What's killing my tree??

When the leaves start to drop off of the trees in fall and winter, I often get a lot of folks asking about the strange structures growing on the bark and trunks of their trees.

 

Often people are very concerned that these structures are killing their trees. Good news! If you have any of these on your trees, they're called lichen, and they do not hurt trees.

Lichen can come in a variety of shapes and textures, but all of them are a symbiotic relationship (meaning two different organisms living together and both benefiting) between a fungus and an algae. The algae photosynthesize (produce sugars through the use of sunlight) to produce nutrition for both organisms, and the fungus provides a moist environment to keep the algae from drying out and dying. 

Because they are self-supporting, lichen simply use your trees as a place to grow and are not harming or hurting the tree. Because they do not actually need anything from the tree, you can find lichen growing on brick walls, building sides, rocks, and anywhere that is relatively shady and moist.

So the good news is that lichen isn't hurting your tree! Unfortunately, that isn't the whole story. Lichen often do grow on trees that are already suffering from some other ailment. That's why it can appear to us that the lichen are hurting the tree, but the fact is that the tree was already not doing so great. Lichen just find that a very comfortable spot to grow!

If your tree is suffering, you can troubleshoot some other ideas to see if you can help it. Each tree, and its environment, are totally unique, so there's no one answer to solve the question. Sometimes lichen grow on perfectly healthy trees, as well. Start looking for signs of drought and think about any root disturbances in the past 5 years. That can sometimes offer some clues. You can also check your tree for signs of insect infestation or disease. When in doubt, you can always call a certified arborist, someone trained in all aspects of tree health, and have them come take a look. 

Many trees live long lives with lichen on them, so do not despair. The other bright side of the picture is that research shows that lichen typically only grow in areas with healthy, clean air. So, if you have a lot of lichen, your air quality is in good condition.

Top 5 plants to add color in winter

Is your yard feeling a little drab now that we've had a good freeze to finish off the leaves on everything? Winter here in NC stays pretty mild, but we still feel the brunt of the bland, brown landscape for several long months. 

Pansies and dusty miller have their place, but here is a list of my top 5 favorite plants that you can use to add some color to your landscape so the winter doesn't feel so blah.

1. Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) - Red twig dogwood is a native dogwood species from northern North America. It has white flowers in spring and is a lovely green bush during the summer, but when the leaves fall off in the fall, you're left with this glorious red shining in your landscape. It not only looks great in your landscape, but the branches are fantastic added to planters around your home. It's a very easy shrub to grow, with very few needs. It grows great in rain gardens and can even handle a little drought.

2. Kale - In any shape, size, or color, kale is a great addition to your planters and landscape. In NC, I often grow kale year-round. It can look rather rough in the summer, but it handles cold and snow quite well. They're easy to start from seed; just scatter and wait. The other bonus is you get edible landscaping. What's not to love?

3. Heuchera - Many folks call these coral bells or foamy bells, referring to the spring blooms they have of tiny, wispy, bell shaped flowers. However, heuchera are lovely evergreen plants that come in a variety of colors. You can use these in containers by the porch, in planters near the house, or anywhere with a little shade in the summer. They prefer shade, but can handle a little more sun in the winter because it's not as vibrant and harsh. Heuchera are one of my must-have plants for any landscape. They're just so much fun, and they come in any color to suit any decorating tastes. 

4. Sungold Chamaecyparis - Otherwise known as false cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold' and other yellow varieties really brighten up the bland winter landscape. Evergreens are lovely, but the yellow tinted evergreens adds that extra pop that brings our spirits to life and makes us want to spend more time outside. Instead of looking out into a brown yard, add several of these fabulous shrubs, and your view will be much cheerier. 

5. Camellias - There's this old, incorrect thought that nothing flowers in winter. Guess what. Camellias thrive in winter, and that's when they show off the most. We're fortunate that most of NC is mild enough in winter to grow these beauties. They do prefer a little warmer climate, but do pretty decent here, even into the foothills. Camellias prefer a shady garden in the summer and high acidity in the soil. If you plant Camellia sasanqua, they bloom fall into winter, and then Camellia japonica begin blooming later winter into spring. Plant both varieties, in a selection of colors, and you'll have gorgeous blooms throughout the entire winter.

  

There are a ton of other great options out there to choose from, so don't stop here. Utilize flowers, foliage, and bark to add color to your landscape. With a little planning, you can have a winter yard that no longer makes you go "ugh," but actually lifts your spirits.