infected needles turn light green, then reddish-brown, and finally an ashen gray.

Life Cycle

Phomopsis overwinters on needles and stems of young trees that were infected the previous year. The fungus is most abundant on dead tissue that has become ashen gray in color. Infective spores are dispersed by rain splash. Only seven hours of 100% humidity are needed for infection to occur when temperatures are 75 degrees F.

Integrated Pest Management Strategies

1. Prune infected branches to prevent the spread of the disease. Remove dead tissue as well. The fungus can produce infective spores for up to 2 years in dead parts of infected plants. Prune in late summer when the weather is dry.

2. Plant resistant evergreens. Susceptibility to Phomopsis blight varies considerably among junipers. Ask for resistant stock at your garden or landscape center or consider planting another type of evergreen.

3. Fungicides. Bordeaux mixture, other copper-based fungicides, and mancozeb are labeled for use on Phomopsis. These fungicides can be applied 3–4 times in the spring, at 10–14 day intervals to protect the new growth. They can be used anytime a flush of new growth occurs. Once the new growth matures in midsummer, discontinue further applications.
 
Organic Strategies
Strategies 1 and 2 are strictly organic approaches. Of the fungicides mentioned in Strategy 3, consult the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI™) for appropriate organic copper products.
 

Friday, December 1, 2017

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Herbarium Explorations: Irreplaceable Repositories of Historical Plant Information Vital to a Wide Variety of Scientific Applications

In the U.S. National Herbarium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, botany department staff examine pressed and jarred specimens of algae.

By Marcia G. Yerman
The American Gardener, AHS
November/December 2017
 
IT’S EASY to be amazed and inspired by the vibrant, living collections of plants at public gardens and universities. But there are 400,000 species of plants and possibly millions of species of fungi on the planet—far more than all the public gardens in the world can display. The job of maintaining historical records of all those plants and fungi goes on largely out of public view, in archives known as herbaria.
 
“Herbaria serve as an encyclopedia of the Earth’s flora,” says Vicki Funk, Senior Research Botanist & Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, D.C. “They are really our only record of what’s been on the planet in the past, what’s here in the present, and what we predict into the future,” she adds. Yet many people don’t fully understand why herbaria are important. “There’s a misconception that the collections are just a bunch of boring dead plants, and that what we do is not science,” Funk says. “In reality, it’s not that at all. We collect specific things to answer specific questions.”
 
The specimens in herbaria are irreplaceable sources of information regarding the diversity of species and the habitats they come from. They play a critical role in taxonomy, systematics, anatomy, morphology, ethnobiology, paleobiology, and conservation biology. They can be used to confirm the identity of a newly discovered species, and provide locality data for conservation assessments. Specimens can document the effects of climate change on flowering phenology and provide material for DNA analysis and conservation genetics.
 
INSIDE A HERBARIUM
According to the Index Herbariorum, an online catalog of herbaria maintained by the New York Botanical Garden (see “Resources,” page 31), there are 2,885 herbaria worldwide containing approximately 375 million specimens. Of these, the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is the second largest herbarium in the world (the largest is at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France). It houses the most extensive  collection in North America with over 7.8 million preserved plant and fungal specimens, including samples from every continent.
 
This past summer, the NYBG hosted “What in the World is a Herbarium?” to showcase this lesser known side of its work. I toured the exhibit, which explored different aspects of the Steere Herbarium’s mission, from the collection of specimens and the process of preservation, to the history of the research of American botanist and inventor George Washington Carver, a former slave who spent much of his career researching alternative crops to cotton.
 
The theme of one wall, “Saving the Plants of the World,” outlined the efforts of NYBG’s staff to collect plant species in geographic areas from Myanmar (formerly Burma) to the Brazilian Amazon. From a diversity standpoint, Myanmar’s northern forest is exceptional; of the 6,000 plant species found there, 25 percent don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Specimens in the herbarium from places like these may represent the last bit of evidence that a species existed on Earth.
 
