By Urling Searle
Following the summer’s heat, you may be wanting some additional shade, or perhaps you have an area in need of a focal point. Maybe you need screening, or are looking to add beauty to your property. There are many great reasons to plant a tree and growers, designers, arborists, and landscapers all agree that fall is a great time of year to do so.
Trees come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and there are options suitable for almost any space. Take a moment to consider how tall and wide you would like your tree to grow. Are you looking for a canopy tree to provide shade in summer and structure in winter? Do you look forward to spring flowers all winter long or favor a rich palette of color when temperatures drop? Perhaps you want it all!
A row of American holly interspersed with flowering dogwood and viburnum shrubs will provide privacy screening, spring blossoms, fall color, and berries with minimal maintenance and more visual interest than a row of green giant arborvitae. A combination of tall-growing species such as oak, maple, birch and hickory along with medium-height species such as redbud, cherry and dogwood will bring a mixture of height, form, flower, and color.
Planting native species supports a healthy ecosystem able to clean our air and filter our water. Renowned author Doug Tallamy considers oaks to be our most essential native trees. In his book on the subject of oaks, he notes that there is an oak for every property size. Just consider where you plant them as you may find those acorns a bit of nuisance on your terrace come autumn – unless you enjoy the sight of chipmunk cheeks preparing for winter.
Fallen tree leaves enrich our soil and offer habitat to the insects which nourish our songbirds. Wherever possible, move leaves onto garden beds, under shrubs, or along the edge of wooded areas. You won’t have to pay to have them taken away and come spring you won’t need mulch from unknown sources that can bring unwanted pests. A win for you and your garden.
When shopping for trees, consider local and regional nurseries as you search for your desired combination of natives and ornamentals. Landscapers, designers, and landscape architects can source for you, just be sure to ask about their vendor and check on their planting methods. A well-planted tree needs a hole wider and deeper than their root ball, and roots should not circle (girdle) the trunk in any way. Be sure they are planted in quality topsoil and be vigilant about not piling soil or mulch close to the base of the tree trunk to prevent rot and smothering.
You are likely familiar with the slogan Fall Is For Planting. Now is the perfect time to plant trees that will bring beauty and pleasure to you and your family along with benefits to your surrounding community. The Greenwich Tree Conservancy is available to all and here to answer your questions and offer available resources as we continue to plant and preserve trees on town public lands. Visit greenwichhtreeconservancy.org
Urling Searle is the President of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy.
