Buying trees and other landscaping items

[daredevil]

I seem to recall a thread about something similar a long while back.
Any tips from fellow CP'ers on the best/cheapest place to buy quality trees and other landscaping stuff.
Doing your yard up right is expensive so any way to save a few hundred bucks is worth it.
Will travel anywhere from High River to Red Deer if it makes any difference.

[Ford Prefect]

Cheapest may not always be the best option with trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs are pricey regardless of whether you buy the most or least expensive, so it's important that you don't have too many trees and shrubs die in the first year. If you buy the cheapest available trees and shrubs but have to replace most of them you'll end up paying a lot more in the end. Having said that, I don't think higher priced places necessarily have the best quality either. Ask around and find out who's had success and from which nurseries. Personally, based on my experience and that of a couple neighbours, I'd recommend you stay away from Eagle Lake Nurseries at Strathmore. My neighbours and I have lost more trees from there than we've had live. And their warranty hasn't been that good either. That's another thing to check ... make sure you're getting some kind of warranty with your trees and shrubs. Nursery warranties can range from good luck buddy to one full year. The nursery I've had the best luck with is a small local one called Boone's near Drumheller. They're priced reasonably, and I've had good survivor rates from their stock. They offer zero warranty though, so it's a real leap of faith buying from them.

If you're putting in perennials, you don't have to worry so much about where you buy them from. As long as you're buying perennials that are rated for this horticultural zone you should do fine. So cheaper is definitely better with perennials.

[GrrlGoalie33]

The biggest thing to watch with buying trees (like Ford mentioned) is buying trees and shrubs that are hearty to this zone. A lot of places sell trees that do really well in BC, but not here. The biggest thing is the chinooks - trees that survive in Edmonton, might not here.

Also, stay away from Poplar trees (usually goes without saying). If you like the look of poplar, go with Swedish Columnar Aspen.

All that being said, I have no clue where to go, I just pick this stuff up from my gf who used to be a landscaper and now works in seasonal at home depot.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Frankster

Also, stay away from Poplar trees (usually goes without saying). If you like the look of poplar, go with Swedish Columnar Aspen.

OK, I'll bite. I've heard people say to stay away from poplar, but I have never heard why. Aren't they a fast growing tree? So if I live in a new community it will take less time to have a mature tree in my yard?

Once again, I ask because I'm curious.

[Displaced Flames fan]

See if you can't find a landscaping/tree book that is written specific to Calgary. You might not be able to, but with Calgary being so large there's a decent chance there is something out there.

Research the specific plants you like before buying them...make sure you know what kind of light, water etc they will need before you buy.

Spend a little extra and get a more mature tree.

We killed a little red maple last year....a tree that is supposed to be nearly impossible to kill. This year, we spent $575 US on a more mature tree and it is doing much better. I also paid to have the tree planted by a pro, because I wasn't confident in my own process.

Believe me...money was a huge concern of mine, but I feel much better having spent the extra that I did.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, I'll bite. I've heard people say to stay away from poplar, but I have never heard why. Aren't they a fast growing tree? So if I live in a new community it will take less time to have a mature tree in my yard?

Once again, I ask because I'm curious.

The root system likes to send suckers up to the surface. These not only push up the lawn, but will rise and ruin sidewalks, driveways and almost anything in their way.

I know certain areas of the city they are removing all the poplars because they are destroying the sidewalks.

Edit: Here is a Calgary Sun article on tree planting in Calgary. http://www.calgarysun.com/cgi-bin/pu...es&s=lifestyle

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

The root system likes to send suckers up to the surface. These not only push up the lawn, but will rise and ruin sidewalks, driveways and almost anything in their way.

I know certain areas of the city they are removing all the poplars because they are destroying the sidewalks.

Not only sidewalks and driveways, but your foundation. In my childhood home, our house and all of our neighbors houses were having trouble with the roots cracking the foundation. IIRC, it's because they're seeking water.

Also, with the suckers, it's impossible (pretty much) to kill them without killing the tree itself. My current neighbors tree has about 30 suckers going up, and the other neighbors can't kill them because it would kill the parent tree.

[Burninator]

We took our popular out because it was pretty hard on our front lawn. Like Bobblehead said the roots push out of the ground and either make your lawn look bad or wreck the sidewalks. Also the root systems is pretty extensive. Our neighbours across the alley have a massive popular and the roots come over into our backyard and sprout. It's really annoying.

[Red]

There's a place in Balzac, SW corner of the Balzac turnoff and Deerfoot. I bought 2 apple trees a couple of years ago and they were a great deal. Can't remember how much exactly, but below $100 each for 6 - 7 footers. Nice healthy trees, not the clearance stuff....

My wife buys yard plants from there so I am sure those are a good deal as well.
There's another place on Barlow (north of country hills) that's close by.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Red

There's a place in Balzac, SW corner of the Balzac turnoff and Deerfoot. I bought 2 apple trees a couple of years ago and they were a great deal. Can't remember how much exactly, but below $100 each for 6 - 7 footers. Nice healthy trees, not the clearance stuff....