I also went behind the scenes with Matthew Pace, the assistant curator and an expert on  orchids of the New World.  In the climate-controlled herbarium stacks, I viewed with amazement historic specimens that included a plant collected on Captain James Cook’s first voyage, when he led an expedition to the South Seas beginning in 1768; a moss collected and documented by English naturalist Charles Darwin; and plants gathered by artist and explorer John J. Audubon, who used them to ensure the accuracy of the habitats depicted in his paintings of birds.
 
In addition to the historical significance of specimens like these, Pace stressed their importance to current research. For example, ethnobotanists can consult herbarium collections to examine plant use by societies around the world, and scientists on the ground can apply this knowledge while interacting with local populations to develop sustainable practices.
One of the most important components of herbaria collections is what are known as type specimens. These are the original individual specimens from a population that serve as the reference point for naming a new species, so they are vital for determining the correct application of a botanical name.
 
“Our whole system of nomenclature is linked to these herbarium specimens,” says Funk. “Everything that has a name must have a type specimen as a record of it.” The U.S. National Herbarium, for instance, holds more than 120,000 type specimens.

REVELATIONS FROM PRESERVED PLANTS
I left the NYBG’s exhibit with a whole new level of appreciation for the scientists who study dead plants. It was particularly encouraging to learn about the work occurring, both in the United States and elsewhere, to protect plant life in the face of climate change and other threats. Unlike the situation with endangered animals—especially the socalled charismatic megafauna such as pandas and elephants—the narrative around threatened plants is often under the radar.
 
Herbarium collections can reveal a lot about how climate change affects and will affect plants, explains Dennis Desjardin, director of the Harry D. Thiers Herbarium in San Francisco, California. “The presence or absence of a specific species in an area reflects environmental conditions at the time of collection, hence they can be used to evaluate climate change, competition, and other data pertinent to conservation efforts,” he says.
 
Gary Krupnick, a conservation biologist who is Head of the Smithsonian’s Plant Conservation Unit in Washington, D.C., points out that new ways to glean climatic insights from herbarium collections continue to surface. “Today, we’re using specimens in ways the original collectors could never have imagined,” he says. “For instance, a recent study by a team of scientists examined the protein content of pollen from specimens of Canadian goldenrod dating from 1842 to 1998, that are housed at the U.S. National Herbarium. They found that as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increased, the protein content of the pollen decreased. Thus, an increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the last several decades has made a key food source for bees less nutritious than in the past.”
 
Desjardin is also particularly excited about what herbarium specimens can tell us on a molecular level. “Each specimen contains DNA that can potentially be sequenced, so they provide genetic information for understanding speciation and evolutionary relationships,” he says. Genetic sequences for individual plant species are being logged into online databases such as GenBank, so that researchers everywhere can access and analyze the data. This information has widespread applications in fields such as medicine, pharmacology, and bioindustry. 
 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
Along with genetic sequences, technological innovations of the Digital Age have made it possible to digitize herbarium specimens and make them more widely accessible online. This has encouraged herbaria to “become more collaborative,” says Funk, who has been working at the U.S. National Herbarium at the Smithsonian for more than 36 years.

“It used to be that all the collected specimens went back to major herbaria,” she says. “Now the plant collections are shared with the country of origin.  Also, many programs are digitizing the specimens and the literature so people in places other than major cities with big herbaria have access to resources they never had before.” Digitization also provides a cost-effective alternative to having to borrow a specimen across long distances or send a researcher to view it in person. And now that individual institutions and researchers are no longer the sole holders of specialized regional or plant family collections and data, there is greater participation and higher standards in academic research, Funk adds.
 
Among the many herbaria moving toward this free flow of information are the ones at NYBG and Smithsonian, which have uploaded their collections to a free searchable database (see “Resources,” this page). Full documentation accompanies the high-resolution images. Every month, thousands of records are uploaded. In 2013, the NYBG reached the milestone of its two-millionth specimen for digitization, which turned out to be the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), a carnivorous plant native to eastern North America. The U.S. National Herbarium hit the same digitization milestone in 2016.
 
