For many years we have been raising arborvitae. These plants
were easy for us to grow and that is the real reason we grew
them. If they required real skill….well we would not have even
attempted to grow them. Thats a stupid but true reason for you
to also use them in your landscape.
Arborvitae are commonly used evergreen shrubs or trees useful in
urban areas where low maintenance and durability is needed. Many
cultivars with forms such as being globed in shape, columnar, or
narrow pyramidal, tend to be near buildings, doors, and
walkways. Other forms which are larger are used for screens and
buffers that are planted in rows. (These plants are also
suitable for wind breaks as you will rewad about later on.) The
form of arborvitae is small, medium, or large depending on the
cultivar. Some reach 50′, others only 3′. Most prefer full sun
to partial sun. Planting in dense shade conditions should be
avoided. A moist , well drained, loamy soil in full sunlight are
ideal conditions for growing healthy arborvitae. These plants
will tolerate rocky, clay, urban conditions of heat drought and
pollution. The most important pest we have is bagworms which
must be controlled to prevent complete defoliation. Some
cultivars have multiple leaders which also prove to be a
detraction for the plant. Pruning out multiple leaders in some
cultivars is a simple remeady. Our most popular Arborvitae is
the Emerald Green arborvitae. Many people prefer to spell them
Arbor Vitae . It is a bright light green color and narrow in
shape. It makes a distinctive and impressive natural fence. It
is easy to grow ,plant, and keep in shape. If your soils stay
wet for any period of time such as for a 2 week period, do not
use this cultivar.
The Hetz Midget arborvitae is a dwarf globe variety. This is a
good choice for along walkways and gardens. This is a tough
plant that is easy to install and not going to cost a lot. It
will maintain its color in the winter and will withstand snow
loads well. We carry these plants in 2 and 3 gal. pots. The
prices on these dwarfs vary from $15 to $30 depending on size
and quanity ordered.
Another small arborvitae that we grow in pots is the Rheingold
arborvitae. This is a small globe shaped plant that has a golden
green cast to it in the summer and a bronze winter color. We
also have the American Arborvita known as “Tiny Tim”.This
arborvita grows in zone 2 - 7. Its is a needled evergreen in the
Cupressaceae Family. It will grow in height from a half a foot
to 1 foot tall. Its spread will be about 1 to 1.5 feet. This is
a plant that requires little work. Selecting quality arborvitae
for the home landscape : When you get to the nursery or garden
center where you will buy your arborvitae, pick out the
healthiest, most robust plants that have no evidence of disease
or insect damage. The potting medium should be moist, but not
wet, and the roots should well dispersed in the medium.
Arborvitae that have roots growing from the drainage holes or
circling the top of the pot are less desirable. Many people
choose to buy arbs from a mail order company, which is perfectly
acceptable. However, realize that most woody plants purchased
from mail order catalogs will be shipped dormant and bare root,
that is, without any soil attached to the root system. Such
plants may be smaller in size because of the expense of
shipping. It is important to plant such material immediately
upon arrival. Generally it is best to purchase one-year-old
material from mail order companies since this material is more
vigorous and will transplant better. The larger material that is
offered is often composed of the less vigorous plants held over
from previous years. Most large sized arbs are balled and
burlaped. Don’t buy any arbs bare rooted over 3′ tall. Any plant
larger should be balled and burlaped.
Some of the common varieties available at Highland Hill Farm
(not all listed):
Globe Arborvitae
Arborvitae ‘Danica’
Arborvitae ‘Holmstrup’
Emerald Green Thuja Orientalis ‘Blue Cone’ Techny American Green
Giant Nigra Wintergreen Elegantissma
We have thousands of arbs and always have hundreds ready for
you to pickup. From 2′ to 15′ we have inventory balled and
burlaped. Don’t worry about driving long distances to get to us.
We are easy to get to near Phila., on a major road, Rt. 313 in
Fountainville Pa.. We want to move our stock and will make sure
that you go home a happy camper. If you are coming from a long
distance, we will give away free inventory that is surplus to
our needs. One of our fields is being converted into ball and
soccer fields and work will begin Nov. 25 2005. Stock in this
field will go cheap. We will stay open til the last dog dies or
we sell out. I think we have more stock than what we possibly
can sell.
We are always looking to trade nursery stock and seedlings for
your surplus. Email us with your surplus materials. We may be
able to make trades.
I once put an add in the paper that said, “If it free its for
me”. I had to stop the add because I collected so much stuff.
Adds do work. The problem with this add was it was not specific
enough to target what I was looking for. Over time and years I
then started to swap and barter the free stuff that I got for
things I really wanted. I had hundreds of broken lawn mowers and
hundreds of gallons of old unwanted paint. I had enough paint to
dip a house if needed. Disposal now became an issue. Thus I came
up with the idea of trading and barter.
Now I did not invent this wheel but I had enough of them that
it appeared I might have. So barter has become a means of
swapping and exchanging my surpluses for other peoples
surpluses. Since I am in the nursery bussiness I also have
plants that are surplus. I may plant 1000 trees expecting to
need 1000 and find that I have 500 more than what I need. So
offering these trees on the web for Barter has an effective
means to move dormant inventory. Besides this is a great way to
meet new customers. When they have surpluses and I can move
their dormant stock, we both win. Here is a sample add that I
run on my web site seedlingsrus.com :
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Trades Wanted
We are always looking to trade nursery stock and seedlings for
your surplus. Email us with your surplus materials. We may be
able to make trades.
Construction materials and equiptment Plumbing supplies Hunting
and fishing gear and items Hand tools Farm implements Farm
supplies Fencing materials Palletizied stone Household items
Livestock
Sometimes people take me up on my offers to trade trees and
shrubs for their products. One such person is Ralph. Ralph has a
farm in Ohio and raises a variety of farm animals and draft
horses. He asked if I would be interested in trading trees and
plants for his pigs, a Boarder Collie puppy, or his sheep. Not
baaaad I thought. Never really trusting myself with sheep, I
opted for the puppy and some piglets. Here is what Ralph said
after our trade…..
Bill and Marjorie,
Thank you for a great time, the landscape stuff, some great
conversation and for having faith in 2 people that you’ve never
met. Your boys are real gentlemen and good guys to be around.
You must be proud. Your operation is top shelf. Thank you for
taking me up on my proposal and our barter deal, you were more
than fair.
We wish you continued success in all your endeavors.. you are
honest gutsy people… I like that! Thank you for letting us get
to know you. Stay in touch. Thanks again for everything,
Ralph & Connie
Ps Check out my “Reflections” at the following website Click
Here
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As you can see I identify what I want to trade for and ask for
items that fit into our operations. I like to include a
testimonial as it gives a link that can be verified as to the
realness of my trading. I also have a newsletter that I post to
my email letter so each month I can tell people what I just
traded for. Here is part of my most recent email newsletter:
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During this month of January we are offering a 10% discount on
our gift cards and coupons. We help make your gift bigger. Don’t
forget that we will also trade for your surplus
inventory,building materials, sports equipment, plumbing and ag
equipment. We need all kinds of materials on our farms and
ranches. You can’t insult me with your offers, so go
ahead…call us…..This is how we just got our dog Sweep…a
Boarder Collie…..2 pigs….boxes of old tools……a John Deer
riding tractor……a bunch of used but in new condition windows
and doors….a couple of buckets of nuts, bolts, and nails (some
bent but that’s ok) and a even a hind quarter of a fresh road
kill deer!!
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This awakens people to the fact that I mean it, I want to
trade…..
Call us at 215 651 8329 or stop into the farm for a visit. If
you want to preview our operations go to
http://www.seedlingsrus.com Thanks Bill