Puttn Down Roots

Photos and words regarding trees and shrubs

[jackburnsgrass]

Nyssa sylvatica or the black Tupelo is easily one of my favorite trees right now.

Where once stood an Acer rubrum, slowly suffocating in its own mess of girdling roots; and hastily planted by a development company, now holds the full potential of this beauty.

The tree itself stands almost 15’ tall at the time of planting. And, with a rootball almost 2 1/2’ wide and 12” in height, required a planting hole nearly 8’ in diameter. Accomplished by the Stabile Arbor team entirely by hand.

Water will be a key factor in the establishment of a tree this size. The instant gratification comes at a laborious cost. Hand irrigation for the next 2 years and 6 months, as needed.

[jackburnsgrass]

Veteran Acer rubrum, a slate roof, and a small Pennsylvanian town.

Thrilled to have been in the presence of such a stunning tree. Even if just for a moment in time.

[jackburnsgrass]

An air prune bed(5’x3’x12”). Constructed with hand milled red maple. Hardware cloth bottom and covering. This bed was able to fit 485 Chestnut seeds and 100 Hickory nuts densely planted. (March 16, 2025)

Chestnuts harvested from local trees made for excellent eating last winter. The rest were cold stratified in buckets with holes. Half filled with wood chips then husked nuts added and covered with more chips. The buckets were then buried up over the tops with yet again more chips.