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Atlanta's Native Trees: How to select and plant them
Native trees are those that grow or occur naturally in an area. Trees native to Atlanta are acclimated to the soil and climate conditions of the area and are also adapted to local insect and disease problems.
Before selecting a tree for your home landscape, consider these criteria:
• Do I need an evergreen for screening or do I want a deciduous tree for seasonal shading?
• What works best with my landscape scheme–weeping, pyramidal, rounded or globular?
• What will the tree’s mature size be like, and will it still fit the spot I have in mind?
• Do I want a tree that has good fall color, nice flowers, attractive fruit or interesting seed?
• Is this tree species adapted to Atlanta soils and climate, and is it pest free?
Nursery trees are usually sold as container (C), or balled and burlapped
(B & B) trees. Container trees have developed root systems so that they can be planted year-round. Balled & burlapped trees are best planted in the fall to early winter when there is milder weather and more rainfall. Bare-root (BR) trees are often sold in catalogs and are usually much smaller trees. These seedling trees should be planted only during our dormant months (Nov.-Feb.).
Choose the best representative of your desired tree species. A healthy tree should have a root ball large enough to hold the tree in the ground without staking; no signs of trunk damage; a good, strong branch form (no weak V-crotches); and leaves with good size, good color and no pest damage. If possible, check the color and health of the tree’s roots. Healthy roots should be light or white in color and should not entirely circle or wrap around the outside of the root area.
Okay, we have a tree and it’s time to plant! The planting hole should be twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the height of the root ball. Planting too shallow or too deeply can kill the tree. Use existing soil to backfill in around the new tree and do not add soil amendments to the planting hole. Finally, place a three to four inch layer of mulch over the tree’s root system to slow weed growth and preserve soil moisture. In Atlanta, Sept.–Nov. are the most ideal months for planting. Mild weather, better moisture and fewer pests help insure that a new planting gets off to a good start.
Some native trees to consider for fall planting:
Small trees
(10–40 feet at maturity):
• Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea: spring flower then berries
• Bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora: spring flower, fall seeds for wildlife
• Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis: spring flower (White flowering
cultivar)
• Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus: spring flower
• American Yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea: summer bloom, white panicles
•Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria: available as tall, weeping, evergreen form, good berries
• Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana: under utilized evergreen, very drought tolerant
• Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus-castus: very drought tolerant, summer bloom
Large trees
(40 feet or more at maturity):
• Red Maple, Acer rubrum: for better fall color
• River Birch, Betula nigra: best for wet areas, great seasonal interest
• Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora: large evergreen with fragrant bloom, nice seed.
• White Oak, Quercus alba: slow growing, slow to mature
• Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum: deciduous conifer, excellent for wet areas
• Willow Oak, Quercus phellos: long, thin leaves that resemble willows, fast growers
Making mulching easier
Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons to live in Atlanta! Enjoying the seasonal color and cooler temperatures brings everyone outside. As you look over your landscape and prepare to freshen your plantings with seasonal color, ask yourself when the last time was that you added fresh mulch.
Mulching is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your plantings. Organic mulch, such as bark, pine straw or cypress mulch, never stops working for you. By covering the ground and plant roots, moisture is conserved and weed growth is retarded. From a design standpoint, you can mulch for visual contrast. Make plantings pop–the color and textures now have a backdrop!
Gardeners in Atlanta are fortunate to have Mother Nature bestow mountains of mulch upon us every fall. Oaks, maples, hickory and many other trees give us free resources. Shredding these leaves with a lawn mower and spreading them over the roots of your plants will help them year-round. Packaged mulches such as pine bark, hardwood mulch and cypress mulch will give your landscape the perfect finishing touch.
Mulch distribution guidelines:
• Leave a three inch breathing collar around the stems or trunk of plant material.
• Never pile mulch over the crown or stems of a plant.
• Hardwood chips should be seasoned at least six months before using around plants; fresh chipped wood is fine for walkways.
• Mulch purchased in bulk from a private or public source may contain some foreign material or unwanted plant material.
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