Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on 97.9 WHAV.
Let’s celebrate the beauty and majesty of trees. Each month I’ll focus on a different Big Tree featured in the Davey Tree Expert Company’s 2017 Calendar.
Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the earth’s most massive trees, are a great choice to start the year. The General Sherman sequoia is the world’s largest living tree by volume. This 2,200-year-old is taller than the Taj Mahal and its trunk is wider than three elephants. Each year it produces enough new growth to equal the wood in a 60-foot tree.
Zone 6 to 8 gardeners may want to try one in their landscape. And those that like to push the limits will be happy to hear a Scandinavian specimen survived minus 22 degrees.
These needled evergreens have deeply furrowed cinnamon brown bark. When planted in a garden they typically grow to 40 to 60’ and add beauty, texture and yearround interest.
A bit more information: Grow in full sun and moist well-drained sandy loam soils for best results. They do not tolerate clay soil or hot dry summers. And if you ever have the opportunity, make a trip to visit these giants.
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