Large Trees for Large Zone 7 Landscapes

Need help choosing a massive tree species for your large landscape? Knowing which tree species grow to larger proportions will help you fill vast areas of your landscape with shaded recreational areas.

thetreecareguide.com gathered species, planting, and care information for some of the more massive trees hardy to large zone 7 landscapes.

1. Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

Weeping willows are recognized for their long, drooping branches and delicate leaves. They are typically found near fresh-water sources, as they have a strong affinity for moisture and thrive in damp soil. The weeping willow’s growth rate is fast, with new growth appearing each year. They can reach a mature size of 40 to 50 feet in height and spread, with a broad canopy that provides significant shade.

Weeping willows are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 8 and are easy to care for. They require consistent moisture to thrive, so they should be watered regularly. This tree species benefits from fertilization in the spring and pruning in the winter to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth. The weeping willow is a stunning addition to any large landscape and offer a peaceful, calming presence with their gentle sway in the breeze.

2. Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo biloba)

Ginkgo Biloba trees or Maidenhair trees are a unique and ancient species that can live for over a thousand years. They are easily recognized by their fan-shaped leaves turning bright yellow in the fall. These trees have a moderate growth rate and can reach a mature size of 80 feet high and a 50-foot spread. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and are tolerant of various soil types as long as they are well-drained.

Ginkgo Biloba trees require minimal care and maintenance, ideal for low-maintenance landscapes. They prefer full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They do not require fertilization, but occasional pruning will help maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Ginkgo Biloba trees are prized for their medicinal properties (the foliage is believed to have beneficial effects on memory and cognition).

3. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American Beech trees are a beautiful and stately deciduous species native to eastern North America. They have a slow to moderate growth rate and can reach a mature size of 70 to 80 feet in height and spread. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 and prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Beech trees need minimal care and maintenance once established. They prefer partial shade to full sun and should be watered regularly. They thrive from an annual compost application around the tree’s base. Pruning is typically only necessary to remove dead or diseased branches. Beech trees are highly valued for their attractive foliage, which turns a golden brown in the fall. They are also an important food source for birds and small mammals.

4. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Magnolia Grandiflora trees or Bull Bay are a stunning evergreen species native to the southeastern United States. They are known for their immense, fragrant white flowers blooming in the summer and their glossy, leathery leaves remaining green year-round. They have a moderate growth rate and can reach 60 to 80 feet in height and spread at maturity. They are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9 and prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Magnolia Grandiflora trees require minimal care and maintenance once established. They prefer full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They do not require fertilization, but occasional pruning will help maintain their shape and promote healthy new growth. Magnolia Grandiflora trees are highly valued for their ornamental beauty and are often used as specimen trees in landscaping.

5. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Photo by Sue Lowndes

Black walnut trees, or Juglans nigra, are a large and long-lived species native to eastern North America. They are known for their valuable wood and edible nuts, which have a distinctly rich buttery flavor. They have a moderate to fast growth rate and can reach 70 to 100 feet with a 50 to 75-foot spread at maturity. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and prefer well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Black walnut trees require minimal care and maintenance once established. This tree species prefers full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They benefit from an annual compost or organic fertilizer application around the tree’s base. Pruning is typically only necessary for dead or diseased branch removal. Black walnut trees are highly valued for their wood, used for furniture, flooring, and other applications.

Large Trees for Vast Landscapes

In this article, you discovered species, growing, and care information for some of Zone 7’s largest tree varieties for your vast, empty landscape.

Identifying larger trees to help you add dimension and interest to your landscape will give you more shaded areas and potentially increase your home’s curb appeal.

Without larger trees in your landscape, you will have excess barren areas unprotected from the sun’s harsh rays and violent weather.

Sources:
trees.umn.edu/weeping-willow-salix-alba
snr.unl.edu/data/trees/identification/basictree.aspx?sid=65
uky.edu/hort/American-Beech
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-grandiflora/
nfs.unl.edu/woody-plants/black-walnut

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/large-trees-for-zone-7-landscapes/

5 Small Landscape Trees for Tiny Yards

Need help choosing a small tree to plant in your tiny yard? Knowing which tree species remain small will aid you when planning out your limited-space yard.

thetreecareguide.com gathered species, planting, and care information for 5 small (understory) trees that won’t cramp or ruin what little space you have in your yard.

Small Tree Species

You can choose a smaller, more compact tree species when you don’t have enough space in your yard for a towering eucalyptus, massive oak, or southern pine. Small, ornamental, or understory trees range in size from 10 to 40 feet and are easier to care for and prune. Consider the following small landscape tree species:

1. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

This tree is typically grown as a small single-stemmed tree or a large multiple-stemmed shrub. Its shape is rounded to broad-rounded, with a layered branching structure. Japanese maples are magnificent specimens or accent trees performing well in a small grouping, privacy screen, or shrub border.

