Cottage Reflections

14 "SO OFTEN, PEOPLE WANT TO PLANT THINGS THAT JUST DON'T LIKE IT HERE," SAYS BILL SCHROEDER, ARBORIST AND OWNER OF ALLIANCE TREE CARE IN WINNIPEG. "WHAT MAY WORK IN ANOTHER CLIMATE IS MORE THAN LIKELY NOT GOING MAKE IT IN OURS." Schroeder, who has been in the business for 20 years, says one of the first rules of (green) thumb is to choose trees, shrubs and subshrubs that are native to our part of the world. For example, one might think a Colorado Spruce would be perfect in Manitoba. "Nope," says Schroeder. "They struggle in this climate. You're much better off going with white spruce or Black Hills spruce that have the same characteristics as the Colorado spruce and can handle the changing seasons." Schroeder says it's important to remember it's about what will thrive in the particular area your cottage is located. "Lindens or American basswoods are native here in Winnipeg, but may not be appropriate in the rocky areas of the Whiteshell," he says. "Trees that are native to that specific area require, generally, very little maintenance, where you won't have to be there watering them every other day." In addition to Black Hills and white spruce for the cottage, Schroeder also recommends certain aspen and poplar species, depending on the cottage area, and burr oak. When it comes to adding birch trees, he recommends some caution. "If you're going with a birch species, stick with something like a river birch," he says. "The bronze birch borer is a pretty nasty insect that kills a lot of birch trees, but river birch seems to be pretty immune to it." Schroeder says good cottage country trees also include pines and firs. "There's a variety of native conifers that do well," Schroeder says. "In the pine family there's the jack pine, the red pine. Balsam fir is another good one for low, wet areas, and larch is also a good choice." It's also important to diversify. "Too many of one species is really not ideal, so a combination of fast-growing along with slow- growing is good, as well as planting functional shrubs like honeysuckle that attract friendly insects such as butterflies and bees," he says. You also need to consider how much care is involved. Will your trees and shrubs require a lot of pruning, frequent watering or feedings? Are you OK with having to rake a lot of leaves in the fall? And because you're likely not at your cottage every day, it's important to be pro-active about the structural state of your trees. "Maintenance is always an issue with trees," he says. "You always want to make sure that trees around your cottage are safe. You're not always there, so if a tree or part of one lands on your cottage or knocks down power lines, you may not know for a couple weeks. So it's not a bad idea to get trees assessed and identify potential hazards before they become a problem." It's also important to factor in what kind of soil, sun, shade and drainage you are working with. The acidity and nutrients of the soil can make a huge difference between success and failure. Test kits can be purchased to determine what is best to plant. "Just like an iceberg, you need to know what's below the surface," Schroeder says. While there is a ton of online information about what trees to buy for which specific regions, arborists are always available with locally-tailored advice. "You can do a consultation with a professional arborist when selecting," Schroeder says. "It can certainly help out." Location is important — trees grow, and you don't want roots and canopies to grow too close to a foundation, sidewalks or other paved areas. Make sure to place new trees at least two metres away from the cottage, septic systems and any overhead or overhanging structures. You'll also want to think ahead. What about that possible deck extension for next season? And keep in mind the view from your cottage veranda or deck and how a mature tree may grow to impede it. "Quite often people plant a small spruce tree — it comes as a seedling or a couple feet tall — and they put it four feet from the cabin," Schroeder says. "Years down the road they have to deal with a serious issue." And if you're planning to plant a large tree yourself, be sure to contact mb1call.com and clickbeforeyoudigmb.com to ensure you won't damage a gas or hydro line, or plant too close to sewer or water lines. "I always recommend, if you can, to plant trees nice and early in spring," he says. "That provides an opportunity for establishment over the course of spring, summer and fall. We do plant in the heat of summer, but most of the time either we're available or the client (at a city home) is available to adequately water the tree during warmer times. At the cottage, you may not have that opportunity to water every day." If you must plant in hotter, drier times, Schroeder recommends a simple device. "You can buy watering bags and fill them up before you leave the cottage and the water will slowly filter out," he says. "That really helps and is a cheap way to maintain moisture. Watering is crucial for the first couple months of establishment." Schroeder also says planting in late fall, when trees are dormant, is a good option. GROWING CONCERNS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE WHEN CHOOSING TREES AND SHRUBS B Y M I C H E L L E B A I L E Y & J A S O N H A L S T E A D LOCAL TREE EXPERTS SAY COTTAGE-OWNERS ITCHING TO ADD OR REPLACE FOLIAGE IN THEIR OUTDOOR SPACE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. PROVIDING THEY MAKE WISE CHOICES, THAT IS. IF YOU'RE GOING WITH A BIRCH SPECIES, STICK WITH SOMETHING LIKE A RIVER BIRCH. THE BRONZE BIRCH BORER IS A PRETTY NASTY INSECT THAT KILLS A LOT OF BIRCH TREES, BUT RIVER BIRCH SEEMS TO BE PRETTY IMMUNE TO IT Bill Shroeder " "

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