There are small trees and big trees — do research before planting one
For years I have loved to use this quote in my garden articles. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now." When our youngest son Eric was in junior high he made us a little sign on his computer with this saying on it. It hung in the shop for a long time, and I have used the saying in my garden columns, newsletters and for classes over the years. It is an old Chinese proverb that is surely timeless in its message.
Have you ever noticed that the most attractive streets, parks, and yards are those with trees? The simplest cottage looks charming and inviting when surrounded by trees. If you haven't planted any trees lately, perhaps this is the time to do so. Pick out something with great fall color. There are small trees and trees that get very large, it is your choice.
There are so many trees from which to choose. Here in the Delaware Valley, especially South Jersey, we have wonderful nurseries where trees are grown. For best results, it is good to pick a local grown tree that is good for your soil and exposure. Look at trees, then read about ones that appeal to you to see if they are what you need. Michael Dirr's book "Manual of Woody Plants" is one of the best of all tree books for complete information.
Many caring folks make a tradition of planting a new tree somewhere each year. People who want shade often choose an oak, maple, or other tree with spreading branches. For a spring bloom -- dogwood, magnolia or yellowwood would be good.
A favorite native is the sourwood tree. This plant pictured is showing off the amazing fall color that makes Sourwood such a desirable tree in every landscape! For color, there are flowering cherry, plum, redbuds, magnolia, crape myrtle and dogwood. The list goes on and on. Trees mark boundaries, they make shade, clean the air, hold the soil, are nesting places, food sources for butterflies and wildlife, and sources of inspiration for poets. Trees add a certain dimension to a site and shelter it.
It you choose the right tree for the right spot, you will have a lifetime companion. For instance, if the soil is on the wet side, a swamp magnolia or maple might work a lot better than a cherry.
Maples are wonderful trees for color and shade. All maples are in the Acer (their botanical name) family, with a second name to better identify them. Of course, there are a few maples to avoid, such as the silver and Norway, because they have really terrible root systems. Others, such as the paper bark, trifoliam, Japanese red maple, sugar and most red maples are very sought after ornamentals. Colorful red or sugar maples and their cultivars are fast-growing shade trees with great color now. It is always a good idea to keep the large maples away from cesspools, sewer pipes, or sidewalks. They do have vigorous roots that seek moisture.
One of my very favorite natives is the sourwood tree. Son Joe says, "Sourwood, aka Oxydendrum arboreum, is one of the most wonderful small native flowering trees you can get! It is hard to find around here so its nice that we have some now and are propagating it by seed this year! This plant is showing off its amazing fall color now that makes Sourwood such a desirable tree in every landscape! They also have very fragrant flowers in summer that the honey bees love and need. if you have ever had Sourwood Honey you will have an idea of just how wonderful this tree is! The flowers resemble Lily of the Valley so Sourwood is also known as Lily of the Valley Tree! Fall planting is recommended and now is the perfect time to plant a Sourwood in your garden!"
A real favorite for smaller gardens is the Japanese Red Maple tree (Acer palmatum). This popular ornamental plant is a small deciduous tree that is usually used as a single specimen, but it can be very nice in groupings. Japanese maples include an incredibly diverse and beautiful variety of hybrids (over 300 cultivars). These vary in leaf shape from the 'typical' Maple leaf, to deeply cut 'Lace leaf' varieties.
I love the Linden, or Tilia cordata, which is a great tree for our growing area. It can reach over 50 feet tall at maturity and the tree has a pyramidal to oval shape. It has wonderfully fragrant blooms that pollinators love. The hearted-shaped leaves are pretty and color nicely in fall.
Now for something different, Yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea). This one is found from North Carolina to Kentucky with a few native patches as far west as Illinois. Andre Micheaux, a French botanist, discovered the Yellowwood trees growing near Fort Blount, Tennessee, in 1796. Although incredibly easy to grow it is rare and is difficult to find. In fact, it is on the endangered species list for many states. Now it is being grown in southern New Jersey.
When our yellowwood tree blooms everyone asks what it is. When it first bloomed I had no idea what it was. My son, Joe, planted it and until it bloomed in the back border I didn't even know it was there. Now it is a large tree that is so very fragrant and beautiful. Although an easy to grow native to areas of the Eastern United States it often gets overlooked because of its rarity.
It sure grows well here at Triple Oaks. We do little or nothing to the tree and it is awesome. A few cups of lime would be good where soil is extremely acid. We are excited about the small trees we are now growing in pots. It is a good tree to have near bee hives as the honeybees like it.
I have read in some articles that the tree is extremely rare and difficult to find in the wild and in nursery production. However it is beginning to appear in the trade and some New Jersey growers are growing it. We were lucky to get some seedlings to grow a few years ago. They look great.
Planting How-To
Use common sense when planting. Make the right size holes, large enough to accommodate the roots, but not too big. Mix in some good compost or manure in with the existing soil and place the tree ball in. Fill no higher than the top of the soil that was in pot or the top of the root ball. Tamp gently and water well. Be sure to saturate the soil all around the ball of dirt. If you do not water deeply each time you water, the root will grow up to the surface and become vulnerable to heat and cold. A slow- unning hose for five or six hours once a week is what is usually needed, not a tease of lawn irrigation for a short period all the time. This only brings roots up to the surface for water. Add light shredded root mulch, not more than 2 inches, and keep it away from the bark of tree. Never heap mulch around the tree trunk. This is called volcano mulching and is bad for the tree trunk. Don't feed newly planted trees until next spring.
In summary, there are many good trees to choose from. Of course, oaks are long-lived, maples are pretty and fast growing, and both make great shade. If you want something different there are many others to choose from such as linden, sourwood, yellowwood and others. Visit an arboretum, a botanical garden and a reliable nursery and look at many kinds of trees.
My husband Ted jokes that if the maple tree doesn't work out, you can always make bowling pins from it. Some sense of humor, huh? But all joking aside, if you have never planted a tree in your lifetime, now is the time to do so. Give mother earth a gift: plant a tree. It will be even more beautiful 20 years from now. Triple Oaks Nursery is holding an Open House Nov.19-20 and Nov. 26-27, visit Triple Oaks.com for more information.
Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.