If you live in Idaho or have ever visited the state, then you know that it is a beautiful place. One of the many beauties of Idaho is its trees. The forests are full of them and they are all different shapes and sizes. This guide will tell you how to grow your tree from seedlings so that you can enjoy their beauty for years to come!
The Best Flowering Trees to Grow in Idaho
Bloomerang Lilac Tree
Bloomerang Lilac Tree is a perfect choice for the lilac lover who wants to see more variety. It’s a two-season tree that blooms all spring and summer long. You will enjoy these flowers not only in May, as with most varieties, but also from July until frost. With its signature scent described as a jasmine-like aroma that’s refreshing and sweet, the Bloomerang Lilac is perfect for planting in high-traffic areas such as patios or near pools. With its shorter stature, it looks just right anywhere in your landscape, whether you plant them next to your porch or around your garden.
Planting & Care
To plant The Bloomerang Lilac Trees, find a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sun every day. Dig a hole twice the size as your tree's root ball and place it in the ground with its roots facing down. Add water and tamp down the soil around it to make sure it's stable. For best results, water weekly in the beginning until there’s enough soil moisture. This is usually about 2-3 inches down. Once there is, it should be self-sufficient. Only fertilize your Bloomerang once or twice per year using a well-balanced fertilizer. Once your Bloomerang begins to bloom, prune the tree lightly for shaping and size as needed. To encourage root growth, regularly remove faded blooms from the plant when they first appear.
Little Lime Hydrangea Tree
A smaller and more manageable form of the limelight hydrangea, the Little Lime Hydrangea Tree offers many of the benefits that users love in a more space-efficient package. From planting beds to containers on your front porch or patio, these hardy plants are well suited for nearly any gardening environment. Plus, the Lime Hydrangea’s green summer flowers transition to pink in the fall making it ideal as a garden centerpiece. It is cold hardy down to 10 or even 20 degrees and its vibrant color outlast early spring and the first frost of fall.
Planting & Care
To grow a Little Lime Hydrangea Tree in Idaho, find an area with full sun and well-drained soil. Visit your local nursery to purchase the tree of course sized for your particular spot. Carefully dig a hole that’s twice as big around and just as deep as the plant’s root ball. Place the tree inside the hole and use water or wetness to settle its roots. Top it off with mulch so it stays hydrated between watering times, which should take place about once a week depending on rainfall amounts. To support your Hydrangea, you will need to water it around once or twice a week and fertilize it with a general-purpose fertilizer. Prune it in the winter. You should also take care to maintain soil all year long so that your plant can grow well.
The Best Shade Trees in Idaho
Crimson Sentry Norway Maple Tree
The Crimson Sentry Maple Tree is one of the best choices for your landscape. With deep red to purple leaves all summer long, it's brilliant color can be used in any corner of your garden. These trees adapt well to frost and heat, which means they’ll grow just about anywhere in Idaho. Amongst an area of urban pollution and in swampy areas, this tree is not only stunning, but it's also a relief for those hard-to-grow spaces. The Crimson Sentry is a smaller tree with heavy branching and an upright canopy, which means it fits into any space. It's compact, so you don't need a lot of room to grow the tree in your yard. You can see maroon leaves in the summer and reddish-bronze tones in fall on its wide-spreading branches.
Planting & Care
Crimson Maples are tolerant of soggy soils but prefer well-drained areas. You can plant it in a shady spot (less than 4 hours of sunlight per day) with less watering if this does not bother you or the tree’s location in your yard. Place the tree in its hole, keeping the root ball at ground level. Fill with a few inches of soil and water thoroughly. A crimson guard maple provides a shady retreat for hot summer days. Be sure to provide enough water during its formative years, or it will show light-green leaves and droopy foliage. To start your tree off on the right foot, give it a slow-release fertilizer tablet at least twice a month when they are coming out of dormancy and once during summer. Prune away branches that have died or are dying before you start pruning live ones to avoid ruining what is left of the foliage by accident.
Royal Frost Birch Tree
The Royal Frost is a vibrant purple foliage with eye-catching exfoliating bark. It has an upright, pyramidal habit and it's a one-of-a-kind shade tree. This tree provides interesting vegetation from season to season, getting even better. The sleek whitebark during the cold months means a nearly year-round visual interest despite its deciduous nature. Burgundy leaves come out in spring, transitioning to dark purple and back again to dramatic deep red in winter. This showcases a tree that gives a year-round show making drab winters yards worthy of front-page features.
Planting & Care
Select a location for your Royal Frost Birch Tree that is in full sun to partial shade. The soil should be moist but well-drained. Once ready, dig a hole at least two to three times the size of the root ball. Place your Birch Tree and backfill with dirt tamped down for air suppression before watering it. To keep this tree healthy, make sure it has moist soil by watering it weekly or using a soaker hose. The tree's root zone should be cool and moist, but the Royal Frost Birch Tree also tolerates some dryness. If you need to prune your landscape at any time of year, do so in late winter while the tree is dormant.
The Best Fruit Trees in Idaho
Honeycrisp Apple Tree
In a contest for the best-tasting apple, Honeycrisp apples would top the list. These delicious fruits can be found in supermarkets around the world, they are an international favorite. But when it comes to fresh fruit, nothing beats the flavor of home-grown Honeycrisp Apples picked at the peak of ripeness. And our tree provides quality apples quickly without growing trees from scratch thanks to grafting and cold hardiness down to -30 degrees.
Planting & Care
Plant in any garden area that gets 6 hours of direct sun each day and has well-drained soil. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball, place the plant inside, top off with more soil and water to settle it into place. If you’d like to add mulch for weed prevention. Regular watering is needed to keep the Honeycrisp Apple tree healthy. When in a dormant state, only provide enough water so the soil doesn't dry out completely. Once you see new leaves appear, make sure to give it enough water so that the top 2 inches of soil isn't dry anymore. Once your tree is established, it's important to periodically prune it to keep it healthy. You should only do this during times of dormancy and remove any vigorous upright stems or damaged branches. Low-hanging or droopy branches should also be removed and stunted growth can be encouraged by periodic pruning. The Honeycrisp apple tree must have another variety planted next to it to produce fruit. The following trees are recommended for pollination purposes: Arkansas Black Apple Tree, Gala Apple Tree, Fuji Apple Tree, Golden Delicious Apple Tree, Granny Smith Apple Tree, Winesap Apple Tree, and McIntosh.
Aurora Blueberry Bush
Eat lots of large Berries! The Aurora Blueberry, which was recently introduced in Idaho, has quickly become popular because of its ability to produce large berries and beautiful foliage during fall. Not only will you enjoy huge homegrown blueberries that get this big, but your friends and family will be amazed at how fertile they are when you grow them yourself. They've never seen such delicious beauties before. The Aurora Blueberry's unique flavor and improved berry size have made it a sought-after agricultural commodity. Most of these berries are picked and eaten fresh because people can't wait to try their juicy flavor immediately, but since the blueberries have such an amazing taste they also make excellent desserts like pies, muffins, and tarts. Blueberries are filled with an unmatched sweet flavor and they happen to be a powerhouse of antioxidants and nutrients that are good for the brain, heart, skin, immune system, and overall wellness. These berries are perfect for anyone who lives in a cold climate, which means you'll enjoy year-round harvests. In the summer, your shrubs will provide a lush green display of foliage that continues into fall with brilliant red and orange leaves when temperatures drop to freezing or below. When left unpruned, its size can grow up to six feet tall and five feet wide - this would make an excellent-looking green wall in many areas!
Planting & Care
To grow your Blueberry bush, it needs to have full sun and drain well. It must be planted in moist soil below 5.5 pH or else it becomes more susceptible to disease. When you plant more than 10' apart, make sure to dig your hole at least five feet deep and twice the size of the root ball. For new bushes, add peat moss to the soil before planting them for a good start. Once it's planted, cover up those roots and finish by patting down that dirt around it. Now low and behold! (or something like that). Aurora Blueberry Bushes are self-fertile, but adding plants will drastically increase the crop size. Blueberry bushes must be watered regularly for the roots to establish. The soil should never become saturated but should remain moist and light green. Drooping leaves may signify either over-or under-watering. The only time that it needs to be fertilized is during its first spring following planting and again after it’s been picked. The only other pruning necessary besides trimming overly vigorous upright shoots close to the ground takes place in the winter when any spindly branches or dead limbs should be removed from the plant annually as all trees require to stay healthy.
When is The Best Time to Plant Trees in Idaho
The best time to plant trees in Idaho is usually between March and May. This is when the soil temperature has warmed sufficiently for tree roots to be able to grow deeply into it, creating a nutrient-rich environment that will provide stability and sustenance for years to come.
Can You Plant All Season Long?
The short answer is yes! With the proper planning and preparation, you can plant all season long in Idaho. It may not be easy, but it's possible! The first thing is that many plants will grow well with the long daylight hours of summer and fall. This includes vegetables like tomatoes, squash, corn, and peppers. You can also plant flowering annuals for color during the late spring and early summer months.
What are The Best Trees to Plant Each Season in Idaho
Springtime
Black Walnut, Linden, and Spruce trees are the best trees to plant during spring. These species will help with allergies and provide a beautiful canopy of green leaves.
Summertime
The most popular tree to plant during summer is the Maple Tree because its leaf color is great for cooler weather. Other good choices are Oak, White Pine, or Birch trees.
Fall time
Choose from Apple Trees (they have pretty reds), Blue Spruce Trees (great for allergy relief), or Sweetgum (the leaves turn orange). Remember that you should try not to prune your tree until January so they can stay healthy throughout the winter season!
Wintertime
Choose from Loblolly Pine, Eastern White Pine, or Southern Red Cedar (all three are beautiful). These trees will provide a good cover during the wintertime and keep you warm.
What Trees Have The Least Invasive Roots in Idaho
The least invasive roots in Idaho are the Eastern Cottonwood. The Western Cottonwood is also a popular choice. These trees grow quickly and will not encroach on your property as much as some other types of trees do, such as Black Locust or White Elm.
