Power. Crispness. Formal. Wait, are we talking about Usain Bolt’s running technique? Nope! These are just a few of the adjectives we use to describe Columnar trees.
Although, we do believe these natural specimens could win an Olympic gold medal or two as well.
The new craze of vertical accents in the landscape is upon us, and we want you to be fast adapting for all the right reasons. So let’s jump right in!
Our Go-To’s For Tight Spaces
Evergreen
Columnar Blue Spruce is known for its dramatic silver-blue foliage color! It also enjoys showing off a striking upright form when planted. The best part yet, there’s little pruning or maintenance required.
You’ll want to plant this tree where you can see it from the comfort of your home, especially during the winter months when it’s lit up like a Christmas tree!
Degroot’s Spire Arborvitae is a slender columnar evergreen that stands out from the rest. It’s extreme soft foliage makes it seem as if you could easily give it a 5 minute long hug!
This arborvitae loves to show off its professional aura whether that be a single focal point in front of the house, a solid screen to close off privacy, or with a collection of other evergreen trees!
Fine Line Buckthorn is an excellent choice for a columnar plant within a decorative container. Their shape is softened by the dainty textured foliage that flows freely in light winds.
Instead of just one, add in another to flank both sides of your front door. Or create privacy screens or living walls to cover unwanted visual aspects by lining them a tight knit row. The possibilities are endless!
Armstrong Maple’s branches all uniquely grow towards the sky making it ideal for narrow planting. Being one of the taller specimens, the Armstrong Maple can show off its classic red leaves in the fall and stunning silver bark in the winter!
It can even act and blend in with shade trees too!
Flowering
Purple Pillar Rose of Sharon is a vertical accent like no other! It displays a long-lasting view of violet-pink soft petals that are streaked with ruby red centers.
This plant will grow tall and stay skinny while doing it, making it an ideal attention grabbing privacy screen for smaller areas!
Fruiting
Blushing Delight & Golden Treat Columnar Urban Apple Tree is the best of both worlds! Its columnar shape and full-sized apples cannot be beat in the garden.
Use it to decorate a patio, grow in a lovely container, or use as a small space backdrop to a victory garden! In no time, you’ll be enjoying fresh home-grown juicy apples.
How To Add In Columnar Trees
Landscape Design Tips
There is just something about the simplicity of a single narrow tree in a landscape that screams “Look at me!” If you’re the person who wants to add in a plant, but doesn’t want to overdo it, a spire-like columnar has your back.
This uncomplicated design tip can be anchored down within a planting bed, stand tall in a pot set aside the front door, or even provide the ideal contrast to a few wide-spread or rounded greenery.
Be the neighbor during the holiday season that bedazzles their Dwarf Alberta Spruce Spiral Topiary with twinkling ivory lights at their doorstep for a prime focal point on the block.
Even mix and match a few Sky Pencil Holly trees to thoughtfully frame a gate or doorway. Narrow upright trees with their crisp and clean outlines fit well into the more formal aspects of gardening.
This is exactly why columnars go well in patio plantings, landscape entryways, or around foundation beds.
Looking for more of a space-saving tree line that envelops the meaning of elegant privacy? Small yards and structures can have that too!
A chain of these slim trees makes an attractive boundary with the benefits of being brilliant windbreaks and notable noise buffers. We suggest several North Pole Arborvitae to attain a sophisticated screen!
Proper Planting & Care
Regular Columnar trees require the same amount of attention as any other tree once established in your landscape.
You’ll want to check the water intake throughout the first year. They prefer well-drained soil. If the area is dry, give it a nice long shower. But if the soil is already moist, check again the following day.
Pruning a select few of your narrow trees is a proper care tip 101. This not only makes the garden look snazzy, but it makes for a healthy plant. Others don’t require this as they do it for you!
When planting and caring for columnar fruit trees, you’ll want to become a pro at the basics. Be sure to plant your edible delight in an area that receives full sun and has enough space to grow.
Fruit trees for small areas are only a few feet wide, so they make the perfect addition to your small garden. However, they don’t like very hot or very cold weather. Zones 4 through 8 are ideal!
Once you’ve got the tree in the ground, it’s time to officially start the caring process! There should always be ample enough of water provided, but steer away from the soil being soggy or bone dry.
For a spectacular fruit-bearing harvest, add in fertilizer to encourage growth throughout the season.
Ready to nose-dive into the craze of Columnar trees? We know we are!
Happy planting from Nature Hills!
