Texas Arbor Day and the Monterrey Oak

Happy Halloween! As I write this, it's a bit rainy and very mild outside–perfect tree planting weather. We are celebrating Texas Arbor Day tomorrow, November 1st, as an additional reason to come visit North Haven Gardens and enjoy our November Happy Hour in the store from 5-7pm. Read more on Texas Arbor Day at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=1291

The wet weather may not make for the best traffic conditions, but it does make for excellent planting conditions–the soil is softer and easier to work, and it's the perfect time to invest in planting trees and shrubs. Not only are these larger plants easier to plant when the weather is cooler and wetter, but the stress they suffer from being planted in warmer months is greatly reduced. It's the perfect window of time for success.

One of my favorite sayings is "The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the second best time is today"–with so many of our established trees suffering from cumulative drought stress and with the threat of Oak Wilt on our minds, Monterrey Oaks are an excellent choice to add to your landscape investment. They're resistant to this disease that affects so many of our other Oak species, and they're durable and well-suited to our area. For more information on this tree, check out this article by our friends at Preservation Tree here in Dallas: http://preservationtree.com/blog/monterrey-oaks-shade-solution-and-oak-wilt-free#.UnJN1fmkpbF

I first became acquainted with the Monterrey Oak, Quercus polymorpha, during my tenure as the Garden Manager at the Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation in Hempstead (www.peckerwoodgarden.org) and loved it's foliar texture, overall form, and durability. 

We currently have Monterrey Oaks on special in a handy 5 gallon size, and in fact, they're on Grow Card Special for $29.99 (reg. $39.99). Visit us tomorrow for Texas Arbor Day and see the Monterrey Oak in person–speak with one of our Garden Advisors for tips and advice and find everything you need for tree planting success. More info online at www.nhg.com.

Hope to see you at Happy Hour tommorrow!

–Cody Hoya, NHG General Manager