Growing Trees From Seedlings

Q: I live in Iowa.

I have an Hybrid Elm Tree that I love. It grows fast and gives great
shade. There are many seedlings coming up from the large amount of seeds it drops each spring. 

If I would transplant some of these seedlings to places where I would like new trees, would I get the same tree and the original? Or, because it is a hybrid, would I end up with something else?
Thank you for your help.

Marilyn

A: If a seedling has good qualities- plenty of limbs and healthy - try it! It may not be exactly like the parent plant, but the tree will make an inexpensive lesson. A cutting propagation will yield a better duplicate if you desire a closer match to the tree or hybrid.

Apple tree not bearing fruit?

Question: I have 3 apple trees which I don't know what they are, and they don't make apples. They are at least 5 years old and they are planted near each other. I have many flowering plants in my perennial garden, and they are happy...though I made that soil mostly.
Heather
Colorado

Answer: Hi Heather, 

Did the apple tree blossom? If not, one explanation could be over-fertilizing. Heavy feeding with a high nitrogen fertilizer can result in lots of vegetative growth at the expense of flowers and fruit. Where are your apple trees located? Apples set fruit best in a location with south or southeast exposure, ideally, on a slight slope. The slope helps cold air drain away, eliminating "frost pockets." (in the spring, when buds are being formed they get zapped by the frost that collects in these cold spots.) Some apples varieties tend to bear in alternate years--you'll get a big crop one year, and very little fruit the next year. Proper annual pruning encourages a more consistent crop. Note also that some apples, especially those on standard (non-dwarfing) rootstocks can take 6-7 years before they bear a respectable crop. Remember that apples are not self-fertile, so you need two or more compatible varieties to insure pollination. 

Some particularly good pollinators include Golden Delicious, Cortland, and Jonathan. Poor pollinators include Winesap and Gravenstein. This wouldn't account for your lack of flowers, but it is a common cause of poor fruit set.

 

 

Quick Gardening Tips

Choose garden ornaments and garden decor to fit the feel of different areas of your garden

Things like old milk cans, cow bells or farm tools make great and interesting displays.

Placing two of the same object such as pots or statues on opposite ends of a path is a great way of adding depth and defining the length of the path

Spread your garden ornaments out into different areas of the garden to where your guests will find little surprises around every corner.

Choose garden ornaments and garden decor to fit the feel of different areas of your garden.  

A frog perched on a rock is perfect for your pond, a butterfly or hummingbird stake is perfect for a cutting garden, or a magnificent white statue at the end of a path in your rose garden makes a perfect focal point.

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