Blue Beech in Big Woods State Park

Blue Beech is a lovely small native understory/edge tree that is not well known, but deserves to be used more often in southern Minnesota landscapes.  Characterized by smooth grey/blue bark that covers the undulating wavy trunk wood, an appearance developes that resembles the rippling muscles and sinews of a body builder’s forearm, earning this interesting native tree it’s other common name of Musclewood.

Fall color of the Blue Beech

Botanically named Carpinus Caroliniana, Blue Beech occasionally can be found growing wild in remnants of the Big Woods deciduous forest dominated by Oak, Maple and Basswood.  A native size of 20-30 feet tall by 20-30 feet wide, makes Blue Beech a good choice where a native tree of modest size is desired for a small area, perhaps to lend a mid-level architecture to a shade garden.

My favorite features of Blue Beech are the very pronounced veins that give the leaves outstanding texture, and the lovely ornamental seed heads that hang on the tree for several months with splayed petals similar to a fuschia.  An outstanding mix of yellow/orange and red fall color is yet another reason to consider including Blue Beech in your landscape

Visit our Ornamental Tree Lists on our Plant Page for a listing of other trees we have available.

One tree honors the life and memory of Kristi Ann Rasmussen Knecht, a long-time Northfielder who died tragically on September 12, 2011, as a result of a bicycle accident.  Kristi was a studio music teacher of rare ability who helped hundreds of students blossom as people and musicians of accomplishment.  She will be greatly missed by friends, family and students who enjoyed her wit, warmth, intellect and musical talent.

The second tree honors Howard and Edna Hong, who called Northfield home for over seven decades.  Together they helped a wider world benefit from the wisdom of the Danish Christian philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, by spending much of their lives translating his works into English.  This allowed the entire field of philosophy to be a richer and deeper area of great thought.

If you’re interested, give Leif a call here at the nursery – 507-645-5015 and he’ll get you more details!

Fabulous Fall Color

Container trees are light weight, eassy to plant and successfully establish very quickly.  We have many sizes, over 300 varieties and fantastic fall prices.  Check out a sampling of these prices:

When spring comes, the new plants are ready and waiting to quickly establish and flourish.  Well planned fall planting projects can also save substantial amounts of money, since great bargains are available at most nurseries.

An added plus for fall planting is the pleasant fall weather that makes time spent on a project outdoors enjoyable and easier.  October and November have quite a few fabulous fall days, so there’s still plenty of time to do that project you’ve been putting off.  Seize the opportunity.  It’s a wonderful time.  (to plant).

Fall color is coming into the country!!  The harbingers of autumn color such as sumac, the red maple, and some ash trees are already putting that first glow of fall color in the landscape.  Our knowledgeable staff can help you find a nice mix of plant materials to paint your landscape with early, mid and late season fall color.

Discounts of 20% to 50% are available on many plants and the plants displaying fall colors, changes daily.  Our inventories are currently good, but hurry in while values are amazing.

At Knecht’s Nurseries and Landscaping, we are pleased to be able to make available the original garden art of Mary Felden, a Minneapolis artist whose steel creations are inventive, durable in all weather, functional and fanciful.  Come in to our Hwy 19 retail site, and smile with us as you enjoy Mary’s work.

Boring insects of various kinds can destroy Birch, Oak, Linden and Ash trees and Viburnum shrubs.  There is a chemical treatment that is effective at controlling and/or preventing borers.  The active ingredient is Imidacloprid and is available in many commonly available pest control products.  Applied to the soil next to the stem of a tree or shrub, Imidacloprid is absorbed by the roots, and prevents dozens of insect pests in addition to borers from attacking the plant.  Treatment is simple, safe and effective.

Japanese Beetles are showing up in greater numbers.   Soon they will be widespread in the Northfield area.  We are all going to have to learn more about controlling this VERY destructive insect. You may be interested to know that Imidacloprid gives pretty good control of the Japanese Beetle and about 35 other insects, which helps property owners avoid having to spray foliar applications of conventional insecticides.

For recently planted trees, shrubs and perennials, more frequent waterings will be necessary, as often as every day or two until they are able to extend new roots outwards and tap moisture from a larger volume of soil.