Polk County Master Gardeners
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Spectacular Fall Foilage!
At the start of September, many of us begin to think about the many
things we enjoy about fall. For some, it may be the annual Polk County Fair in
session at the fairgrounds this week. For others, it may be the start of the
football season. Certainly, most of us look forward to cooler weather! And of
course, cooler weather means another change in the seasons. Fall will soon be
here when the Ouachita Mountain area trees put on their display of autumn
splendor!
Few areas of the United States compare with Arkansas for brilliant fall
colors and last year was an exceptional year. Rather than just admire the
beautiful trees along the highways or in neighborhoods throughout Mena, add some
spectacular foliage to your own yard by choosing and planting trees that are
known for their fall beauty. Most of the trees in this category, are hardwood
varieties that have long lives and add quality and value to your property as
well. Since hardwood trees take longer to mature, don't delay getting them into
the ground! Fall is an ideal planting time so begin to look for these trees at
garden centers and nurseries now.
One of the premiere fall foliage trees is the Sugar Maple with its red-yellow
leaves. This is a universal favorite but unfortunately, according to the
University of Arkansas, they are somewhat out of their ideal habitat here in
Polk County and won't stand much abuse. They grow well enough to produce maple
syrup only in the mountains of Northwest Arkansas. Nevertheless, some of the
most beautiful trees in Mena and surrounding areas every fall are the Sugar
Maples that have survived. I have planted several different types of maples in
my yard including Sugar Maples but some of them have died. Thanks to some
persistence and learning from my mistakes, there are now some healthy trees that
should put on a pretty good show this fall. One of the types of maples I've
planted that will turn bright red is the October Glory Red Maple. This is a tall
round-headed tree and is usually the last to turn color. Autumn Blaze Red Maple
is a patented variety that was added last year. It likes full sun and
grows to 50 feet tall with a spread of 40 feet.
Having success in growing trees and other forms of gardening takes vigilance.
You need to occasionally walk your yard and inspect for potential problems. The
more often you check the better. For example, one of my Sugar Maples was saved
last year when I discovered that a Sapsucker variety of bird was damaging the
bark. The damage was extensive but is now completely healed. This problem was
solved by using a tree wrap to cover the wounds and then covering the wrap with
strips of carpet tack-track in a vertical band around the entire trunk. Another
potential problem to avoid is deep hoeing or cultivation for weeds near the base
of young trees that can cut shallow roots and cause the tree to die. A better
method to control weeds is to use a deep 4-6 inch layer of mulch that will also
help retain moisture.
Other trees recommended by the University of Arkansas for our area for
spectacular fall foliage include the following: Tatarian Maple, Fringe Tree,
Flowering Dogwood, Red Flowering Dogwood, Washington Hawthorne, Cornelian
Cherry, Japanese Dogwood, Ginko, Sweet Gum, Sour Wood, Bradford Pear, Red Oak,
Scarlet Oak, and Sassafras. Not on their list is the Fruitless Mulberry for
brilliant yellow and Black Gum for shining red leaves. Choose the Ginko and
Fringe Tree for yellow leaves. The Bradford Pear and nearly all dogwoods provide
the added benefit of providing both spring and fall color.
When planting trees always keep in mind that they will hopefully be around a
long time. Find out how large they become when full-grown for proper spacing. In
nature they do not grow in rows so avoid lining them up and vary the interval
between trees to create a more natural look.
By Gerald L. Wood
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