Tree, Landscape & Hardscape Services- 215-844-TREE
- FAX 215-438-1879
- mcfarland@mcfarlandtree.com
- Arborists:
- Peter McFarland
- Locke Woodfin
- International Society of Arboriculture
- Professional Grounds Management Society
- Tree Care Industry Association
Small Flowering Trees
Here are four small-to-midsize trees, which provide a striking splash of early spring (or even earlier) color.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) is native to the eastern woodlands from New Jersey to northern Florida and westward to the Great Plains. At maturity it grows up to 30 feet tall with a spread of 25-35 feet. It bears
Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
showy pink flowers in early spring, Its leaves also emerge in spring with a reddish color, giving way to a lustrous summer green and finally to a striking fall yellow.
The Eastern Redbud makes a bold landscape statement with its spring color, multiple trunks, and a graceful crown.
Witch Hazel
Typically witch hazels are late-fall and winter-to-early spring blooming trees, depending on the weather. They grow to a height of 15-30 feet and a spread of 15-25 feet at maturity. They produce yellow, pink or white flowers, often with 4-inch strap-like petals.
The native witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) produces fragrant, yellow flowers as early as November or December. The foliage, attractive in all growing seasons, also turns yellow to yellowish-orange in fall.
Witch hazel is a great specimen to plant in an understory, or in a large shrub border area.
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
This tree puts on a gorgeous spring display of pure white blossoms, and small, red/brown fruits. Its fall color is exceptional, ranging from red and orange to dark maroon. It grows to a height of 30-40 feet and a crown 30 to 40 feet wide.
The Callery Pear originates from China, but is not invasive. We especially recommend three outstanding cultivars: ‘Aristocrat,’ ‘Chanticleer.’ and ‘Whitehouse’.
Purple Leaf Plum tree (Prunus cerasifera)
This tree adds a splash of beauty to any landscape. Beautiful pink and white blossoms emerge early spring,
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President’s
Message
As we enter into our 54th year in this business of tree preservation, plant health care, landscape, lawn maintenance, hardscaping and construction. we want to thank all of you for a great 2015. With the economy getting better and our sales and customer base growing, we feel 2016 will be another great year. Also with all our new trucks and equipment last year proved to be a very efficient and employee injury-free year.
2015 was also a great year for our hardscaping and construction divisions. We had 100% growth and are looking at about a 50% growth for 2016. We are very proud of this part of our business and pleased to share with you some photos of jobs we did last year. Again I want to thank all of you who have the faith and trust in us to help preserve and protect your piece of paradise.
— Peter McFarland
Plant Health Care
Extreme temperature fluctuations during winter and increased heat and drought conditions in summer result in greater stress on your trees and shrubs. making them more susceptible to attack by insects and diseases.
The best way to prevent most disease and insect problems is to keep your trees and plants healthy. McFarland’s plant health care program depends on our regular inspections and monitoring by our arborists and technicians. Their recommended treatments and procedures often eliminate, or mitigate,
One of our environmentally friendly new trucks.
the problem, and make the difference between the life and death of your trees and plants.
Each year we update your plant health care program to address changing conditions.
Increasing summer temperatures and drought spells often can cause more plant stress and new disease problems. Also, warmer winters will allow insects and their eggs to go through the season without freezing, which can then double, or even triple, the insect population.
This mature 200 plus year-old white oak tree that McFarlands maintains is one of the healthiest and prettiest in Philadelphia.
For 40 years we have maintained this estate property in Mt. Airy. In addition to maintaining the lawn we also take care of the shrubbery, and care for the mature trees you see in this picture, including the oldest Japanese styrax, European linden and European copper beach tree in Mt. Airy, Mostly all of the trees and shrubs you see here are over 100 years old (past their natural life expectancy) and will continue to flourish with proper maintenance.
When trees and shrubs start loosing their immune system they will decline and die around their normal life expectancy. With today’s antibiotic treatments, along with insecticides and fertilizers, we can selectively treat a tree or shrub very safely and directly so we can help them build back their immune system and they can continue to flourish on their own again. It is very important that our Certified Arborist monitors your trees and shrubs to look for signs of stress before they lose their immune system.
There is no question that temperatures are rising. According to statistics kept by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, average daily temperatures in Philadelphia rose 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit between the five-year periods of 1990-1994 and 2010-2014. There also is little doubt that we continue to experience intermittent periods of scarce rainfall, such as the record drought Philadelphia experienced last May, and episodes of severe storm events.
Native tree species, such as Oaks and Maples, are more drought tolerant and more insect and disease resistant.
McFarlands can create your own personal space like this beautiful garden in the city.
Highlights of Our Recent Landscape Construction Projects
In 2015, Mcfarlands installed a lot of hardscape and construction projects including Pennsylvania slate patios, brick sidewalks, brick, stucco and stone walls, fountains, ponds, fire pits, cedar pergolas & arbors.
McFarland hardscaping can create your personal oasis inside your personal courtyard.
McFarland hardscaping can create your vacation dream home here in Philadelphia.
Pond and water feature with Wissahickon schist stone wall, which we installed last year at a property in Mt. Airy.
McFarland hardscaping can create yourpersonal oasis.
Fall 2015 McFarland hardscaping installed this statue of Venus (which has water coming down her and goes into blue glass) and this gas fire pit with adjustable flame and historic brick patio area.
McFarland hardscaping can create your entrance to your estate.
Summer view showing the new plantings that frame the new cedar garage doors and overhanging pergola with wisteria.
Please contact us if you would like these features added to your landscape
Spring Alert
Emerald Ash Borer Update
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a small beetle that is lethal because it eventually destroys Ash trees and has already caused millions of them to die, or be removed, in the United States.
We recommend that we begin treatment of all Ash trees you wish to save on your property with a systematic insecticide that is applied by soil injections. These treatments spread through the vascular system of the tree and will kill the EAB larvae. Treatments should be repeated yearly.
It does not make sense to wait until the
damage is visible before treating a tree. Once a tree is infected, we can destroy these insects immediately, but it often will be too late to save the tree.
Small Flowering Trees
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and rich-looking deep purple leaves add unexpected color in summer. It grows to a height around 25 feet and a spread about the same. Full sun is ideal condition for this tree, which tolerates moderate heat and drought.
Purple Leaf Plum tree (Prunus cerasifera)
It also yields round, edible reddish fruit that is 1¼ inches in diameter and ripens in late summer. The fruit is eaten by many varieties of birds and small animals.
Newsletter Editor: Bill Hengst
