the worst skylands in the world

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

17 years ago

what can i say .. its best winter yet... lol ... i have lost three others... if this one dies... so be it...

looking at the picture.. its almost like it has a broom at the bottom .... weird ...

ken

{{gwi:333086}}

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Comments (13)

botanybabe
17 years ago
Wow that is one sad Skylands. This happens to be my favorite conifer and I've wanted one for a long time, but perhaps I should reconsider, having witnessed that you're having difficulties and you're no doubt better at growing these things than I.

Are Skylands just weaklings?

Lainey
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Original Author
17 years ago
IMHO.. borderline in zone 5 .... depending highly on micro-climate .... just 15 mins away at hidden lakes... they have one that has to be at least 10 feet tall ... bet dax has a picture ....

if you are interested... spend the money and buy a bigger plant to start with .... the others i lost were all fresh grafts ....

good luck .. ken
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Skylands - What to do?
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For the most part a lot of us are growing many different conifer cultivars in a climate completely out of sync from where they originated from and are free to grow without our intrusion into their life style even though the zones are the same. If they survive the first three years consider yourself lucky. Most are planted where the new owner wants them with no consideration given to the plants likes and dislikes. Then the owner decides it needs to be moved. When that occurs more then likely the roots and root ball are compromised. Strike one against the plant. Secondly when planted the soil composition you have plopped the newbie in does not even remotely match it former soil composition where it originated. Amendments. black dirt, soil fertilizer spikes are the norm to get this thing jump started. Strike two against the plant. I won't go into why. Then we have a host of other strikes that could effect this plants survivability. Over or under watering. Usually over watering and the plant sits in a bog because of wrong soil composition. Not properly cloth shading those plants that require it. Insect control. Spider mites, scale and bag worms and a host of other friendly eaters that this plant doesn't have to deal with in its natural environment. Then the foul ball out. This has happened to me. Over a period of one to two days a nice healthy plant just dies for no reason. Haven't figured that one out yet. Whaas ...I don't care how many more days of cold, rain or dry winds you have. If your plant has a good healthy root base and has not been moved it is programed to live. Unless ,of course, it becomes a victim of out of zone conditions it cannot survive in. The only difference between mine and your plants is my growing season is longer with all other things being equal. Yours won't break bud until it is programed to do so and your temps and climate dictate that. Tornado I think in my above comments I have about covered everything that will damage 'Skylands'. Some of them just don't do well no matter what precaution you take to insure their survivability. There is something going on with yours. In some cases they cannot be explained. As Dax said and I agree ...go ahead and re-screen it. llinois-John...I apologist for hi-jacking your thread. We all will be forever in a learning stage. That's what this forum is for. Sometimes the subject matter gets stretched to the max for whatever reason. Hope you not totally confused. Dave
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Picea orientalis 'Skylands'
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Comments (19)
Gorgeous Skylands Dave. Nice little one toronado. It's nice to see the trees at different stages of growth. That really helped me to decide on certain ones and placement. Ladylotus, that beautiful blue conifer to the right of Dave's Skylands is Picea pungens 'The Blues' I believe. Here's my new 4' 'Skylands'. I normally try not to spend over $40 for my trees but I finally hunted down a Skylands in the Cincinnati area and couldn't resist it's alluring spell. It's a must have. Now I'm $100 poorer but 100% happier. I'm not sure if I overpaid or got a deal. Either way I'm extremely happy to have one! I hope to take advantage of the blue and gold together and planted it near my 3' Picea engelmannii 'Bush's Lace'. It's just out of view to the left in the pic. I also have the giant eye sore shade cloth erected and ready for the 2 year haul. It's ugly but I'm sure it's worth it. I just hope I don't get impatient and take it down next year. I think I will even leave it up in the winter as my little Pinus Sylvestris 'Gold Coin' is planted near by and looks like it received a wee bit of burn over the winter. The Skylands was extremely root bound so I had to perform some root surgery that turned out to be not so gentle especially when I uncoiled the main encircling root. I hope I did the right thing and that it does okay. It seems happy as it has just started to push. I can't wait for the show like Daves =)
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Picea orientalis Skylands -- worlds ugliest
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Yea, I did, way back when. Same principal applies today. Only thing different is the roll of the wife and man are sometimes bass ackwards in this day and age for one reason or another. I worked a 8 hour day and came home and did the wished done list. She stayed at home and did what most moms do...a multitude of things. It worked well for both of us with never a complaint or thinking the other had the best go. Since you are in the reversed roll I have to admire you for taking on that challenge. Something I can't even relate to or for that matter even think of doing. Things were different way back then... Best, Dave
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calling Illinois_john about his P. orientalis Skylands
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Comments (9)
The small one went into winter well, came out brown and completely fried. I did it all wrong. I planted in the fall, which I know that everyone cites as being best. However, I have had a much higher success rate when planting in spring and allowing more root development going into winter. Personal success and preference that probably does not align with the experiences of others. I planted in a nicely shaded area near a Norway Maple. No shade in the winter and I was too busy with other fall chores to prioritize screening. It's possible that the plant was neglected prior to when I bought it, but I will try one more Skylands. I'll plant in spring, mulch well, water properly and absolutely will screen in winter and summer to year 3. I had no summer burn on mine this year, it is tough once established. The largest risk I have is winter wind now. There may be some ugly years, but overall, I think I'm out of the woods. Hope this helps.
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dcsteg
17 years ago
Hi Ken,

