Potted Trees

Landscaping with Trees

Trees are usually expensive to purchase and install, and will be, in time, a major part of your landscape. Therefore, adding a new tree to the landscape should be done with a fair degree of consideration.

If selected correctly a quality tree can add considerable value to your property. Besides the economic value a quality tree can add, they also provide shade, privacy, and beauty.

Trees purchased and placed without considering how big it will grow, what the negative aspects a particular tree might have, or what it will do to the rest of the landscape plantings when it reaches maturity, can become an expensive problem in years to come.

Before selecting and planting a tree, consider the size and shape of the mature tree even though you may not be the one living on the property at that time. Consider how much annual maintenance will be required, the location in your yard, and its purpose.

Some trees should not be planted in the home landscape. Silver maples are a good example and one commonly found in housing developments. The reason this type of tree is planted is because it grows fast, is easy to grow and it's cheap. Yet because the silver maple grows so fast, it develops bad habits. Crotches form in the trunk which become stress points prone to catastrophic failure in windstorms. Its root structure is very near the soil's surface and will in time push through the surface. Because of it's shallow root system it also competes with the lawn making it difficult to maintain a healthy lawn.

How big will that tree grow?

All plants continue growing until they die. Some don't reach maturity for 30 years. Even though most families only live in their homes for 10 years or less and will never see that tree they planted next to the house reach maturity. Even though you will probably never see it in its old age, you still don't want to plant a tree that will outgrow its location.

I bought a property several years ago for a variety of reasons. However, in the back of the property there was a long line of about 20 Norway Spruce that had grown to about 35'. The problem with these spruce is that when they were planted some 30 years ago as very small seedlings, they were spaced at 5' intervals. The homeowners never considered what they would be like when I bought the property.

Today, the trees are malformed and lopsided. Except for the two end trees, none have branches on either side. And, because they were planted too close to the power lines, the utility company has sheered off the entire back side of the trees. As much as I love this landscape, the time has come when almost all of these trees will need to be removed. Had the original owners only considered what these trees would be like 30 years or more into the future, they would still be quality specimens.

Once you have considered the space you intend to plant the tree in, and considered how big that tree will grow, what else should be considered?

There are 4 basic ways of buying trees: rooted cuttings, bare-root trees, container-grown, and balled trees. Cuttings should only be considered when planting large areas of trees, such as a Christmas tree farm. For most homeowners, bare-rooted, container-grown and balled trees are the only real options.

Bare-root trees

Bare-rooted trees are almost always deciduous trees. They are field grown with the soil removed. These will almost always be sold as dormant trees, preferably in late fall or early spring. Leafed specimens are less likely to survive the transplanting process.

Since you can easily see the root system, make sure it has well-developed roots spreading evenly in all directions. Make sure the roots are not damaged or diseased

Container-grown trees

Alberta Spruce Containers Widely available at the nursery and home improvement stores. These trees may be planted throughout the growing season. Container-grown trees are usually more expensive than bare-root or balled & burlap trees of similar size.

Container-grown trees are best for trees that do not establish easily when transplanted such as magnolias and eucalyptus. With container-grown trees there is less disturbance of the roots.

Before actually purchasing a container-grown tree, if possible, slide it out of the container so you can take a close look at the root system. Avoid pot bound specimens that have a congested root system or one with roots protruding through the bottom weep hole. These trees will be more difficult to establish in a new home. Also look for roots that are growing around the inside. These will have to be cut, or the tree will girdle itself and die. What happens is that as the tree matures, these roots will also mature and grow in size, eventually to the point where they will actually strangle itself.

Japanese Maple Burlaped Also make sure the container is large enough in relation to the size of the plant. A large tree growing in a small container will most likely be root-bound. Look for container-grown trees growing in soil instead of other mixes. These will adapt to new environments quicker.

Balled and burlap trees

These trees are field grown and usually lifted out of the ground by mechanical process that scoops out a small clump of soil that is then wrapped in burlap and pinned together. Evergreens and deciduous trees more than 12' are sold this way.

Make sure the ball is tightly wrapped and intact before purchase. Look for signs of drying out or root damage.

Read: Tips on planting a new tree

Additional tree characteristics

Fast Tree

Suitable for Shearing

Deer-resistant

Native Trees

Trees that make fast-growing screens:

Arborvitae

Canadian Hemlock Tree

Eastern White Pine Tree

Norway Spruce Tree

Red Maple Tree

Serviceberry Tree

White Willow Tree

Trees good for formal shearing / shaping:

Amur Maple Tree

Arborvitae

Columnar Red Maple Tree

Eastern White Pine Tree

Upright Juniper

Washington Hawthorn Tree

Deer-resistant trees:

American Holly Tree

Eastern Redbud Tree

Eastern White Pine Tree

Norway Spruce Tree

Native trees found in the eastern United States:

American-Smoke Tree

Blue Gum Tree

Sassafras Tree

Sourwood Tree

White Ash Tree

Also read about the benefits of trees and how to plant a tree. Also read about the threat to Emerald Ash Trees from the Emerald Ash Borer.


