Post date: Apr 11, 2016 12:20:11 AM
When I chose this particular lot it was covered with trees. After I moved here to build the house, I discovered that these trees are Siberian Elms (not natives), an invasive species here. My plan is to gradually replace them with quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). I say ‘gradually’ because the shade provided by the existing trees is helpful during the many hot summer days here.
These elms are ‘dirty’ trees. They shed many small, dry branches that are harder to clean up than the leaves. The many seeds germinate rapidly in moist soil. The Forest Service says that it may take 10-15 years to control them. I may not be that patient, depending on how fast the replacements grow.
Thursday I started digging holes for the seven large pots of aspens. The digging was very hard in one location, so I soaked this area, which made digging (with a digging bar) at least possible. Then yesterday morning I dug the remaining holes and planted all the trees. These were specified as three individual aspens and four ‘multi-trunk’ aspens, which are sold as three stems in one #5 pot.
The individual young trees were still about 8’ tall, so getting them into my van was slightly tricky. I keep a large piece of corrugated cardboard on the floor of my van. The rear row of seats is folded down the the middle row seat behind the driver is usually on the garage floor and not in the van. So there was room, but all the pots had to be on their sides.
These may be the only deciduous trees on my lot. The landscape plan calls for native river birch, but the only birch Betula occidentals I can find is a heavy water user. “Although the birches may grow in New Mexico (especially at higher elevations), they tend to need more water than many other trees and are susceptible to soil and insect problems that other trees may resist.”