Q: We are moving to a new state and don't know much about the trees that grow there. Can you give us some tips on what to look for? We have looked at some top 10 lists for trees to grow in the area, but they are confusing and list plants that we would never use in our current landscape.
A: Check with the town that you are moving to and see if they have a list of trees that they don't want people to plant and a list of preferred trees. Trees on the first list may be overplanted or may produce messy fruit. Trees on the preferred list are usually nice trees that are underrepresented on the tree census.
My first tip is to try to get a tree that no one else in the neighborhood has. That way, your tree will have less of a chance of getting an insect or disease later on. A brand-new neighborhood may not have many trees yet, so it will be hard to prevent others from copying your choice.
Ask several of your local nursery people what their top 10 bestselling trees are — and then don't buy one of them. Ask them which one they would have in their own yard.
All deciduous trees are going to lose their leaves each fall. Evergreen trees will lose their needles in the fall or spring, depending on the variety. How much work do you want to do raking leaves? Trees with large leaves create larger messes in the fall than trees with small leaves. Large leaves look like a trash can blew over when the leaves accumulate under the shrubs in the landscape.
We all want trees that grow quickly, never have any problems and do not create any work, but we also want them to be alive. Even silk plants would need to be dusted once in a while. Most fast-growing trees are also short-lived and not too sturdy. They lose more twigs and other debris and have more insect and disease problems than longer-lived trees. Fortunately, many trees are fast or at least faster-growing while they are young.
Slow growing trees grow less than 1 foot per year, while medium growth rate trees grow 1-2 feet and finally, fast growers grow trunks and branches at a rate of over 2 feet per year.
This is the best time of year to look at the shade tree's future location. Decide which part of the house you want to be shaded and go outside between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on any summer day. Determine which direction the sun is coming from by looking at your shadow. You will be able to get a range of tree locations by seeing where the shadow points at the part of the house you want to be shaded.
The best time to pick a tree for its fall color is in the fall, so you can see what color it turns. The best time to pick a flowering tree is when it is in bloom, so you can be sure to get the flower color you want.
Trees with large flowers, such as magnolia, catalpa and jacaranda, will cause a bigger mess under the tree when the flowers fall off than a tree with small flowers, such as crab apple, crepe myrtle or redbud.
Few large shade trees are available in seedless forms, but there are seedless ash, ginkgo and honey locust. Small flowering trees may produce fruit that birds eat. The fruit then passes through the birds and onto sidewalks, patios and car windows.
Birch and aspen trees have white trunks, but other white-barked trees such as sycamore and eucalyptus drop a lot of bark, creating another messy time of year.
Be careful of trees with thorns. There are thornless varieties of hawthorn and honey locust trees. Trees with thorns make good security hedges, but don't plant them near sidewalks, patios or driveways.
Many of today's subdivision landscapes are smaller than in the past. They need smaller trees. Before you buy the tree, find out what the mature size and shape will be. Trees come in a variety of shapes. They can be tall and skinny or short and round. Deciduous trees can even be pyramidal like a Christmas tree.
Another thing that is more common these days is solar panels. Even if the new house doesn't have them initially, plan ahead for where shade trees will be planted so they won't shade a potential future solar panel.
Some tree species are native to dry landscapes, and some to wet landscapes. Aspens, birches and many maples are shoreline or lowland trees. Many, but not all, oaks, hickory, linden and honey locust trees are native to upland and drier areas. Birch trees are pretty, but they don't grow well on a berm or between the street and sidewalk. Some of the maples that grow in wet areas have very shallow roots that grow near the surface so they can get oxygen. They will grow near the surface in the landscape, making it impossible to grow grass under the tree.
I have looked at some of the top 10 lists myself, and you are right: There are some trees that shouldn't be on any list of home landscape trees. The trees are pretty, but they grow huge or have problems with being messy. They make good trees for natural areas and for parks or golf courses, but not for a small landscape.
DIST. BY CREATORS.COM
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