Choose a Tree for Life
We all love shade trees, states Dennis Sons at Tn Nursery. We even call a forest a cathedral because of the awe a grove of trees can inspire. A landscape is not complete without trees. You can also safely say that our lives are not whole without trees because they give off oxygen so we can breathe. Luckily we can pick out the trees we love best and have them in our yards.
In general, trees are sent to us as gigantic B&B trees. That means balled and burlapped. The tree is dug up, balled and burlapped, and tied with twine for delivery or pick up. Check to be sure the ball (roots of the tree) is at least ten times the tree's diameter. Measure 6" up to check the correct sizes of large B&B large trees.
Occasionally, you can transport large B&B trees yourself, but you will want installers with a large truck and a tree dolly most of the time. They can plant your tree correctly and give it the best chance of a healthy life. The best time to plant a tree is in the cold weather of fall, so the tree can develop healthy roots before it needs the energy to grow leaves.
We all love shade trees. We want the tree on the ground today and enjoy shade by the weekend. Sadly, trees take a bit longer than that to provide. Often several years have to pass before we can sit in a lawn chair, sip our lemonade and enjoy the shade.
Ash Trees
Some good choices for shade trees are Ash trees. The red maple, sugar maples, and oak trees. Each of these is an excellent specimen in the landscape and will provide shade.
Baseball bats are made of ash so. They are sturdy trees and will give you years of enjoyment.
Another excellent shade tree is a Japanese White Birch. Its white bark stands out in contrast to other trees. One of the most popular trees, be sure to order early before the supply is depleted. The River Birch is another tree enjoyed for its bark and shade. The leaves turn bright yellow in the fall and are spectacular.
We all love Red Maple trees; The red leaf color delights us in the fall; During the rest of the year. There are some 200 varieties of Maple Trees, so you can choose one that provides maple syrup.
Flowering trees are always a favorite in the landscape. Everyone loves the scent of Magnolias, Dogwoods, or Flowering Cherries. The Redbud blooms early in the southern states and blooms before it leaves out. The entire tree is covered in flowers without a leaf to be seen. It's a dramatic addition to the landscape. Crepe Myrtle trees
The Tulip Poplar Tree is a street tree, the ones you see next to roads or cities because they are so hardy that nothing can hurt them. You can't miss flowering trees.
Evergreen trees do not lose their needles or foliage in the winter, hence the name evergreen. Evergreen trees do lose their leaves. They don't do it all at once in the winter. As their leaves age, they drop, so the tree looks green all year round.
The Thuja Green Giant is most desired as a privacy plant because it grows so fast. It can be used as a hedge for a good reason. Many of the hollies are great evergreens. The Nellie R. Stevens is an excellent choice for a tree because it has an excellent pyramidal shape and resists pest damage. A Mystic Ice Deodar Cedar is yet another excellent choice for the landscape. Use it as a specimen plant rather than a hedge or windbreak.
We all have a love/hate relationship with fast-growing trees. Many of them grow fast and die young. A fast grower means you may be able to sit under it for five to six years, figuring a growth rate of 1 - 2 feet a year.
Some exceptions are available, however. Look for a Northern Red Oak. They are fast-growing trees, pest resistant, and do not succumb to most of the fast-growing tree problems.
The Freeman Maple is another fast grower. It can grow to 75 or 80 feet but provide plenty of room to reach 45 - 50 feet wide.
The Tulip Tree is another excellent fast-growing tree. It grows 75- 90 feet high by 40-50 feet wide and often hides a brilliant chartreuse flower in springtime.
Regardless of your chosen trees, you will love them, as will your children and their children. The earth will love you as well.
