Mary Meyer, Deb Brown, Mike Zins

Table of ContentsAlkaline Soil Annuals 3 Feet or More Annual Vines That Grow

Quickly Boulevard Gardens:

Perennials Boulevard Gardens:

Small TreesBroadleaf Evergreens

for USDA Zone 4Clay Soil Cold Tolerant Annuals Compacted Sites: Trees Crevice Plants Deer Resistant Plants Dry Soil: Annual Foliage

Plants

Table of Contents

Dry Soil: Shade or Under Trees

Dry Soil: Trees Fragrant Annuals and

PerennialsFragrant Shrubs Indoor Low Light Knot Gardens Lakeshore Native

Plants Long-Blooming

Perennials Rain Garden Plants

Table of ContentsRiver Banks and Canoe

Public Access AreasSelf-Seeding Perennials Septic Mound Plants Shade: Shrubs Shade: Small TreesShade: Tall Perennials Steep Slopes Trees That Produce

Minimal Litter Under a Black Walnut

Tree References

Trees for Alkaline Soil: honeylocustGleditsia triacanthos

inermishoneylocust, 30-60’ thornless varieties are vest, provides filtered shade, rapid grower, tolerates many soil conditions

Buckeye, bur oak, hackberry, green ash, smokebush, and silver maple are also good trees for alkaline soils.

Small Trees for Alkaline Soils

Ironwood: Ostrya virginiana 25-40’ Interesting hoplike fruits in fall and brown leaves add winter interest, native.

Smokebush, 6-15’Chokecherry

Iowa State photo

Hydrangea: Great Shrubs for Alkaline Soil

Hydrangea arborescens hills of snow hydrangea 3-5’ tall;

Spreads 3-5’; mop-head blooms

Hydrangea paniculata panicle hydrangea 6-8’ Showy white to pinkish blooms in summer.

Endless Summer® Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer'Requires acidic soil for blue

colorpH 5.0-5.8; blooms on current

season wood. pink in alkaline soil pH 6-7.

Lowering Soil pH for Blue Hydrangea Flowers Before planting:

1) Have your soil tested for initial pH level. Sending a sample to the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Laboratory soiltest.coafes.umn.edu

2) If your soil pH is less than 5.5 the only amendment suggested before planting is to mix in sphagnum peat moss into your soil at the rate of 1 to 2 cubic ft per plant. (use a blend of 50% native soil to 50% sphagnum peat)

3) If your soil pH is greater than 5.5, incorporate elemental sulfur into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil at the following rates to reduce your soil pH by 1 unit:

For sandy soils - 1.0 lb per 100 square feet (about 2 cups)For loamy soils - 2.5 lb per 100 square feet (about 5 cups)

For example, if the pH of your loamy soil is 6.0, incorporate 5 cups of elemental sulfur per 100 square feet (or ½ cup per 10 square feet). After mixing in the elemental sulfur, mix in 1 to 2 cubic feet of sphagnum peat moss per plant.

After planting:1) Periodically retest your soil pH. Do not add any acidifying amendments if your soil pH is 5.0 or less.

2) Use ammonium sulfate as the nitrogen source at the rate of 1 lb (or 2 cups) per 100 square feet (or a little less than a ¼ cup per 10 square feet). Ammonium sulfate is the best nitrogen source to help maintain soil acidity.

3) If your soil pH is greater than 5.5, use aluminum sulfate to help lower your pH and supply available aluminum at the same time. Mix about 1 lb (2 cups) of aluminum sulfate per 5 gallons of water and then apply the solution around the drip line of the plant. Repeat the application on a monthly basis as long as your soil pH is greater than 5.0. Caution - over application of aluminum sulfate can be toxic even to hydrangea.

Carl Rosen, Soil Scientist, U of Minnesota

Lowering Soil pH for Blue Hydrangea Flowers

More Shrubs for Alkaline Soil

Lilac Juniper BarberryCotoneasterLilac Viburnum

Perennials for Alkaline Soil yarrowastilbeclematissweet Williamconeflowerdaylilycoral bellsphloxhostasalvia

Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees

Syringa reticulata Japanese tree lilac 15-25’ Long-lived and cold tolerant; scented ivory flowers are an early summer hallmark; interesting winter seed pods.

Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees

Amelanchier laevis Alleghany serviceberry 15-25’ Minnesota native; large flowers; excellent red fall color; delicious edible purple fruits attract birds in summer.

Malus hybrids crabapple 15-25’ Tough and hardy in Minnesota; scab can be a conspicuous foliar disease, look for resistant varieties; many flower colors provide vivid displays; various shades of green foliage and winter interest with yellow or red fruit.

Boulevard Gardens: Small Trees

Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala amur maple 20-30’ Lightly scented May flowers are followed by double serrated dark colored leaves with lighter undersides; excellent fall color; hardy, adaptable; grown as a free-form clump, standard, or a well-groomed hedge; self-seeds.

Minnesota Tree Care Advisor photos

Perennials for clay soil

hosta and daylilies

sedum

Russian sage

coneflower

feather reedgrass, ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum

Trees for Compacted Sites

Acer rubrum red maple 50-70’ Round crown, transplants readily, ‘Northwood’ and ‘Red Sunset’ have nice fall foliage; MUST HAVE MOIST SOIL.

Trees for Compacted Sites

Betula nigra river birch 40-70’ peeling

cinnamon-brown bark, often multi-stemmed

Trees for Compacted SitesCeltis occidentalis

hackberry 40-60’ Vase-like

habit, easily transplanted, very adaptable.

May be slow to establish

Native to MN

Trees for Compacted SitesFraxinus nigra black

ash 40-70’ Large black buds, ‘Fallgold’ recommended for fall color.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash 40-60’ Fast growth, deep shade, broad rounded form, seedless varieties.now overplanted? tough urban tree, emerald ash borer

Trees for Compacted SitesLarix

laricina larch, tamarack

40-70’ native, deciduous conifer,

yellow fall color, few pests

More Trees for Compacted Sites

silver maple

cottonwoodcottonwood

Deer Resistant Plants

chives and onion; Allium spp.

Deer dislike mugo pine, shown here on tortoise island at the Japanese garden,Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

ageratum

Shrubs for Shade

viburnum

barberry and boxwood

azaleas

Diervilla; bush honeysuckle

Under a Black Walnut Tree

Order from the shop.extension.umn.edu or Distribution Center: 1-800-876-8636