Visiting Horsford’s on Arbor Day is a double treat. Not only will we give you a free seedling (one per family, please), but we’re in the midst of our Field Tag Sale as well, saving you 30% on any tree you choose to plant. Many families adopt the Arbor day tradition of planting a tree each year. Some commemorate life events – such as the birth of a child or the death of a loved one.

Horsford’s strives to offer great trees, grown in Vermont, that have special meaning to our area. Elms, hophornbeam, ironwood, sycamore, oaks, paper birch, and some of the maples are good examples of trees you may have difficulty finding elsewhere.

After years of decline the American Elm (Ulmus americana) is staging a comeback. The Princeton Elm grown at Horsford’s Nursery is a true American elm, not a hybrid. Test grown since the 1930’s, the Princeton Elm can be found lining boulevards in New York City and Washington, D.C. It is also used successfully as a street tree in Maine.

Hardy to Zone 2, the Princeton Elm will mature to a majestic 70 feet with a 40 foot spread creating a fantastic canopy. We have a limited supply available in ten (10) gallon containers. Call 425-2811 if you wish to reserve one.

American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is beginning to be favored by the gardening public. Growing only 25 to 30 feet it matures to a gracefully rounded pyramid shape. The shaggy, exfoliating bark provides winter interest. Best of all Hophornbeam tolerates dry, acid soils making it a perfect solution for rough sites, rocky terrain and dry slopes. It can survive in full sun or be used as an understory tree.

Ironwood or American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a great small tree native to North America. Homeowners can use it to naturalize in moist, shady areas or along the edges of woodlands. While Ironwwod prefers deep moist soils it has performed well in hostile environments as well. Growing only 20 to 30 feet high and wide, Ironwood makes a lively small street tree or lawn specimen.

The Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is often referred to in literature as a noble tree. One of the tallest native eastern North American trees, the Sycamore’s bone white trunk and branches reach a height of 100 feet. Our stock is grown from cuttings taken from New Haven, Vermont, along the Lewis Creek. Sycamores naturalize easily in deep moist soils. The Nursery will have a very limited quantity available each fall. If you are interested in helping to reintroduce this beauty, call to get on the reserve list.

The Oak family is large with several species appropriate for the northeast climate.

Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is the beautiful large oak you see along the roadsides around Dead Creek and other areas in the clay plain Forest of the Champlain Valley. After years of experimenting, Horsford’s is now able to supply young balled and burlapped or container grown specimens for homeowners to transplant to permanent locations. The Burr Oak’s most interesting feature is its deeply ridged and furrowed bark. This tree has an enormous trunk and massive branches with green leaves turning yellow-brown in fall. Adaptable to many locations, including limestone and dry clay soils, Burr Oak is a great choice for the Champlain valley.

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) is a majestic oak that is starting to become more widely planted by gardeners who are looking for a big statement in a wet area. It grows to be 50 –60 feet tall and 40 – 50 feet wide with an open round crown. Dark green foliage turns reddish bronze in fall. Squirrels appreciate the Swamp Oak’s bountiful crop of acorns.

Another native, the Red Oak (Quercus rubra) grows tall and straight. It’s magnificent stature is especially beautiful in the fall when its leaves turn a crimson red. Red oak is primarily found in well-drained locations throughout the Champlain valley.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) is the most commonly planted shade and street tree. It is the easiest to transplant and grow successfully. Requiring acid soils, the Pin Oak has a central leader reaching 60 – 70 feet. Its leaves turn a beautiful russet red in fall.

Shadblow or Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) has long been a favorite at Horsford’s. Every year we grow and sell hundreds of the three popular varieties, A. canadensis, A. laevis and A. x grandiflora. The Shadblow is considered a small multi-stemmed tree or large shrub although it is also grown as a single- stem tree. It naturally occurs in bogs and swamps and at the edge of fields as they fade into woods. The Serviceberry’s white flowers are the first to come into bloom each spring. They are followed by brilliant fruit that can be used to make juices and jams. In the landscape, Serviceberry adapts to most soil types. Since it does not get too big and its foliage casts a lightly dappled shade, it is a perfect tree for within a small garden or yard.

Michael Dirr, author and nationally renowned arborist, suggests that in order to create the magnificent colors of New England you need to plant a mix of Red Maple, Sugar Maple and birch. Horsford’s Nursery grows and sells many varieties and sizes of these native trees. Soil requirements vary within the species. Knowing your soil type will help us in selecting the best tree for your yard.