Mature Height – This species reaches 15 to 25 feet, with a 20-foot spread
Hardiness Zone – 5 through 8
Species Type – Deciduous
Features – During fall, maples display an incredible show of autumn color before leaf drop. Then, buds swell in early spring, bringing new foliage in amazing colors that often rival the autumn spectacle.
Care Tip – Always provide a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around Japanese maple trees (from the trunk to the dripline).

2. Crabapple (Malus)

Ornamental flowering crabapple trees are valued for their flowers and fruit. The blooms, which emerge before or with the foliage (in the spring), range from white to red. The fruit appears in summer and is less than 2 inches in diameter.

Mature Height – This species reaches 15 to 25 feet, with a 20-foot spread
Hardiness Zone – 4 through 8
Species Type – Deciduous
Features – Crabapple varieties are widely-grown for their attractive form, spring flowering, and decorative fruit.
Care Tip – Crabapples adapt to most soil conditions as long as they are situated in well-drained soil. Avoid foliar diseases by planting them in a location offering (and pruning seasonally for) good air circulation.

3. Cypress (Cupressus)

This evergreen tree species’ foliage is scale-like (2–6 mm long), arranged in opposite decussate pairs, and persists for three to five years. The leaves are more needle-like but have a lush, full appearance on young trees up to two years old.

Mature Height – This species reaches 40 to 60 feet, with a 20 to 25-foot spread
Hardiness Zone – 4 through 10
Species Type – Evergreen
Features – While tall, this species has a compact, dense spread, making them ideal for privacy screens in landscapes with limited available space.
Care Tip – Plant your cypress away from other shade trees or structures that may give them partial shade. Prune this species sparingly (hire a professional tree service when pruning is necessary).

4. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering dogwoods are shrubs or small, low-branched trees typically with a flat-topped crown, oval or ovate leaves, and creamy-white flowers with 4 petals each appearing in early spring.

Mature Height – This species reaches 20 to 30 feet, with a 25 to 30-foot spread
Hardiness Zone – 7 through 9
Species Type – Deciduous
Features – Flowering Dogwood is among the most beautiful eastern North American trees with attractive early spring flowers, red fruit, and scarlet autumn foliage.
Care Tip – Plant your flowering dogwood in well-drained, moist soil. Amend the soil with organic material for the best growth.

5. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Crape myrtles are deciduous, small to medium-sized shrubs or small trees with full, moderately dense foliage, often appearing as multi-stemmed trees. Crape myrtle’s showy flowers have wrinkled petals like crepe paper. The foliage is dark green changing to yellows, oranges, and reds in fall.

Mature Height – This species reaches 4 to 20 feet, with a 6 to 15-foot spread
Hardiness Zone – 7 through 10
Species Type – Deciduous
Features – Spectacular spikes of pink, purple, white, and red flowers top their branches for months in summer. Unlike other flowering tree species, crepe myrtles can bloom all summer.
Care Tip – Crape myrtle flowers on new seasonal growth. Prune during the dormant season (late winter to early spring) before growth resumes. Avoid pruning in early fall before the first frost (pruning encourages new growth and keeps the tree from going dormant). Severe freezes can kill the plant if it is not fully adapted and dormant.

Small Trees

In this article, you discovered species, growing, and care information about 5 small tree species that fit nicely in tiny or limited yard space.

Planting small trees with limited yard space will allow you to benefit from the tree’s beauty and shade, while helping your yard resist erosion and increase your home’s curb appeal.

Selecting larger (overstory) trees for a tiny yard can result in a buckled driveway, pathway, sidewalk, or foundation from invasive roots seeking water and nutrients.

Sources:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-palmatum/
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/crabapple/
apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=310
uky.edu/hort/Flowering-Dogwood
extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C944

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/5-small-landscape-trees-for-tiny-yards/

Fig Tree Care

Keep your fig tree from wilting and prematurely dying. Knowing how to properly care for a fig tree will help it mature to its full size and bear multiple delicious fruit crops.

thetreecareguide.com gathered essential species, planting, and care information for indoor and outdoor fig trees.

Fig Tree Description

The common fig (Ficus carica) is typically a small tree or large shrub in the mulberry (Moraceae) family with attractive leaves and delicious edible fruits.  This deciduous tree grows to a mature size of 10 to 30 feet tall and wide quickly.

Note: The Latin name Ficus translates as “edible fig,” and the species Carica refers to the Caria region in Asia known for growing figs.

Planting Fig Trees Outside

Plant in full sun or partial shade in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Fig trees grow best in zones 8 through 11 but can be grown in zone 7 if planted in a sheltered space. When planted in zone 6, your fig tree may need to be grown in a pot and overwintered inside. This species grows well in containers, but container-grown trees must be overwintered indoors.

Soil Preference – Most fig trees flourish in all types of well-drained soil with a 6 to 7.5 pH. Adding eggshells to the soil provides calcium carbonate, phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, and sodium, all of which will help your fig tree grow better.

Watering – Fig trees need 1 to 1 1/2 inches of weekly water. Check the tree’s foliage; if it starts turning yellow and falling, it’s a sign that your tree needs to be watered. Keep the soil moist but not soaked (around the trunk, extending out to the tree’s dripline). Adding a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch around the tree can help retain moisture and moderate soil temperature.

