How to Landscape with Blue Atlas Cedar
Blue Atlas Cedars are popular trees for experienced gardeners. They can be grown in many conditions and are useful for landscaping purposes. Espalier, the process of growing a Blue Atlas Cedar against a flat surface such as a wall, makes the trees especially useful as a statement piece or a focal point for landscaping.
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedars are another popular form of the tree and can be used to create a different focal point in a garden.
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Instructions
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Decide what kind of Blue Atlas Cedar you want to grow. Espalier takes time, practice and experience in gardening and directing the growth of trees. For information on growing a Blue Atlas Cedar against a wall, refer to Section Two.
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Plant a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in an area where it receives direct sunlight. Water the plant once a week to keep the soil moist, or more frequently if the weather is dry.
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Stake the tree so that it grows straight. If the cedar is not staked, it will grow out in numerous directions and can overtake your garden.
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4
Use pruning shears to control the growth of the tree and remove any branches that become too large or cause damage to other plants.
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Place other plants, decorative rocks and mulch around the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar to accentuate it and add variety to your garden. Leave two to three feet of space between the tree and other plants.
How to Use Espalier for a Blue Atlas Cedar
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Choose a fence or wall to grow your Blue Atlas Cedar against. The wall should be 10 to 15 feet high, 12 feet wide and receive direct or partial sunlight.
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Plant the tree one foot away from the base of the fence or wall. It's easier to train saplings to grow once they have reached three to five feet in height. Blue Atlas Cedars can be purchased in a container.
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Use pruning shears to cut off all of the branches on the front and back of the tree. Leave the branches on the sides of the tree.
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Install hooks in the fence or wall at regular intervals along the branches on the side of your tree.
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Loop a long twist tie around each branch and attach it to the hook.
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Add new hooks and reattach the branches as the tree grows. Prune the top of your tree at a desired height to keep it from growing too tall.
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Use pruning shears to remove any branches that grow out from or towards your wall or fence.
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Plant shrubs and flowers around the base of your blue atlas cedar. Landscape using rocks and mulch.
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Tips & Warnings
Eye hooks are the most effective type of hook for attaching a Blue Atlas Cedar to a wall.
Use appropriate anchoring hardware for your type of wall or fence when you install the hooks.
Water the tree regularly. The soil should be kept moist, but do not saturate the tree as too much water can drown the tree or cause root damage.
