Thursday, September 25, 2014
Photo
The Old Elm, Mill Creek Park
By Lynn Hoffman
OSU Extension master gardener volunteer
The American elm was the standard against which the merits of other shade trees were measured. Most every community had an Elm Street. Stately and beautiful elms lined the streets of many cities, rising vase-shaped to form canopies over the street. At one time, it was the single-most popular shade tree for lawns and city streets in the eastern United States, and earning its distinction as the state tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota.
Some trees survived Dutch Elm Disease, and with these specimen trees, scientists have been researching for more than 30 years to breed and select elms that are tolerant to Dutch Elm Disease. Slowly, American elms have begun reappearing in the American landscape as disease-tolerant cultivars have been introduced. In 2005, 88 “Princeton” elms were planted on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, a tradition of elm planting that began in 1826 by President John Quincy Adams. Central Park in New York City has a grand allee of American elms.
With the development of disease-tolerant varieties, the American elm deserves a place in the home landscape. Why plant an American elm? It is fast growing — up to 3 feet per year. It is tolerant of drought, soil compaction, road salt and pollution. Roots grow downward, not laterally. Fallen leaves are easy to rake and decompose rapidly. And, best of all, the distinctive vase shape makes a great accent.
Since 2009, the Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown has been planting American elms in selected locations throughout the Mahoning Valley. The Club’s American Elm Tree Project is an effort to encourage communities and individuals to plant American elms. Last year, the Club planted two elms in front of the Arms Museum on Wick Avenue, replacing two historic trees on the site. Other trees have been planted in Boardman, Sharon, Liberty, Canfield and Austintown. An American elm tree evaluation site also was developed in Mill Creek MetroParks at the Mill Creek Preserve on Western Reserve Road. Last year, the club began raffling elm tree seedlings at the Canfield Fair as part of its awareness campaign.
The Men’s Garden Club is selling small potted American elms at Mill Creek MetroParks Riverside Gardens as part of its annual fall mum sale. The varieties available are Princeton, New Harmony and Valley Forge. Larger American elms also can be ordered from most local nurseries.
To learn more about Dutch Elm Disease: http://go.osu.edu/elmdisease
Proper ways to plant a tree: http://go.osu.edu/properplanting
OSU Extension has two great bulletins for sale in our office in Canfield – Selecting & Planting Trees and Ohio Trees (full color with details of trees in Ohio). Call us at 330-533-5538 for details.