Fertilizing – Your fig tree should be fertilized in late winter (before the growing season) and again in late summer. Your fig tree will be prone to diseases and will likely produce fewer fruits if you don’t feed it regularly with the right type of feed.

Use a fertilizer made for fruit trees or an all-purpose 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer containing a balance of 8 % or 10% N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus, and K (potassium).

Pruning – You should keep pruning activities in mind from planting your fig tree. Avoid pruning in the spring and fall to prevent fungal infection, and consider the following best practices:

• Prune your fig tree in its first year
• Prune your tree again during the tree’s first winter
• Continue pruning your tree each year
• Select branches to keep as fruiting branches
• Prune out any storm-damaged branches
• Always use sanitized pruning shears
• Prune away any “secondary” branches
• Prune away odd growth and suckers

Tip: Cut back the main fruiting branches by one-third to one-quarter. This helps the tree put more energy towards bearing next year’s fruit, which promotes a more extensive and sweeter crop.

Fruit – Fig Trees typically fruit within the first two to three years after planting. Planting a grafted fig tree may result in fruit within the first year.

Planting Fig Trees Indoors

A single, good-sized tree can easily serve as the centerpiece for a room, while it would take several smaller plants to create the same impact. You can acquire a young tree and keep it pruned to control its size if you have a smaller space. Ficus trees can easily reach ten to fifteen feet indoors or larger if you have high ceilings and sufficient light. Consider the following when growing a fig tree indoors:

Light – Fig trees are tropical plants and require ample bright, indirect sunlight when grown indoors. Most fig trees will thrive in an east-facing window (direct sun in the morning and indirect sunlight for the rest of the day).

Soil and Potting – Well-drained soil is fundamental for keeping a potted fig tree healthy. Select a pot with drainage holes that’s about two to three inches larger than your fig tree’s root ball. Use light, fast-draining soil so your tree’s roots won’t sit in water. 

Watering – Fig trees do not like being overwatered. Water your tree when the top three inches feel dry to the touch.

Fertilizing – Indoor fig trees need the proper nutrient balance to grow healthy roots, strong trunks, and beautiful foliage. Fertilize regularly during late winter and late summer with an 8-8-8 or a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer.

Fruiting – If you want to grow edible figs indoors, plant the Negronne fig (self-pollinating variety). Otherwise, you’ll need two trees or manual pollination.

Note: Container-grown fig trees usually fruit within five years of planting and proper care.

Ficus Carica Planting and Care

In this article, you discovered species, planting, pruning, and care information for growing indoor and outdoor fig trees.

Understanding the best conditions for your fig tree’s growth will help you keep it healthy, thriving, and fruiting.

Ignoring planting, watering, fertilizer, and light requirements for fig trees will leave them wilting, dying, and unable to produce fruit.

Sources:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ficus-carica/
public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/ficuscarica.html
atlas.uwa.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2677

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/fig-tree-care/

How to Fertilize Trees

Need help determining when and how to fertilize your trees? Keeping your trees adequately fertilized will help them reach maturity, thriving and healthy.

thetreecareguide.com gathered the following essential information and tips to help keep your trees properly fertilized and flourishing on your property.

When Should I Fertilize My Trees?

When fertilizer is required, it should be applied sometime between late fall through early spring. Fertilize after the first hard freeze in October or November but before the soil freezes in December for the best results. During this window, soil temperature still allows roots to absorb minerals (stored for growth the following spring).

Fertilizers applied during winter (when the ground is frozen) may be lost to leaching, surface erosion, or runoff. Early March or April (before new growth begins) is another excellent time to fertilize trees. Fertilizing during summer months may stimulate late growth that cannot harden before being damaged by freezing fall and winter weather. Consider the following signs when deciding to fertilize your trees:

• (Nitrogen Deficiency) Yellowing or chloritic older leaves
• (Iron Deficiency) Iron chlorosis is typically a soil pH problem. Iron is less available when the soil pH is above 7.0
• (Magnesium Deficiency) Chlorosis of older leaves and short, unhealthy new growth

Other conditions causing chlorosis include:

• Poor soil drainage
• Over-watering
• Improperly or over-mulching
• Planting too deeply (burying the root flare)
• Root nematodes
• Root injury (lawnmower, foot traffic, soil compaction, etc.)

Tip: Newly planted trees should only be lightly fertilized (or not at all) until they are well-established. After their first growing season, young, rapidly growing trees should be fertilized to promote their establishment and support their growth. Mature, well-established trees may only require fertilization every other year to maintain healthy foliage, color, and vigor.

There is a difference between fertilizers and amendments. Fertilizers provide trees with essential nutrients (soluble salt compounds), affecting plant health and growth. Soil amendments indirectly affect trees by improving soil structure and its ability to store and deliver water and nutrients.

Fertilizer Application Methods

These are various methods to fertilize trees that are deficient:

Liquid Root Feeding – Commercial tree and landscape services often use this application method. Nutrients are dissolved in water and soaked into the soil.