While new technologies continue to advance our ability to tackle complex conservation issues and expand our scientific knowledge, herbaria provide an essential foundation for this critical work. “Though a third of the world’s plant species are in inexorable decline and headed to extinction, we have the skills and ability to save the majority if we work hard to do so,” says James S. Miller, Senior Vice President for Science and Conservation at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, which holds the second largest collection of plant specimens in North America in its herbarium.“The herbarium is the catalog that we work against. We need the whole list of the world’s plant species before we can decide which need attention to ensure their future survival.”
 
See full article with many informative photos at:  http://ahsgardening.org/uploads/pdfs/Herbarium_TAG_ND17.pdf

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Heritage Garden Club Shares Holiday Gratitude with Triangle First Responders


 

The Heritage Garden Club of Durham continued its annual holiday tradition of making beautiful floral arrangements to gift a handful of Triangle First Responders and public workers.

Heritage Garden Club members met in early November at the home of Martha Sanderford and got busy in her family's garage wiring and creating fresh holiday arrangements with natural plants and materials brought from their own yards. Each arrangement was tagged with a thank you from the Heritage Garden Club.

Eight holiday arrangements were made and delivered to:  different branches of the Durham Co. and Orange Co. Libraries, Fire Stations and EMS Stations in Durham and Orange Co. as well as the Semora Volunteer Fire Department.
 
Photos by the Heritage Garden Club. 

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Growing Home Orchards in North Carolina

With the proper conditions, home gardeners in North Carolina can also grow certain types of cultivar fruits.
Growing tree fruit in the home garden or yard can be a rewarding pastime. However, careful planning, preparation, and care of the trees are essential for success. This publication tells you what to consider before planting, how to plant your trees, and how to take care of them to ensure many seasons of enjoyment.
 
Fruit Selection
Selecting the type of fruit to grow is the first step in tree fruit production. To begin, you need to know which tree fruit can be grown in North Carolina.
 
Your region's climate determines the type of fruit you can grow successfully. The climate must be compatible with the growing requirements of the selected fruit crop. To take an extreme example, a tropical fruit such as the banana simply cannot survive in North Carolina. Bananas require a warmer climate and a longer growing season. Other tree fruit that may look promising in the glossy pages of mail order catalogs are also destined to fail if grown in incompatible climates. Climatic conditions vary greatly from one region to another in North Carolina, so make sure that the fruit you choose can grow successfully in your area.

Table 1. Potential tree fruit crops for North Carolina.
 
Fruit
Location
Varietal Considerations
Management
Apples
Throughout North Carolina
Most varieties will grow in North Carolina
Moderate
Asian Pears
Throughout North Carolina
Plant fire blight-resistant varieties only
Moderate
Chestnuts
Throughout North Carolina
Chinese and Chinese-American hybrids
Low
Figs
Eastern North Carolina and southern piedmont
Select varieties that set fruit without pollination
Low
Nectarines
Throughout North Carolina except at higher elevations
Select varieties that require at least 750 hours of chilling
Very high
Peaches
Throughout North Carolina except at higher elevations
Select varieties that require at least 750 hours of chilling
High
Pears
Throughout North Carolina
Plant fire blight-resistant varieties only
Moderate
Pecans
Eastern North Carolina and southern piedmont
Select varieties suitable for North Carolina conditions
Low
Persimmons
Eastern North Carolina and southern piedmont
American and Oriental are suitable
Low
Plums
Throughout North Carolina
Use late-blooming varieties
Moderate


Fruit crops that can be grown in North Carolina are listed above in Table 1, along with additional information that will help to ensure success. Tree fruits that are not included in the list may grow in North Carolina, but few consistently produce quality fruit. For example, apricot and cherry trees can grow in certain areas where the climate is favorable, but they must be carefully managed and usually do not bear fruit consistently.
 
Note also that different crops require different levels of management. Low-management crops such as pecans, figs, and persimmons require little attention to training, fertility, or insect and disease control. On the other hand, peaches and plums require intensive management.
 
