I recently closed on a house that I have often described as "an apartment that grew up". It has a very generic yard, both back and front. The back is going to become a garden of sorts as time goes by, but I want to dress up the front a bit, yet maintain a certain amount of functionality.
When I lived in Maine, we had some beautiful dwarf cherry bushes that made a lovely hedge. We would trim them a little so that they did not encroach on the actual driveway, but they were still lush and full and made a good 4'-6' hedge up the edge of the driveway. In the spring, they were a blanket of the sweetest white and in the fall, we could not put away enough cherries - we had to give bunches away because there were just that many.
I want to do something similar along the drive of the house. I am, therefore, looking for cherry bushes that will fit the following:
- Be able to produce good fruit in Houston
- Be able to be small enough to use as a hedge (sorta)
- Be hardy enough to handle warm weather (Houston ya know) and mugginess
- Be reasonably fast growing (bonus here - not 'needed' but definitely desirable if possible)
Also, in Maine, you planted in the Spring, to allow the tree to heal over the summer and rest in the winter. Would you do the same thing here in Houston?
Thank you, in advance for any and all assistance.
Houston Cherry Bushes - Any recommendations?
Have you considered blueberries or blackberries? :)
Sweet Cherries are not recommended for Houston. From Dr. Randall's book:
"The main problem with growing cherries here is the amount of winter chill. L.E. Cooke Nursery wholesale sells the trademarked Early Ruby needing 600 hours chill and the 700 hour Stella needed for pollinating. If you live in an area with this chill, you might try them if you can arrange the wholesale purchase.
Generally though, we simply don't get enough cold to make most varieties productive, and indeed we are lucky to even keep them alive. They may leaf out but no fruit except in freak winters. Ignore the claims by some nurseries. There are many other species of Prunus sometimes called "cherries" that just look like them.
Grow it? Overall Rating = F: not likely to produce here"
If you are determined, a Google search revealed...
http://www.crfg.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=214
http://www.myfolia.com/planting/4930/view
This message was edited May 13, 2008 1:15 PM
Well, rats. I was hoping. Cherries for breakfast is one of my favorites.
I actually had considered blueberries and blackberries. There is a section of my back yard, along the fence, that gets medium sun that I think would really do well with blackberries - especially if I start them in a raised bed and put some trellis work in there to hold the vines.
I will have to look at blueberry bushes of the taller variety for the hedge it sounds like.
I really need to get reading more on that book.
Thank you!
I have one 3' x 16' bed of blackberries. I'm growing Kiowa at the recommendation of UrbanHarvest. This January, I planted 10 bare-root plants in a well-amended raised bed. I'm on track to get about 60 berries this year, which is pretty impressive. That said, I have to say they are very tart. A good berry for full-flavored pies, cobblers, etc. and on something, but by themselves, prepare to pucker!
I might plant some other blackberry variety next spring such as trailing thornless vars which are known to be sweeter.