Foliar Application – Trees can absorb nutrients through their foliage. Multiple liquid fertilizer brands attach to a garden hose for foliar application. Foliar fertilization is an excellent way to compensate for chelated iron in trees suffering from iron chlorosis. Large shade trees are not typically fertilized using this method.

Tip: When using foliar fertilizer application, follow the manufacturer’s directions on the label is crucial. Excessive fertilizer concentrations (especially when applied during hot periods can burn the tree’s foliage).

Surface Broadcasting – The easiest, most used, and most cost-effective way to fertilize large trees is to broadcast granular fertilizer on the soil surface. Broadcast the fertilizer on the area under the tree (beginning near the trunk and radiating out to the drip line). Irrigate the area well after fertilizing (if rainfall is not expected).

Tip: Avoid fertilizing if heavy rain is forecasted or the ground is still frozen.

Fertilizer Spikes – This is a popular method used by property owners. Spikes made from compressed fertilizer are hammered into the soil, and this method works best when the soil is soft and moist.

Tip: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the product label for correct spacing and quantities.

What is the Best Fertilizer for Trees?

Turf fertilizers typically work well for trees because they contain the desired ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Some of that nitrogen is slowly released to the roots.

Mulching a tree’s root zone with organic mulch (hay, bark chips, pine needles, etc.) helps regulate soil moisture and temperature while slowly releasing nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

Tip: Working or gently tilling compost into the soil will enrich it but adds more soil structure than nutrients.

Do Trees Really Need Fertilizer?

Yes. Fertilizer helps trees grow and remain healthy. Trees are resilient, but soil nutrient deficiencies can cause their decline. Fertilization gives trees vital nutrients, supports their growth, and significantly contributes to tree health and vitality.

Note: In forested land, fallen leaves accumulate and decompose, recycling nutrients naturally occurring in the tree’s habitat. Fertilization attempts to compensate for nutrients taken from a tree’s root zone by leaf removal.

Can Trees Be Over-Fertilized?

Yes. Tree roots exert force to extract water and nutrients from the soil. Excessive fertilization causes them to shrivel, making it challenging to adequately perform their task. Root rot and disease susceptibility can also occur. Over-fertilization symptoms include the following:

• Fertilizer “crust” on the soil surface
• Yellowing, drooping, and wilting of lower foliage
• Browning leaf tips and margins
• Defoliation
• Slow or no growth

Tip: The best way to solve an over-fertilization case is to leach excess nutrients from the soil. Excessive watering can slowly flush out the site. You can also remove dying or wilting foliage to reduce fertilizer remnants in the tree itself.

Fertilizing Trees

In this article, you discovered crucial information and tips for properly fertilizing your landscape trees, helping them stay healthy and resist insect infestation and disease.

Knowing when and how to fertilize your trees will give them the nutrients needed for excellent growth and supercharge their natural resistance to invasive insects and debilitating pathogens.

Under-fertilizing or over-fertilizing trees can severely damage their root systems, leaving them in decline, causing damage when they fall on your property.

Sources:
extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6865
extension.umd.edu/resource/fertilizing-trees-and-shrubs-and-nutrient-deficiency-symptoms
mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/files/170168.pdf

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/how-to-fertilize-trees/

Yew Tree Care, Toxicity, and Mythology

Avoid unwittingly planting a tree that is lethal to grazing wildlife, pets and people. Knowing the danger of planting yew trees on your property will help you decide if the risk is worth the threat.

thetreecareguide.com gathered essential care information, toxicity warnings, and some of the mythology associated with the yew tree species.

Yew Tree Species Information

Yews (Taxus baccata) are densely branching, evergreen trees with a large trunk reaching 20 to 30 feet tall. The bark is thin, scaly, and brown; it comes off in small flakes. Its leaves are dark green, leathery, and narrow with a pointed tip.

Yew can be grown in full sun, partial shade, and full shade. For healthier and more lush growth, however, choose a spot that gets several hours of daily sun. Too much shade can result in thin or irregular growth.

This species can live 400 to 600 years, with some specimens exceeding this lifespan. Consider the following when selecting and preparing a growing location for your yew tree:

Soil Preference – This species thrives in rich, loamy, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline soil (5.0 to 8.0 pH).
Watering Needs – Established yews require minimal watering. However, during drought conditions, weekly watering is recommended. Adding a layer of mulch around the tree’s base will help retain moisture in well-drained soil.
Fertilizing Yews – Yew trees under 15 years can be fertilized each spring. More mature trees will benefit from feeding every other year. For best growth results, apply a “20-15-15” granular or liquid fertilizer around the yew’s drip line, avoiding the area immediately around the trunk.
Pruning Requirements – This evergreen species is typically pruned twice a year, once in early July and again in early September. Up to 2/3 of new growth can be safely removed to shape this tree during the July pruning. The fall pruning should be a light touch-up to even out any secondary growth.
Hardiness Zone – 3 through 8

Note: Taxus baccata is widely grown in landscapes for decorative purposes or privacy screening, and the species responds well to pruning.

