your pick . Many of these easy-to-manage top out at 15 feet or less , and they usually take a while to get there . Small candidates include the ‘ Crimson Queen ’ variety which will grow to between six and 10 feet , the ‘ Dissectum ’ variety which will grow between 10 and 12 feet , or the ‘ Garnet ’ variety which will mature around eight feet . Another beautiful and fun addition is the Michelia figo , which is also known as banana shrub , is an evergreen shrub . It grows to be between 10 and 15 feet tall but can be pruned to your preferred height and density . The plant ’ s calling cards are its deep green glossy leaves and small , deeply fragrant blossoms , which smell like bananas , that appear in spring . If you want a beautiful tree that gets slightly larger , consider the Fringe tree which offers a show of fleecy white flowers in spring , along with bright yellow foliage in fall , this lovely tree which originated in the eastern United States is a nice alternative to the ever-popular flowering dogwood . Also known affectionately as “ grancy graybeard ” ( Chionanthus virginicus ) grows between 12 and 20 feet tall and wide and is hardy in USDA Zones three through nine . Meridian would be zone 8 so shop for trees and foliage that can handle our climate zone . The list of small trees that will grow in our climate is long so doing some research and talking with local nurserymen can be a big help . There are also dwarf fruit trees if you want something that is going to help feed your family and Tips for planting in your yard can help you avoid the common mistakes people make . Remember that soil testing should be done now for summer gardens and ornamental plants as well as your lawns . Take a
www . meridianstar . com soil test to your local MSU Extension office and for $ 10 , you can know if you need to agricultural lime to adjust the pH and make your soil more neutral . Most plants and trees do best with the soil is around 6.0 – 7.0 on the pH scale . The exception would be your acid loving plants like azaleas , hydrangeas , and blueberries just to name a few acid lovers . You can test for those too . You might need to acidify your soil to bring out the most vibrant colors . If you are planning on adding some trees to your landscape , make sure that you estimate for the maximum height of the tree and if the tree is a shade lover or prefers mostly sun . Some like a little of both ! Plan accordingly to the variety you are going to purchase .
Probably one of the most common mistakes I see when I make home visits is planting a tree too deeply in the soil . All the soil preparation in the world will not help if you bury your tree to deeply into the ground . Remember that trees breathe through their roots as well as their leaves and when you purchase a new tree , most often its in a pot or burlap and its roots are wound in a ball . It has been watered and fed through artificial means . It can breathe because mostly its roots are exposed . When it comes time to setting your new purchase into
the ground you need to take some time and examine the root ball – identify the flair of the tree . This is where the trunk transitions to the roots . Cut the pot , rather than pulling on it . When you get the roots out , root ball for thick roots that circle near the trunk or around the pot , or kinked roots or roots that grow to the edge of the pot than straight down . Cut through and discard the ends of thick circling , kinked or bent roots at a point an inch before they bend . The roots that are bent will continue to grow in the bent or kinked direction which can greatly affect your tree later in life making it less stable . Don ’ t worry about hurting the roots or losing soil as you break the roots apart or even cut some away . Better to give them a fresh start than allow the constrictive pattern to only get worse below ground . While you don ’ t want to be any rougher than necessary , do what you must to arrest the pattern . Score the bottom of the root ball as well or remove the bottom 1 to 1 1 / 2 inch depending on how matted it is . Or just shave the outer 1 to 1 1 / 2 inches from the entire root ball , a new method with much promise as indicated by horticultural research . The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to place a root-bound plant into the ground as is . Unless you break up the pattern , you ’ ve likely sentenced the plant to a slow ( or rapid ) death . Once you have cleaned up the roots , you are ready to set your tree in your prepped hole . When preparing any hole for tree planting , make it two to three times wider than the current
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