Site Selection
Selecting a good site for your fruit trees is crucial to their success. A number of factors should be considered (Figure 1a and Figure 1b).
 
Soil Type and Drainage
Plant fruit trees in well-drained and fairly fertile soil. Avoid poorly drained soils. A tree's root system grows throughout the year. Water that remains standing in the root zone (18 to 24 inches deep) at any time during the year can drown the tree. During the growing season, standing water can drown some types of fruit trees in just three days. Poorly drained soils also promote the growth of root rot organisms.
 
When poorly drained soils cannot be avoided, problems may be alleviated by planting the trees in raised beds (Figure 3). The beds are formed by shaping well-drained topsoil into beds 18 to 24 inches high and 4 to 5 feet wide. Raised beds have been used successfully in both backyard and commercial orchards. Trees grown in raised beds must be irrigated more frequently during the growing season because the beds present a larger exposed surface area from which water can evaporate.
 
Soil Fertility
It is also important to consider soil fertility and acidity. Ideally, the soil pH should be around 6.5, but North Carolina soils are more typically acidic. Acidic soils reduce the amount of nutrients available to the trees. When this happens, fertilization does not benefit the trees but results in runoff or leaching. To alleviate the problem, it will be necessary to add lime to the soil to reduce the soil pH.
Before planting, collect soil samples for analysis. Soil samples should be taken from two depths; the first from the top 8 inches of soil and the second from the 9- to 16-inch depth.
 
Soil fertility analyses are free in North Carolina. Contact your county Cooperative Extension agent for instructions on collecting and submitting soil samples and for the necessary forms and sample boxes. Test results will be returned to you with recommendations for fertilization and liming. Once the test results have been received, the soil should be amended with the recommended materials, which should be worked into the soil before trees are planted.
 
Air Drainage
Adequate air drainage is as important as proper water drainage. In North Carolina, spring frosts and freezes are common, and a small difference in elevation can mean the difference between a full crop and no crop at all. Remember that cold air is heavier than warm air and settles in low areas, so choose a site that allows cold air to flow downhill away from the trees. Select higher sites with an unobstructed, gradual slope. Avoid low sites, which are commonly known as frost pockets.
 
Sunlight
Plant fruit trees in areas that receive full sunlight. Avoid areas shaded by taller trees, houses, or buildings (Figure 1a).
 
Most fruit tree buds require 30 percent sunlight to produce high-quality fruit. Although the exterior of a tree may receive full sun, sunlight can be reduced by one-half just 12 inches inside the canopy of the tree. Eighteen inches into the tree canopy, light may be reduced nearly 75 percent, which is below the level needed for successful fruit production. Partially shaded trees can also have increased disease problems.
 
Nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil. Several types of fruit trees, including peach, plum, and figs, can be damaged or destroyed by nematodes.
 
An inexpensive soil test can be conducted to check for nematodes. For information, contact your county Cooperative Extension agent. The test results will be returned with recommendations for your crop. Avoid soils with high nematode populations. Soils with unacceptable nematode populations can be treated with a soil fumigant. However, most fumigants must be applied by a licensed pesticide applicator and can be costly. Contact your county Cooperative Extension agent for specific recommendations.
 

Figure 1a
Figure 1a: Poor site selection. Fruit trees should
 not be planted in areas shaded by houses, buildings,
 or other trees. They also should not be planted
 near fences or hedges, as these keep
cold air trapped around young trees. Nickola Dudley
Figure 1b
Figure 1b: Well-selected site. All fruit trees are
planted away from barriers and in areas
 that receive sufficient light. Nickola Dudley
 
                                                                        
 
                                                                      







Variety Selection
After selecting the fruit and the planting site, you must choose the variety of fruit to plant. Novice growers often try to plant the same varieties that they see at their local grocery stores. Many times, however, these fruit are produced in areas with different climatic conditions from those in North Carolina. The result, at best, is fruit that looks much different than expected. At worst, the variety will fail to produce a crop. Plant varieties that are known to grow well in your region. Check temperature requirements and chilling factors before purchasing your trees. Table 2 lists some of the fruit varieties recommended for North Carolina.
 