Yew Winter Care

Yews planted in the right conditions can tolerate cold winters without protection. However, they can experience severe winter burn and bleaching. These conditions can be prevented by planting your yew trees on the north-facing side of buildings.

Note: Winter burn occurs when needles and branches repeatedly freeze and are then heated by the winter sun. Read more about protecting your yew during winter weather.

Yew Toxicity

Taxus baccata is a well-known poisonous tree species; all yew parts are deadly poisonous, except for the berry’s flesh. Eating a small quantity of leaves can be fatal for wildlife, livestock, and humans. Yew leaf toxicity is due to alkaloids known as taxines, of which taxine B is suspected as being one of the most poisonous.

Note: Taxine alkaloids are absorbed through the digestive tract incredibly fast, and poisoning signs (nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, nervousness, heart problems, etc.) manifest themselves after 30 to 90 minutes. No antidote is known.

Yew Mythology

The following are some incredible examples of how yews have been embraced by and influenced cultures over millennia:

In Celtic Culture – Old yew tree drooping branches can root and form new tree trunks where they contact the ground. Thus the yew came to symbolize death and resurrection in Celtic culture. The Celts would also have been familiar with the tree’s toxicity.

In Christian Lore – The yew, in particular, symbolizes nature’s power of renewal, the seasons’ cycles, birth and death, and new birth. Over time, the yew remained a symbol of eternity in Christianity. However, the words and focus were changed from ‘rebirth’ to ‘resurrection.’

In Norse Cosmology – The world tree “Yggdrasil” is a massive mythical tree connecting the nine worlds in Norse cosmology. Although typically translated as Ash, it is believed that this tree is likely to have been a Yew.

Ancient Warriors – In ancient times, yews were used for suicides during war times. Food and drink vessels made from yew wood could poison those who ate or drank from them.

The Druids – Yew is typically associated with the dead and is often found in graveyards. The Druids saw yew trees as the guardians of the deceased.

In Greek Mythology – Yew trees are associated with the Greek goddess Hecate, liberator of souls after death.

Note: For as poisonous as yew is, two chemotherapy drugs were developed from yew trees:

• Docetaxel (Taxotere) was first made from the European yew tree’s needles
• Paclitaxel (Taxol) was made from the Pacific yew tree’s bark

Fascinating how a tree so rooted in poison and death can provide treatment and hope for those with severe health concerns.

Yew Trees

In this article, you discovered species planting and care information, severe toxicity warnings, and some of the ancient mythology surrounding the Taxus baccata species.

Knowing the risks of planting a yew tree and how to minimize them will help you grow a stunning tree that can serve as a specimen tree, landscape tree, or privacy hedge.

Unwittingly planting a poisonous yew tree can lead to grazing wildlife, animals, livestock, or unsuspecting people being poisoned.

Sources:
extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/ask-extension-do-i-need-protect-my-yew-winter
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/taxus-baccata/
heritagegarden.uic.edu/yew-taxus-baccata

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/yew-tree-care-toxicity-and-mythology/

7 Tree Care Tips for Property Owners

Need help keeping your trees from becoming hazards on your property? Understanding some basic tree care techniques will help prevent your trees’ sickness, destabilization, and death.

thetreecareguide.com gathered some essential tips to help property owners give their trees the best care so they thrive and stay healthy well into maturity.

1. Tree Selection

When searching for the “perfect” tree, you’ll want to look for one with a straight trunk. Trees that grow into large shade trees should have a strong central leader (trunk) with branches evenly distributed around it. Consider the following when selecting a tree:

• Size (knowing the mature height and spread of trees can prevent multiple landscape problems)
• USDA Hardiness Zone (A crucial consideration when selecting trees is their cold hardiness)
• Pest Susceptibility
• Soil Requirements

Tip: Send a soil sample to your state’s university extension for testing. This will reveal the soil’s nutrient content and availability, pH value, microbial activity, etc. This test will guide you if any soil adjustments are needed for healthy tree growth.

2. Tree Planting and Location

Trees can be planted anytime, as long as you can dig an adequate planting hole. If the ground is frozen, it’s better to wait for the thaw. Generally, the more time between planting a tree and the beginning of summer, the better (that makes fall the best time to plant new trees). Early spring is another popular planting time as well. Consider the following when planting your tree:

• Dig the hole (2 to 3 times wider than the diameter of the tree’s rootball)
• Massage, loosen, and trim the roots
• Place the tree in the center of the hole
• Fill in the hole
• Build a wide soil berm (this will help when watering your tree)
• Stake and tie the tree
• Water the tree thoroughly
• Add a 3-inch layer of mulch

Tip: Trees should not be too close to buildings or power lines, and you should consider where you want shade or wind relief around your property. Try to plant trees 15 to 20 feet away from buildings when possible. Evergreens and clumping trees are typically used along property lines (as privacy screens) and in windbreaks.

