Trees; What to consider when purchasing and or planting them.

October 24, 2014

Trees – What Kind to Plant

My dad loved Weeping Willow trees.  He dug up a sapling growing in a ditch and transplanted it to our backyard.  It had plenty of room to grow and it thrived. 

Choosing a tree can be an emotional decision but it’s probably best to exercise some practicality in the matter.

The first step is to determine which trees are best for your area.  This region of Missouri in which we work and live is ranked Zone 6 for hardiness.  Some of the things to consider are average temperatures in winter and summer, winter hardiness, and availability of water.  You may want to avoid trees that are susceptible to storm damage (Bradford Pear), disease (Elm) or insects (Ash) to lessen the likelihood of losing out on your investment.

Next, you would want to determine tree characteristics

Such as, the shape of the tree, the texture of the bark, blooms, evergreen, and fall color or perhaps you want to attract birds and other wildlife.  Some trees can be planted to serve as a barrier between properties.  Mother Earth News recommends not planting trees that are of the five most popular in the area.  But rather to add diversity to the local ecosystem, then your tree(s) will be less likely to suffer loss due to insects or disease.

Keep in mind too that not all trees will fit into your landscape.  It’s best to first decide where the tree is needed and what the tree should do in the landscape – then select the tree that fulfills these requirements.  Following are some suggestions of trees that are either native to Missouri or have been well adapted to the climate and soil conditions.

Large Shade Trees

(80 – 100 feet)

American Sycamore

Bur Oak

Honey Locust

Sugar Maple

Medium Shade Trees

(30 – 60 feet)

Black Gum

Flowering Dogwood

Ginkgo

Persimmon

River Birch

Small Shade Trees

(20 – 30 feet)

American Hornbeam

Amur Maple

Golden-Rain

Trident Maple

Don’t forget with trees, comes leaves, and with leaves comes fall. Advantage Gutter Guard® can help you enjoy your trees year around by not allowing them to clog up your gutters!

Lastly, don’t forget to give your trees A Little Love now and then; a full-grown tree can produce enough oxygen to support a family of four.