Table 2. Variety recommendations for North Carolina.
 
Fruit
Recommended Varieties
Pollination Notes
Disease Notes
Other Considerations
Apples
Gala, Ginger Gold, Jonagold, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Crispin (Mutsu), Stayman, Rome, Fuji
Requirements vary. Some varieties are self-fruitful. Others require pollination (see note 1).
Summer rots are the most serious disease problems and can destroy an entire crop. No varieties are resistant. Some varieties are resistant to apple scab, powdery mildew, cedar apple rust, or fireblight. These include Redfree, Prima, Priscilla, Jonafree, and Liberty.
In warmer regions, red varieties may not color well.
Asian Pears
Twentieth Century (Nijisseiki), Nititaka (pollen source), Shinseiki (New Century), Chojuro.
At least two varieties are needed to ensure adequate pollination.
Fire blight is the biggest concern.
Asian pears are very crisp and juicy.
Chestnuts
Chinese: Nanking, Meiling, Kuling, Abundance, Crane
Chinese-American Hybrid: Revival, Carolina, Willamette
All require pollination from another variety. Plant at least two varieties of the same type to assure optimal nut size and production.
Most Chinese and hybrid chestnuts are highly resistant to the chestnut blight fungus.
Many people prefer the hybrid chestnut varieties, citing superior quality over the Chinese varieties.
Figs
Celeste, Brown Turkey, Brunswick/Magnolia (for preserves), Greenish, Marseille.
Only varieties that do not require pollination can be grown in North Carolina.
No serious disease problems except nematodes.
Fruit may drop prematurely as a result of drought or excessive shade, moisture, or fertilization.
Nectarines
Summer Beaut, Sunglo, Redgold, Flavortop, Fantasia, Carolina Red (see note 2).
Self-fruitful. Do not require pollination by other varieties.
Nectarines should be planted only on Lovell or Halford rootstocks to avoid premature death. The lack of hair on nectarines makes the fruit more susceptible to diseases than peaches, and a multipurpose fungicide and insecticide spray program will be required.
Many varieties were developed in California and may not do well in North Carolina.
Peaches
Redhaven, Norman, Carolina Belle (white-fleshed), Winblo, Contender, Summer Pearl (white-fleshed), Cresthaven, Encore, Legend. (Many varieties are the result of a peach breeding program at NCSU and have been developed for North Carolina (see note 2)).
Self-fruitful. Do not require pollination by other varieties.
A multipurpose fungicide and insecticide spray program will be needed during the growing season.
Only varieties that require 750 hours of chilling are recommended.
Pears
Moonglow, Magness (not a pollen source], Kieffer, Harrow Delight, Harrow Sweet, Harvest Queen, Seckel.
At least two varieties are recommended to ensure adequate pollination.
Plant only fire blight-resistant varieties.
Pears bloom earlier than apples and should be planted on higher sites.
Pecans
Type I: Cape Fear and Pawnee.
Type II: Stuart, Forkert, Sumner, Kiowa, Gloria Grande
Pollination by another variety is essential. One variety from each of the two groups must be used for pollination.
Scab is the most serious disease in North Carolina. However, a fungicide spray program is usually not practical.
Careful variety selection is essential to avoid frost or freeze problems and to allow a long enough season for maturation.
Persimmons
Fuyu, Jiro, Hanagosho (very good pollen source). (Only large-fruited Oriental persimmons are recommended for North Carolina.)
Pollination is not required for fruit set but is recommended.
No serious disease problems.
If nonastringent varieties are planted, fruit may not be suitable for eating until they are fully mature and their flesh is soft.
Plums
Japanese: Methley (self-fruitful), Byrongold, Burbank, Ozark Premier (may bloom early).
European: Bluefre, Stanley, Shrophire (Damson) (see note 2)
Some varieties are self-fruitful, but planting two varieties is recommended.
A multipurpose fungicide-insecticide spray program will be needed during the growing season.
Later blooming varieties should be selected to avoid damaging spring temperatures.
Note 1. Pollination requirements for apples vary with variety. For varieties requiring cross-pollination, it is recommended that at least two varieties with overlapping bloom periods be planted together. For self-fruitful varieties, pollination by another variety will increase yield and quality.

Note 2. To break bud and grow properly in the spring, peaches, nectarines, and plums must be exposed to temperatures in the 40°F range for a required number of hours during the dormant season. This period is referred to as the chilling requirement. In North Carolina, varieties with chilling requirements of at least 750 hours are recommended to prevent trees from blossoming too early in the spring, which increases the risk of freeze damage and resultant crop loss.
 

Rootstock Selection and Tree Spacing
Almost all commercially available fruit trees have been budded or grafted; that is, the top portion, or scion, of the desired fruit variety is attached to the root system, or rootstock, of a different variety. Trees are grown this way because some popular varieties grow and crop better on rootstocks other than their own. In some cases, the rootstock is more resistant to certain troublesome diseases. In the case of apple trees, the rootstock can be chosen to limit growth, producing trees that crop well and are easier to manage than full-sized trees. The choice of rootstock is very important for some fruits, such as apples, but not of much consequence for others.
 
Apple trees are grown on a wide variety of rootstocks. These are called size-controlling rootstocks because they control the size of the tree; however fruit size is not reduced (Figure 2). In general, the smaller the tree, the sooner it will bear fruit after planting. Table 3 lists the rootstocks commonly used for apple trees and indicates their effect on tree size, using the "seedling" or standard rootstock as the basis of comparison. Thus, for example, the M.9 rootstock will produce a nonspur-type tree that is only 35 percent as large as it would be if grown on a seedling rootstock. The table also lists the time required for the trees to reach bearing age and the degree of rootstock resistance to two important diseases.

Table 3. Commercially available apple rootstocks and their characteristics.
Rootstock
Percentage of Seedling
Tree Size as Percentage of Seedling (Spur)a
Fruit Bearing Age (Years)
Resistance to Crown Rot
Resistance to Fire Blight
Seedling
100
80
6-10
Medium
High
MM.111
85
70
4-6
Medium
Low
MM.106
80
70
3-4
Very Low
Low
M.7a
70
60
3-4
Medium
High
M.26
50
40
2-4
Medium
Very Low
Mark
45
35
2-3
Medium
Low
M.9
35
20
2-3
Medium
Low


Two categories of growth habit are included in the table: spur and nonspur. Trees with a spur-type growth habit bear the majority of their fruit on very short branches called spurs. Nonspur varieties produce fruit on longer branches. Since spur-type varieties have fewer long branches, the trees are more compact.
 
Because the choice of rootstock affects the size of the trees, it also affects the optimum spacing between the trees. Table 4 gives the recommended distance between trees for both spur and nonspur varieties. Note that very vigorous varieties should be spaced farther apart.

Table 4. Recommended planting distances for apple trees grown on size-controlling rootstocks.
 
Rootstock
Distance Between Trees (feet)
Nonspur Varieties
Spur Varietiesa
Very Vigorous Varietiesb
Seedling
18-25
12-16
25-35
MM.111
14-18
9-12
20-25
MM.106
12-16
8-11
17-22
M.7a
10-14
7-9
14-20
M.26
8-12
5-8
11-17
Mark
6-8
4-5
8-11
M.9
4-8
3-5
6-11
a For spur-type varieties such as Redchief Red Delicious, Starkrimson Red Delicious, Lawspur Rome, and Oregon Spur.
b For very vigorous varieties such as Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, and Jonagold.


Apple trees on rootstocks of a size class smaller than M.7a bear fruit while they are still very young. They should be supported by stakes to promote optimum growth and to help support the fruit load in the early years. Use 10-foot stakes and drive them 2 feet into the ground. Stakes are commonly made from 1-inch-diameter aluminum electrical conduit or 3-inch-diameter wooden posts. Tie the tree loosely to the above-ground portion of the stake. Strips of plastic or heavy-duty canvas or cloth can be used as ties. Do not use materials that will restrict tree growth or girdle the tree.
 
Peaches, nectarines, and plums are also affected by choice of rootstock. In the Southeast, trees are susceptible to peach tree short life (PTSL), a condition that causes sudden death of the tree after only four or five years of growth. With proper rootstock selection, nematode suppression, and cultural practices, the threat of this condition can be minimized. At present, only trees grown on Lovell or Halford rootstock are recommended for use in North Carolina. Trees grown on these rootstocks should be spaced 20 feet apart. Spacing recommendations for other fruit trees are given in Table 5.

Table 5. Spacing requirements for other tree fruits.
 
Fruit Crop
Minimum Spacing Between Trees (feet)
Asian Pears
                                                    20
Chestnuts
                                                    40
Figs
                                                    10
Pears
                                                    20
Pecans
                                                    70a
Persimmons
                                                    15
a At maturity, approximately 20 years
 

Figure 2
Figure 2. Tree size shown as a percentage of the size the tree would reach if grown on a seedling, or standard, rootstock. Nickola Dudley
        
Planting
The best planting time in North Carolina is late fall or early winter. The roots will then be able to grow through the winter, resulting in greater tree growth during the first season, which ultimately leads to larger trees. Young fruit trees are commonly shipped "bare root" with the exposed roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Plant the trees as soon as possible after purchase.
 
To plant a tree, dig a hole twice the size of the root system. The sides of the hole should be loose, not packed down by the force of the shovel. Cut off damaged roots at the point of injury. Shorten roots that are especially long and will not fit in the hole. Roots that are not shortened will wrap around the tree hole and eventually girdle the root system, reducing tree growth in later years (Figure 3).
 
In Figure 3, the figure on the left shows an improperly planted fruit tree. The hole is too narrow and shallow, forcing the roots to be wrapped in the hole, which may eventually girdle the tree. The graft union is also planted below the soil surface, which will negate the effect of the rootstock. The raised bed is not wide enough or deep enough to be of much benefit. The figure on the right shows the correct way to plant fruit trees.
 
When planting a grafted tree, be sure that the graft union is 2 inches above the soil. If the graft union is below the soil surface, the top portion or scion will grow roots and negate the effect of the grafted root system.
 
After the tree is in place, fill the hole with native soil, not potting soil. Adding organic matter or mulch to the soil can promote growth if these materials are mixed well with the soil. NEVER add fertilizer to the planting hole. Fertilizers are very caustic and can burn and kill the roots of young trees. After you have filled the hole, be sure to water the area well.
 
During shipping, handling, and planting, roots are damaged. After planting young trees, prune the top of each tree. Pruning the tree top balances the root system and promotes vigorous growth in the spring. When working with unbranched trees, cut the tree off approximately 32 inches above the ground. For larger trees, remove 13 of the top of the tree.
 
Figure 3
Figure 3. Nickola Dudley
                                
Weeds or grass growing between or under fruit trees compete for soil nutrients and moisture, reducing tree growth.
 
Keep all vegetation under the trees controlled up to the drip line (the circle formed by the outermost branches of the tree). Avoid using mechanical cultivation to eliminate weeds because tree roots near the surface will be destroyed in the process. Weed whips are especially harmful. If the cutting line strikes the bark of the tree, it can crush layers of cells under the bark and girdle the tree without any visible signs, such as broken tree bark.
 
Herbicides are an effective alternative, but be careful to follow the label directions and keep the herbicides off the tree.
 
Another alternative is to mulch around the tree. A layer of mulch 4 to 6 inches deep will control weeds and conserve soil moisture. Note, however, that mulch can provide cover for voles or mice. These rodents burrow under the mulch and frequently gnaw tree trunks or roots, girdling the tree and killing it or impeding its growth. When using mulch, check for rodent pests. Prevent problems by placing guards around the base of the trees or use traps to control these pests. It may also be beneficial to pull the mulch back 1 foot around the tree trunk in the early fall.
 
Insects and Disease Control
Unless properly managed, insects and diseases can seriously damage fruit trees and their crops.
Pests can be controlled with commercial pesticides, and moderate control may be achieved using organic controls. Garden centers offer many materials, including multipurpose insect and disease control products. Treatment must be started before problems become severe, causing serious damage or crop loss. It is important to identify pests and diseases accurately so an effective treatment can be selected. Contact your county Cooperative Extension agent for assistance in identifying pests and for recommended control measures. Pest problems can also be reduced through proper sanitation. Remove and burn or bury dead, diseased, and damaged wood and fruit as soon as possible. Also, remove the leaves after they have fallen in autumn. Do not use the leaves as mulch. The infected leaves, wood, and fruit can provide a habitat in which insects and disease-causing organisms can overwinter. By taking time to maintain orchard sanitation, you can reduce insect and disease problems significantly. For additional information on disease and insect control, contact your county Cooperative Extension agent.
 
Fertility
Tree fertility requires attention throughout the life of the tree, not just at planting time. However, applying fertilizer routinely without knowing whether it is needed can result in poor fruit quality and excessive tree growth. It can also waste money and contribute to environmental pollution. Annual soil analyses can keep you informed about the nutrients in the soil and the soil acidity. In addition to soil analyses, simple observation of the amount of vegetative growth can help in managing soil fertility. Trees with less than 10 inches of current season's growth on lateral branches may need fertilizer. On the other hand, trees with greater than 18 inches of growth may not need fertilizer for several years. Excessive tree growth can promote some pest problems.
If you must fertilize without benefit of a soil test or other information, a useful rule of thumb is to apply 34 to 1 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer for each year of tree age. When fertilizer is used, it is usually applied in late winter. Fertilizer should be broadcast on the soil surface both inside and outside the drip line of the tree. Keep fertilizer at least 6 inches away from the trunks of young trees.
 
Fruit Thinning
Apples, nectarines, peaches, pears, and Asian pears must be thinned early in the season to prevent overproduction, which can result in smaller fruit, increased tree breakage, and in-creased insect and disease problems. A heavy crop also reduces the chances for an adequate crop the following year.
Fruit should be thinned when they are about the size of a nickel. Remove enough fruit so that the remaining ones are spaced about 4 to 6 inches apart along the branch (Figure 4). Even though it may look like very few fruit remain, the increased fruit size at harvest plus reduced risk of tree breakage and improved prospects for next year's crop will more than compensate for the reduced number of fruit.
 
Figure 4
Figure 4. Fruit thinning. Top drawing: unthinned apple branch. Apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, and Asian pears should be thinned so that they are approximately 4 to 6 inches apart, as shown in the lower drawing. Nickola Dudley    
                      
Training and Pruning
To ensure abundant harvests, you will need to train and prune your fruit trees regularly. For additional information on cultural practices, see Cooperative Extension Service publication AG-29, Training and Pruning Fruit Trees in North Carolina.
 
Summary
If you follow the suggestions in this publication and monitor your trees carefully, you will find that growing tree fruit can be a rewarding experience. As with any activity, experience will give you confidence to prune, train, and thin fruit trees properly. Remember that fruit trees, if properly cared for, will last and produce quality fruit for many years. Proper care is especially important during the first five to six years when the trees are not bearing fruit but the tree structure is developing.
 
Additional Sources of Information
The following materials may be purchased by writing to the address listed below each publication.
Peach Production Handbook
Published by
Agricultural Business Office
Conner Hall, Room 215
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
For sale only ($20).
Pecan Production in the Southeast; A Guide for Growers
Published by
Head, Information Services
Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
Auburn University, AL 36849-5623
For sale only ($31).
 
Author:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/producing-tree-fruit-for-home-use