Just a few comments so you won't give up trying to grow this beautiful conifer. I believe you can be successful with a little effort and imagination.
Yes it is border line for Z.5 and micro climate is very important. I lost my 1st one that I placed in full sun and it didn't last a year.
Several things I have learned since my first attempt: It is easier to acclimate a 3-4 ft plant then a new graft. Placement is important. You need at least a 4-5 hours of full sun after acclimated with filtered shade the remainder of the day. As it matures you don't even need filtered shade. The 1st year you need to fabricate a filtered sun screen, to protect new growth, other wise it will burn. in full sun. I used the screen for 2 years now it is on it's own with no problems.
I have posted a photo of my crude sun screen. Don't laugh it works with a total investment of $4.95. The 2nd photo is a happy 'Skylands' that is telling me that my extra effort was not in vain.
If you purchased the ACS conifer of the year Picea o. 'Tom Thumb' you will need to screen this one too.

Dave

{{gwi:703375}}

{{gwi:703378}}
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kingn8
17 years ago
Interesting solution to say the least. I'll get some pics up in a day or so... so that I too may contribute!
They grow like weeds when they get all settled in. Gee's has a beaut too.

Nate
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botanybabe
17 years ago
Dave,

That is one beautiful specimen. I'm glad to know they will grow okay in zone 6. I'm going to try one if I can find one in my price range. The 5 footer at my local nursery was $300, that's a lot of aluminum cans.

Lainey
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greenlarry
17 years ago
Ive not a clue what a Skylands is, I got curious about the title tho and had to look! Is it a spruce cultivar?
Please excuse my ignorance, Im new to conifers!
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kingn8
17 years ago
It is; Picea orientalis 'Skylands'

Nate
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conifers
17 years ago
'Skylands' at Hidden Lake Harper Conifer Collection:
{{gwi:703381}}

A second one on the grounds of Hidden Lake:
{{gwi:703383}}

Mine (lost all but 10% of the foliage five years ago and moved it to pretty much full shade):
{{gwi:703386}}

Ken your plant looks fine. Thanks Dave for the tips!

Dax
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Original Author
17 years ago
i hope you can all realize that i am about 10 miles from the hidden lakes collection as the crow flies .... it just irritates me beyond belief to see how theirs grows.. lol .....

i am former horse pasture.. melon field.. flat and windy and sunny ...

hidden lakes is glacial terrain ... hills and valleys... apparently a very special little microclimate ...

go figure ....

ken
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conifers
17 years ago
Ken, this is puppy play!

Don't disappoint me now!

Dax
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dcsteg
17 years ago
Ken; That could be a very interesting 'Skylands.' It doesn't need to look like the normal run of the mill specimens that are always posted on the GW Form. It has a lot of character and with a little training and selective pruning it could develop into a great conversation piece.
If it is not planted in the right setting for optimum growth then I suggest you find that place in your landscape setting and go for it.
I would love to have it to work with. In a couple years post another photo. By then your post should read "RE the best 'Skylands' in the world."

Regards,

Dave
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kingn8
17 years ago
Dax, do you see what I see just to the right of the skylands in the treeline of your Hidden Lake photo?!....
The obsession continues... ; )

Nate
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Original Author
17 years ago
dave .. that tent is genius .... unfortunately the kids would consider it a play house.. and probably trample the plant.. lol .... ken
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the worst skylands in the world

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the worst skylands in the world

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