3. Watering Schedule

Newly planted trees require more frequent watering than established ones. They should be watered at their planting time and at the following intervals:

• 1 to 2 weeks after planting, water daily
• 3 to 12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days
• After 12 weeks, water weekly until roots are established

The above is a great rule of thumb, but different trees and soil types require different watering patterns, so keep that in mind to ensure your trees are properly watered.

Note: Water thoroughly before planting, at planting time, and the day after planting. This helps settle the soil and eliminates large air pockets.

4. Why You Need to Mulch

Tree care professionals prefer organic mulches, like wood chips, pine needles, hardwood and softwood bark, composted leaves, and other compost mixes. When these mulches decompose, they improve soil structure and increase soil fertility. Other benefits of proper mulching include the following:

• Preserves soil moisture by increasing water infiltration and slowing evaporation
• Significantly improves soil structure, fertility, and aeration as it decomposes
• Efficiently moderates soil temperature, protecting roots from extreme summer and winter temperatures

Note: The most beneficial mulch options include wood chips, bark nuggets, composted leaves, or pine needles.

5. Seasonal Tree Pruning

Pruning can remove limbs and branches with a disease, fungi, and other decay, stopping them from spreading to healthier branches or the trunk. Removing these branches also exposes the others to more sunlight and air circulation, which helps reduce disease occurrence.

Note: Late winter is the best time to prune most trees. Trees are still dormant at this time of year, and, unlike early winter, wound closure will be rapid if pruning occurs just prior to the growing season.

6. Insect Pests and Diseases

Insect pests can be classified into three categories when regarding trees:

• Chewing insects that eat portions of the tree (Japanese beetles, gypsy moths, tent caterpillars, etc.)
• Sucking insects that suck sugars out of the tree’s stems and leaves (aphids and scales)
• Boring insects that bore into the tree to eat portions of the inner bark or create nests. These insects cause the most damage to trees (Emerald Ash Borer, bark beetles, pine beetles, etc.)

Prevention: Apply insecticidal sprays in 2-week intervals before and during the growing season. However, insects can build up tolerance to even the best insecticide when used repeatedly. Alternate applying insecticides with different active ingredients.

Tree diseases, fungi, and viruses have three crucial factors: the host, the pathogen, and the environment (these make up the disease triangle). Consider the following:

• The host is identified as the tree or plant in question
• The pathogen is the disease, fungi, or virus
• The environment is all the factors influencing the pathogen and host

Most tree species are susceptible to at least one disease-causing fungi. Yet, most fungi are beneficial to their host (only a few are harmful to trees).

Disease can be carried by vectors, most commonly insects. This is seen in dutch elm disease, where the bark beetle acts as a vector. Given there are a multitude of diseases, being able to properly identify the disease or pest that’s doing the damage will help you considerably in resolving your issue.

Prevention: Fungicides kill the fungi that cause many common tree diseases. Treatment methods may include tree spraying or fungicide injection into the truck, branches, or soil. Insecticides should also be considered, as many pathogens migrate on insect vectors.

7. Tree Fertilizing and Pulling Weeds

When needed, the best time to fertilize is mid-spring (April or early May) or late fall once trees are dormant. The fertilizer should be spread evenly across the soil surface, and the amount of nitrogen applied should be 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

Note: Early spring growth depends almost entirely on nutrients absorbed and stored the previous year.

Tree Care Tips

In this article, you discovered tree planting and care tips to help you keep your trees healthy and strong as they grow and tower over your property.

Knowing what to do for your trees when planting them and as they grow will help you keep them thriving and prevent them from dying and falling on your property.

Not knowing the best ways to plant, care for, water, and trim trees leaves them vulnerable, and you responsible to spend money to have them removed.

Sources:
extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-newly-planted-trees-and-shrubs
csfs.colostate.edu/2018/02/20/late-winter-best-time-prune-trees-colorado/
ourcityforest.org/blog/2020/4/17/identifying-tree-pests-and-disease
canopy.org/tree-info/caring-for-trees/mature-trees/
arborday.org/trees/tips/

For the original version of this article visit: http://www.thetreecareguide.com/7-tree-care-tips-for-property-owners/

Poisonwood Tree Information, Toxicity, and Treatment

Avoid severe rashes, itching, and blistering caused by contact with a poisonwood tree. Knowing how to identify and how this tree species adversely affects you will help you remain vigilant in avoiding its bark, sap, and foliage.

thetreecareguide.com gathered essential information and warnings about the poisonwood tree and what it can do to you.

Poisonwood Tree Information

Poisonwood grows as a large evergreen shrub or tree that reaches 25 to 35 feet tall in pinelands and sandy areas near saltwater. Learn to identify a poisonwood tree, as this tree species is abundant in the Florida Keys and multiple counties throughout southern Florida.

This tree species has a rounded form with a short trunk, arching limbs with drooping branches, and often a purplish-blackoily spot. The tree’s bark varies in color from reddish brown to gray and typically has oily patches of toxic sap on the surface. Each leaf comprises three to seven oval leaflets, which are glossy and dark green on the top and paler underneath. The fruit is ½ inch long, oval, and yellow to orange in color.

