Big trees, little Nate November 09, 2006

Sometimes, if you are lucky, tree nurseries will sell larger and more mature trees for the same price as smaller trees to clear their inventory or to make room for smaller trees on their lot. This occurred recently as we were finishing construction on the 80-unit Hiawatha Commons apartment building in Minneapolis. Beautiful 15-25 foot tall Ponderosa Pine, White Pine and River Birch trees - twice as large as we specified - were planted in what was an empty weed patch.

To ensure that this lush canopy of trees continues to grow in the spring, they will be watered during the winter. Landscape architect Spencer Jones told us that winter can be the driest season of the year for plant roots. Even with substantial snow cover, very little moisture penetrates the soil until snow thaws in the spring. Trees and plants set in the ground in late fall need periodic watering in the winter to decrease stress on the trees and keep them healthy though the winter months.