Shade trees in New Mexico

New Mexico Master Gardeners

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A recent question that I was asked has to do with what trees should be grown for shade in New Mexico. In researching the answer I ran across the following web site by Michael Melendrez suggesting that he has the best possible trees. The following are what he thinks are the best trees. I do not mean to imply that Michael has the best answer but I found his short list interesting. To learn more about his business go to his web site at http://www.treesthatplease.web.com/

I will try to add more trees to this list as my research continues.

'SUNDANCER' ^TMSALIX:

'SUNDANCER' Salix is a hybrid tree (Salix alba x S. amygdaloides). Similar clones have been used extensively by tree growers and marketed for about the last fifteen years in New Zealand. The main use for the various clones being sold has been as a windbreak or biomass trees. The main difference between our product and the others on the market is that 'SUNDANCERS' pedigree has been altered to better suit its use in the Southwest, as the Salix amygdaloides - Peachleaf willow is a native to our area. 'SUNDANCER' Salix is a supple tree, capable of growing in excess of 10' per year as a young tree, then slowing in height growth as it matures until it reaches about 70' in height. The tree becomes domed shaped and withstands snow, ice, and wind very well. The main issue at hand is that 'SUNDANCER' makes a very nice large shade tree in a fraction the time of most commonly used trees. One tree in at our evaluation Arboretum is 50' X 50' and is 8 years of age. If you wish to grow it for biomass or animal feed (fodder), the tree coppices vigorously if cut at the proper time of year. Peachleaf and Black willow have both been used as a timber crop making a fine cabinet grade lumber and it's expected that the Hybrid Salix is equal in this respect.

'SUNDANCER' is very fast growing. Side by Side on the same site, it will outgrow the best hybrid poplar clones by about 40%. CAUTION: 'SUNDANCER' like all Willows is very competitive with other trees and shrubs. Care should be taken to keep it at least thirty feet from favored specimens, and a similar distance from drainage lines, septic tanks and foundations.

'El Capitan' Chinquapin Oak^TM the first Native Oak tree to be commercially selected for improved adaptability to our Southwestern conditions of heat, soil and poor water quality. This selection of Chinquapin Oak is not only beautiful but it grows fast, adding 1" or more of incremental wood growth per year, a 4" caliper after just 3 years from seed and 20 feet tall. Chinquapin Oak is one of our most beautiful Native oaks of New Mexico and occurs naturally in a region known as the "Desert Edge", 4000' - 7000' elevation with annual precipitation of 12" - 17". As water becomes more and more of an issue, we feel this selection may become one of the best shademakers for the future "High and Dry" landscapes of the Southwest and Midwest. Available in a 1 gallon size for mail order, with larger sizes available at the retail store.

'Andersons' Shumard Oak ^TM Selected from 1000's of seedlings produced at our Nursery, the 'Anderson Shumard Oak' shows remarkable growth and superb fall color. The original plant reached 35 feet in less then 5 years from a small 5 foot whip. This is growing under conditions of clay soils with a pH of 8.5 and poor water quality. The original provenance for the parent material was in Texas, close but not in the known range of Quercus bucklyi - Texas Red Oak. Hardy into zone 4 with the fastest growth in the Desert SW zone 7-8 with a 200 - 210 day growing season.

'SuperCold' Valley Oak^TM (also known as the Western White Oak) We use the name because of its performance at temperatures of minus 17 degrees below zero F. The original collection of seed from the parent source was made in 1961 at the highest and coldest know provenance of this species natural range and it is proving very cold hardy. Young trees will regularly add 5 -7 feet of growth per year, when not forced to grow in lawn areas. Does not seem picky about soils, performing well in just about everything from blow sand to adobe clays with a high pH. This selection of Valley Oak has small, hard, xeric leaves that hold up to the high UV light of our high elevations and windy climate. Windbreaks, multi-trunk cluster plantings (groves) and specimen shade trees are just a few of the ways the Valley Oak can be used if you need low water (use) and fast (growth) in the same plant.

10/20/2002

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