Note: While toxic to humans, poisonwood fruit is a crucial food source for the threatened white-crowned pigeon.

Metopium Toxiferum Toxicity

Metopium Toxiferum is related to poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. The tree produces the same irritant, urushiol, which causes an itchy, blistering rash.

The oils from Metopium toxiferum cause dermatitis ranging in severity from a light red rash to intense skin blistering. Tea made from Metopium toxiferum leaves and twigs combined with bleach has been used to induce abortions but has also tended to kill the patient.

Note: Studies have found that Metopium Toxiferum produces a variety of allelopathic chemicals, which inhibit the growth of any nearby competitors.

What Does The Poisonwood Tree Do to You?

Urushiol is a highly potent irritant that can cause serious injuries. The substance is found in most parts of poisonwood trees, including the leaves, bark, and inner wood.

When you get urushiol on your skin, it causes allergic contact dermatitis. This affliction is a T cell-mediated immune response in which the body’s immune system recognizes it as foreign and vigorously reacts to the urushiol-derivative complexes with skin proteins.

Note: The smoke of burning Metopium toxiferum wood is highly irritating when inhaled. Even rainwater that drips from the branches and leaves may cause a severe rash.

How to Treat Metopium Toxiferum Poisoning

Applying a topical over-the-counter skin protectant, like zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, or calamine, dry the oozing and irritation caused by urushiol oil. Protectants like baking soda or colloidal oatmeal can relieve minor irritation and itching.

In severe cases or if the rash is on the face or genitals, seek immediate professional medical attention.

Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you develop a severe allergic reaction, like swelling or difficulty breathing, or have had a past severe reaction.

Urushiol ingestion (of any amount) can lead to severe, systemic reactions and should be treated as poisoning.

Get help from Poison Control immediately if you suspect Metopium Toxiferum poisoning. Free, expert help is available 24/7 from Poison Control Centers at:

(800) 222-1222 or Web Poison Control

What Is the Poisonwood Tree Used for

Black poisonwood (Metopium brownei) is well-known for being easy to work, hard, heavy, and durable. It often features rich dark red colors and attractive figuring. The species’ wood is primarily used to make interior products, like cabinets, furniture, and flooring, but is also used in other external applications, like vehicle trim and bridge construction.

What Is the Ecological Value of Poisonwood Trees

Toxic to humans, the poisonwood tree species plays a crucial role in nature, providing home and nurture for multiple butterfly and bird species. Butterflies use its flowers as a source of nectar (including the Bahamian and giant swallowtails, the Florida white butterfly, and the mangrove skipper). The tree’s small drupe fruit provides sustenance for white-crowned pigeons during their nesting season, and the Bahamian parrot also makes these drupes part of its diet.

Toxic Poisonwood Trees

In this article, you discovered essential species information, advisories, and warnings about the dangerous poisonwood tree and how to seek help when contact with this tree causes a reaction.

Knowing how to correctly identify and avoid the poisonwood tree will help you prevent severe skin rash, painful blisters, and other unpleasant side effects.

Ignoring the poisonwood tree’s extreme toxicity and inherent dangers can cause painful skin irritation and excruciating blisters immediately after contact.

Sources:
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP220
ius.edu/environmental-health-safety/files/poisonous-plants.pdf
fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/outsmarting-poison-ivy-and-other-poisonous-plants
cdc.gov/niosh/topics/plants/exposure.html
nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/barkingupatree.htm
florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant.aspx?id=581

Photo credit: Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex

For the original version of this article visit: http://www.thetreecareguide.com/poisonwood-tree-information-toxicity-and-treatment/

Manchineel Tree Toxicity, Effects, and Treatment

Avoid severe blistering, respiratory complications, and potential death caused by contact with a manchineel tree. Knowing how this tree species can adversely affect your health will help you remain vigilant in avoiding its bark, sap, foliage, and fruit.

thetreecareguide.com gathered essential information and warnings about the manchineel tree and what it can do to you.

Manchineel Tree Information

The manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella), also referred to as “poison guava” or “beach apple,” is a species of flowering plant from the spurge family. Its native range reaches from tropical southern North America to northern South America and is typically found on sandy beaches.

Warning: All parts of the manchineel tree are extremely poisonous, and interaction with or ingestion of any part of this tree may be lethal.

Hippomane Mancinella Toxicity

All parts of the manchineel tree, including its fruit, is poisonous, and according to The Guinness Book of World Records, it was deemed the most dangerous tree in the world in 2011. This tree’s toxicity is well known and documented. Centuries ago, Christopher Columbus referred to the tree’s fruit as “Manzanilla de la Muerte,” or the little apple of death.

Manchineel Tree Identification

You can identify this poisonous evergreen tree by its grayish or brown, scaly or fissured bark, small greenish-yellow blooms, and shiny (almost waxy) green leaves. The Manchineel tree’s glossy leaves are alternately arranged on the stems and have a rounded base with pointed tips, and have either smooth or slightly toothed edges that may be slightly bent upward.

The leaves are shiny on the upper surface and dull underneath. Leaves grow 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide. The leaves have a single conspicuous central vein which (when damaged) bleeds a toxic milky sap in young plants.

The tree’s numerous small fruits are primarily green or greenish-yellow when ripe, often highlighted with red, and similar in appearance to an apple. This appearance and toxicity have garnered the little fruit with the name “death apple.”

What Does The Manchineel Tree Do to You?

Poisoning symptoms can include nausea and diarrhea followed by shock and severe muscle weakness.  If the machineel fruit is eaten, the person may experience burning and swelling of the mouth and throat, nausea, diarrhea, and severe stomach pain. This person will be unable to swallow, talk, or breathe, potentially leading to death.

The fruit has been described as having a peppery taste that leads to a tearing, burning sensation followed by a tightening of the throat until swallowing and breathing become challenging.

This species’ milky white sap contains phorbol, along with other skin irritants, producing intense allergic contact dermatitis, including blistering and swelling. This contact may also lead to severe conjunctivitis with blindness for up to 72 hours.

Note: Merely standing beneath the tree during rain will cause severe skin blistering from contact with this liquid. Even a tiny drop of rain with the milky substance will cause your skin to blister.

How To Treat Manchineel Poisoning

Manchineel dermatitis and ophthalmitis treatment should include immediate and vigorous cleansing to remove the toxin-filled latex and follow-up symptomatic measures, including cool compresses and anti‐irritants. Typically, corticosteroids have been suggested/prescribed as treatment in severe cases (especially involving the eyes).

Get help from Poison Control immediately if you suspect beach apple ingestion or manchineel poisoning. Free, expert help is available 24/7 from Poison Control Centers at:

(800) 222-1222 or triage.webpoisoncontrol.org

What Is the Manchineel Tree Used for

Centuries ago, manchineel’s highly toxic sap was used by Caribbean Indians as arrow poison. Despite this tree’s dangerous nature, people have used manchineel wood to make furniture for generations. This process involves carefully cutting the wood and sun drying it to neutralize its poisonous sap.

Note: Native people used manchineel as medicine, including the gum for edema and its dried fruits as a potent diuretic.

What Is the Ecological Value of Manchineel Trees

The manchineel tree provides food, shelter, and habitat for some species that have developed an immunity to its toxicity. It also combats natural beach erosion and can serve as an efficient windbreak during severe tropical storms.

The Poisonous Manchineel Tree

In this article, you discovered essential species information, advisories, and warnings about the poisonous manchineel tree and how to seek help when ingested.

Knowing how to identify and avoid the manchineel tree will help you avoid severe skin rash, painful blisters, and other unpleasant side effects.

Ignoring the toxicity and inherent danger of the manchineel tree can cause nausea and diarrhea followed by shock and severe muscle weakness. Once ingested, this tree’s fruit can kill you without seeking immediate medical attention.

Sources:
npr.org/2022/08/25/1119333236/worlds-most-dangerous-tree-manchineel-florida
nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/upload/TrifoldHazardPlandstoAvoid.pdf
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127797/
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR370

For the original version of this article visit: http://www.thetreecareguide.com/manchineel-tree-toxicity-effects-treatment/

Beneficial Companion Plants for Fruit Trees

Prevent soil erosion, harmful pests, and hungry wildlife from damaging your fruit trees. Knowing which companion plants to grow around your fruit trees will keep them growing healthy and less susceptible to insect and animal invasion.

thetreecareguide.com gathered essential information on several highly beneficial companion plants to grow around your fruit trees.

What Do Companion Plants Do?

Planting companions to lure beneficial insects is called “habitat influence.” Companion plants attract beneficial insects so those bugs can feed on the bad, predatory, and destructive pests that would otherwise damage or destroy the fruit trees you want to protect. The practice of companion planting also benefits the surrounding soil by preventing erosion and – in many cases – fixing nitrogen. The most beneficial companion plants for fruit trees include:

Geraniums (Pelargonium)

Geraniums are known for their aromatic, green foliage, with their fragrance varying from plant to plant. This flowering plant can be found growing throughout the temperate regions of the world.

Size at Maturity – This species reaches 5 to 36 inches in height, depending on the variety
Benefits as a Companion – Geraniums are known to repel highly destructive insects like earworms, cabbageworms, and Japanese beetles
Attracts – Geraniums attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Repels – Geranium repels a variety of insects, including mosquitos and leafhoppers
Hardiness Zone – 3 through 9

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Chamomile, also spelled camomile, is any of various daisy-like plants from the aster family (Asteraceae). Chamomile tea, used as a tonic, an antiseptic, and in multiple herbal remedies, is made from English or Roman, chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) or German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).

Size at Maturity – This species reaches 24 inches in height
Benefits as a Companion – Its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties have been applied for centuries in herbal gardening to support the healthy growth of trees, vegetables, and other annuals. Using chamomile as a companion plant is easy, effective, and packed with benefits for you and your fruit tree
Attracts – Hoverflies, beneficial wasps, ladybugs, and honey bees are attracted to chamomile
Repels – