I think that I shall never see
a poem as lovely as a tree
especially those from Dave Leck-ey
With all apologies to Joyce Kilmer and/or her sister, Val. Although I might be just a little confused on that front (and yes, I know they're men.)
There are glorious trees in Oregon -- the ubiquitous Douglas firs, the we-were-here-first white oaks, and countless others -- but the trees nurtured and grown by Newberg's Dave Leckey at Oregon Small Trees Nursery feature many dozens I had never seen before, from a 'Chitosemaru' spruce to a 'Louie' Eastern white pine (both of which are now in our garden).
And yes, it's Oregon SMALL Trees Nursery, because the 4,000 trees on Leckey's 2.5 acres are either dwarfs or miniatures.
As a rule of thumb, dwarfs grow about four to eight inches a year (so, for example, a tree would be about 5-feet tall at 10 years old). Miniatures are the smallest size, growing from a half-inch to three inches each year. Demand for those, Leckey says, is, shall we say, growing as people downsize and move into smaller spaces with an emphasis on courtyards, smaller gardens and container planting.
It's not just the size of trees that sets the one-man nursery ("If you drop in and I'm at the grocery store, the nursery is closed," Leckey says) apart, it's the variety and the care taken in nurturing them from grafts on root stock. And he even includes much older -- as in 20-years-plus -- versions of many of his trees so people can see what to expect a decade or two down the road.
"I grow plants that are unique and slow growing that people haven't seen before," he says. "Most of what you'll see here can't be found at a garden center."
Leckey, who "retired" from his job as a lumber trader in 1997, bought his first starts in 1996 and says his particular brand of retirement "has really been fun."
"I get excited talking about plants," he says (he's not kidding; he gave us four hours of his time on a Saturday to share the wonders of his nursery). "Everyone has their own idea of the perfect tree."
He also gets excited talking about his amazing, water-conserving irrigation system. Without going into details, it uses one-quarter of the water of a traditional nursery, it self-waters so he can go on a two-week vacation and not worry about his trees being properly hydrated and the most expensive part cost him $6. You can read more about it at http://oregonsmalltrees.com/pdf/Final%20Draft_TechNote_07222015.pdf.
Marcia:
I've always thought Dave is as one-of-a-kind as the trees he grows. I've been buying his unique conifers for my clients and myself for years.
Dave walks the talk when it comes to living gently on this planet.
His nursery is sustainable, as is he and his wife Beth's house, which is built into the side of a hill. It is passive solar and absorbs ambient heat from the earth. Heck, he even still drivers the same cherry red VW van he bought in the early 1970s.
To visit Oregon Small Trees is an educational experience as well as an addictive treat. We never leave without at least a couple of gems for our garden.
Dwarf and miniature conifers are so versatile. They won't outgrow their space in a small garden and are great accents in a large garden. Use them in pots on the patio or tucked into a rock garden.
Plus, they add interest, texture and bones to the winter garden.
Oregon Small Trees Nursery
Where: Ten minutes west of Wilsonville. You need to call or email for an appointment.
Who: Leckey primarily sells to landscape designers and landscape architects, but increasingly by appointment only to the public. "I depend a lot on word of mouth," he says.
For more information: You can find a list of all the offerings at oregonsmalltrees.com and call 503-860-0538 to set up an appointment.
Some favorites
First, though, Leckey was quick to point out "I love them all like children."
Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph': Starting toward winter the color turns to chartreuse and will, he says, "knock your eyes out."
Abies koreana 'Icebreaker': Leckey's "new darling." Started as a sport (mutation) off a Silberlocke fir.
Cedrus deodara 'Silver Mist': Just gorgeous, he says. And he's right.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Miss Grace': Very old genus with terrific bark. Deciduous.
Larix kaempferi 'Diana': Contorted, with what look like needles turning orange in fall. Deciduous, with wonderful winter bones. One of his favorites.
Picea omorika 'Gunter': Just 24-inches wide at 17-years-old.
Pinus contorta 'Spaan's Dwarf': Leckey says it's his "favorite plant on the property." Has a very Japanese feel.
Pinus banksiana 'Pendula': Great in any garden.
Pinus parviflora 'Cleary': A sight to behold in the summer.
Moving conifers from pot to ground
1. Particularly in summer (although fall, followed by spring, are the best time to plant), make sure you get the root ball moist, so submerge it in a bucket of water for up to two hours before planting it in the ground.
2. With a root saw, make vertical cuts about an inch or so deep along the outside of the root ball every few inches. Most nursery stock is a little root-bound, and this will encourage the roots to spread freely in the ground.
3. Plant a little higher than the grade. The hole should be half-again as wide as the plant. You don't need a huge hole because you want to get the plant growing in native soil as soon as possible.
4. Occasionally, you can amend a little with mulch and pumice, but for the most part the plant has to live in the native soil.
5. Stake for the first year or two if it's a tall plant, so roots can anchor.
6. For the first year, water as needed, but once it's established, water only once of twice if it's a very dry summer.
Questions to ask when choosing conifers
1. Where will it go?
2. How much space do you have?
3. What will it look like in five years? After 10? Keep in mind that if a tree outgrows its space it could cost a lot of money to remove. So start with the right tree for the right space.
If you want to keep your conifer in a pot
1. Tiny miniatures are OK in pots for four or five years before they need to be re-potted.
2. Let grafted miniatures grow with the root stock attached until it looks like it can handle life on its own. Letting it grow on the root stock, which can be trimmed, doesn't hurt it.
3. Use a balanced (10-6-4) fertilizer in early spring and the end of July. Don't fertilize too much, since you don't want to push growth.
4. The only way to know if it's time to repot is to take the plant out. If its roots are a mess and bound, then move it to a bigger pot or prune the roots.
5. Prune the roots by shaving off some of the outer roots with a root saw. Or make vertical cuts every few inches into the root ball with the root saw and replant in a larger pot.
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Marcia Westcott Peck is a landscape designer (pecklandscape.tumblr.com) and Dennis Peck is a senior editor at The Oregonian/OregonLive.