My wife buys yard plants from there so I am sure those are a good deal as well.
There's another place on Barlow (north of country hills) that's close by.

The place on Barlow and Country Hills has closed it's retail center.

The one in Balzac is on the W side of the QEII left off of the Balzac overpass.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, I'll bite. I've heard people say to stay away from poplar, but I have never heard why. Aren't they a fast growing tree? So if I live in a new community it will take less time to have a mature tree in my yard?

Once again, I ask because I'm curious.

In addition to the root problems poplars present, they're also the messiest, dirtiest trees around. They drip sap that destroys driveways and vehicles, the stickers they drop are a royal pain, especially with pets, poplar fuzz is wicked for people with allergies and they're among the worst trees for making a mess with their leaves in the fall.

[MacDougalbry]

The City of Calgary has a web site on Poplar Trees... they claim the cracked foundation thing is a myth:

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....ar%20Roots.htm

As for where to buy, some of the nurseries in the city have gotten stupidly expensive in the past two years. I would say the Heritage Costco, but it's almost too late now, there tree stock is probably sold out. They had Swedish Aspens for $39.95, but unfortunately the second batch of the ones they were selling had no root system and I have already had one die this year.

I would almost steer clear of Swedish Aspens at this point. They have gotten far too popular and could be susceptible to a disease outbreak. Sutherland Caraganas are a good alternative.

Don't bother waiting until late in the season hoping for a sale. You are better off buying early and being able to chose the healthiest specimens.

[Madman]

I buy all my trees at Beaver Dam Nursery, (I've built 3 new homes in the past 5 years, so I do alot of landscaping and am very passionate about it.) It's small and has great quality stock of all kinds, not just trees. If you need help, just talk to Dan the owner and he'll answer any question you have - he's a little nutty but very knowledgeable.

They are about 5 minutes east of Okotoks.

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=50...0363&z=16&om=1

[octothorp]

I agree that the Balzac nursery is a good one. Also, there's a pretty decent greenhouse in a barn just outside the city limits on 1A to the east, about five minutes past the landfill park. Never bought trees there, but the last couple years we've bought a lot of perennials and shrubs that have done well. I don't think there's a big advantage in driving a long way out of the city. Anywhere outside the city limits is going to be a lot cheaper than the greenhouses and nurseries in the city.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

If you are looking for something along the lines of raspberry canes the Saskatoon Berry Farm just past Okotoks is one of the best deals, plus they sell some damn good soups and other products. Really nice place to go and shop for a tree. Generally they sell quite small tress so there is a chance that they won't survive, but it also depends on how well one cares for the trees, as even the most hearty tree when not given the proper nutrients will die.

[daredevil]

Great advice.
I actually drove by the Balzac Nursery a few days ago and thought it might be a good choice. I don't mind spending extra to get a more mature tree, and would actually prefer to do so. My main concern was paying $250 for a tree when the same one could be had for $200. I've seen some really good types at Parkland Nursery in Red Deer, they have a nice selection, but I've heard they are VERY expensive. I like the Swedish Columnar Aspen to go between houses, but I'm still trying to decide on some decorative trees, maybe an apple/cherry/pear tree. I like the look of the Mayday trees as well.
The poplar trees are bad for roots and suckers, but also for the white cotton in the spring and the yellow sticky buds?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by daredevil

... I'm still trying to decide on some decorative trees, maybe an apple/cherry/pear tree. I like the look of the Mayday trees as well.
The poplar trees are bad for roots and suckers, but also for the white cotton in the spring and the yellow sticky buds?

I have a pear tree and it has done really well. Just make sure either a neighbour has one also or you put in two if you want fruit. They need another pear tree to cross polinate with. It doesn't have to be a next door neighbour ... another tree within three or four lots should work.

[MacDougalbry]

Maydays can get quite large. Very few new home lots would be suited to a Mayday. There is a great booklet you can pick up at any nursery, "Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies" or something like that, it gives a good run-down of trees hard for this area.

Check out this as well:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$departm...sf/all/opp4045

[return to the red]

when buying your shrubs and trees make sure you select the appropriate zone. There can be quite a difference in what and will no make it in a short travel distance such as from Lethbridge to Calgary.

When I purchased all my shrubs for an extra 20 bucks I bought a root starter that Green Haven here in Lethbridge was selling as a promotion. Not only do my shrubs look great now but it was an extra piece of mind knowing that just purchasing the stuff the place where I bought the shrubs would offer an extended 3 year warranty. Nice little extra when you are spending hundreds of dollars on something that might just not make it

[MacDougalbry]

Just noticed that a guy on a corner lot on my street is in the process of planting several large Swedish Aspens on the city property on the outside his fence (along his back yard). What is the deal with that, I thought it was a big no-no, but does the city actually ever bust anyone for doing this? (Just curious as I am on a corner lot as well.)