which trees to get?

[KLSpoultry]

when i got my seeds the other day, i saw that they had a nice selcetion of flowering, shade and fruit trees for sale. i'd love to have a few apple trees, maybe a flowering tree in the front of the house and i need a couple shade trees for the horse pastures. i guess i'm just not sure which to get and do i buy them and plant them now?

they had winesap apple trees and several kinds of flowering and shade trees. i am not really partial to any certain kind. they wouldn't have any trees there that wont work for our local climate would they?

 

[vfem]

Can you tell us where you are at?

I think most apples need at least 2 to pollinate correctly. As for shade and flowering trees... try to get which ones are best for your zone.

I know many years ago people north of Virginia kept trying to plant Crepe Mytrles because of their gorgeous flowers... they did NOT do well. Some trees just don't do well in other zones. I know I completely failed with a certain kind of Lilac. My mother had to have it here... and it just died by the second year. Its a northern shrub couldn't help it!

 

[KLSpoultry]

zone 5

i think i'll get 2 of the winesap apple trees and just choose my favorite out of the shade and flowering trees.

what can i do to protect the trees from the horses? and when is it safe for them to be unprotected?

 

[vfem]

Hmmm... that I can not help with. I do not have horses... I would if I could... but hubby would flip his lid if I even got another cat right now!!! (I can sneak a chicken into the coop and he'd never know. HAHAHAHA )

 

[KLSpoultry]

my BF is the same way!! he'd never notice a new chicken or goose until i told him

 

[Iceblink]

I am not an expert, but I think you need two different kinds of apples to pollinate each other. I have also been told to make sure they are both early, middle or late bloomers. That is to avoid one missing the bloom time of the other.

Sorry, can't help you with the horses.

 

[nightshade]

If you check on arborday.org they have a thing that can tell you what trees will grow best for your location. It is in their trees for sale section. You enter your zip code and it will let you chose between what they sell the most of for your area and what grows best for your area. Pick the second, it will list flowering, fruiting, nut bearing and shade trees. I would not buy from them unless you are willing to wait a really long time for results cause their plants are tiny. But it makes a great reference tool and will give you a good idea of what you like and are looking for.

 

[vfem]

If you check on arborday.org they have a thing that can tell you what trees will grow best for your location. It is in their trees for sale section. You enter your zip code and it will let you chose between what they sell the most of for your area and what grows best for your area. Pick the second, it will list flowering, fruiting, nut bearing and shade trees. I would not buy from them unless you are willing to wait a really long time for results cause their plants are tiny. But it makes a great reference tool and will give you a good idea of what you like and are looking for.

That's true! That's how I chose my trees... my fruit trees even listed over there what other trees I needed for proper pollenation. Some just needed the same tree, some needed others... they are very different!

 

[farmerlor]

Granny Smith apple trees pollinate every other apple tree or so I've been told. I'm sure there are others that will pollinate your apple tree specifically but for a general pollinator-that's the one. As for horses.....ugh, you're going to need a bigger fence. While the tree is little you'll want some kind of barricade type fence that will keep them WAY back away from the little tree. Of course that means you'll need to get inside the fence to clean away the weeds and overgrown grass because new trees don't like to compete. It will make it easier to throw some manure on them in the fall though. Later when the trees get taller you can put a bark shield on the tree and cut down on the size of the fence to just keep them from chewing on the lower branches. When the lower branches are out of reach you're home free. Don't forget that oak trees are bad for horses. No oak.