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	>>Home > 6 Essential Steps for Healthy Trees Proper Tree Fertilization Proper Tree Planting Guidelines How to Choose the Right Tree for You Landscaping with Trees Trees are usually expensive to purchase and install, and will be, in time, a major part of your landscape. Therefore, adding a new tree to the landscape should be done with a fair degree of consideration. If selected correctly a quality tree can add considerable value to your property. Besides the economic value a quality tree can add, they also provide shade, privacy, and beauty. Trees purchased and placed without considering how big it will grow, what the negative aspects a particular tree might have, or what it will do to the rest of the landscape plantings when it reaches maturity, can become an expensive problem in years to come. Before selecting and planting a tree, consider the size and shape of the mature tree even though you may not be the one living on the property at that time. Consider how much annual maintenance will be required, the location in your yard, and its purpose. Some trees should not be planted in the home landscape. Silver maples are a good example and one commonly found in housing developments. The reason this type of tree is planted is because it grows fast, is easy to grow and it's cheap. Yet because the silver maple grows so fast, it develops bad habits. Crotches form in the trunk which become stress points prone to catastrophic failure in windstorms. Its root structure is very near the soil's surface and will in time push through the surface. Because of it's shallow root system it also competes with the lawn making it difficult to maintain a healthy lawn. How big will that tree grow? All plants continue growing until they die. Some don't reach maturity for 30 years. Even though most families only live in their homes for 10 years or less and will never see that tree they planted next to the house reach maturity. Even though you will probably never see it in its old age, you still don't want to plant a tree that will outgrow its location. I bought a property several years ago for a variety of reasons. However, in the back of the property there was a long line of about 20 Norway Spruce that had grown to about 35'. The problem with these spruce is that when they were planted some 30 years ago as very small seedlings, they were spaced at 5' intervals. The homeowners never considered what they would be like when I bought the property. Today, the trees are malformed and lopsided. Except for the two end trees, none have branches on either side. And, because they were planted too close to the power lines, the utility company has sheered off the entire back side of the trees. As much as I love this landscape, the time has come when almost all of these trees will need to be removed. Had the original owners only considered what these trees would be like 30 years or more into the future, they would still be quality specimens. Once you have considered the space you intend to plant the tree in, and considered how big that tree will grow, what else should be considered? There are 4 basic ways of buying trees: rooted cuttings, bare-root trees, container-grown, and balled trees. Cuttings should only be considered when planting large areas of trees, such as a Christmas tree farm. For most homeowners, bare-rooted, container-grown and balled trees are the only real options. Bare-root trees Bare-rooted trees are almost always deciduous trees. They are field grown with the soil removed. These will almost always be sold as dormant trees, preferably in late fall or early spring. Leafed specimens are less likely to survive the transplanting process. Since you can easily see the root system, make sure it has well-developed roots spreading evenly in all directions. Make sure the roots are not damaged or diseased Container-grown trees Widely available at the nursery and home improvement stores. These trees may be planted throughout the growing season. Container-grown trees are usually more expensive than bare-root or balled & burlap trees of similar size. Container-grown trees are best for trees that do not establish easily when transplanted such as magnolias and eucalyptus. With container-grown trees there is less disturbance of the roots. Before actually purchasing a container-grown tree, if possible, slide it out of the container so you can take a close look at the root system. Avoid pot bound specimens that have a congested root system or one with roots protruding through the bottom weep hole. These trees will be more difficult to establish in a new home. Also look for roots that are growing around the inside. These will have to be cut, or the tree will girdle itself and die. What happens is that as the tree matures, these roots will also mature and grow in size, eventually to the point where they will actually strangle itself. Also make sure the container is large enough in relation to the size of the plant. A large tree growing in a small container will most likely be root-bound. Look for container-grown trees growing in soil instead of other mixes. These will adapt to new environments quicker. Balled and burlap trees These trees are field grown and usually lifted out of the ground by mechanical process that scoops out a small clump of soil that is then wrapped in burlap and pinned together. Evergreens and deciduous trees more than 12' are sold this way. Make sure the ball is tightly wrapped and intact before purchase. Look for signs of drying out or root damage. Read: Tips on planting a new tree Additional tree characteristics Fast Tree Suitable for Shearing Deer-resistant Native Trees Trees that make fast-growing screens: Arborvitae Canadian Hemlock Tree Eastern White Pine Tree Norway Spruce Tree Red Maple Tree Serviceberry Tree White Willow Tree Trees good for formal shearing / shaping: Amur Maple Tree Arborvitae Columnar Red Maple Tree Eastern White Pine Tree Upright Juniper Washington Hawthorn Tree Deer-resistant trees: American Holly Tree Eastern Redbud Tree Eastern White Pine Tree Norway Spruce Tree Native trees found in the eastern United States: American-Smoke Tree Blue Gum Tree Sassafras Tree Sourwood Tree White Ash Tree Also read about the benefits of trees and how to plant a tree. Also read about the threat to Emerald Ash Trees from the Emerald Ash Borer.

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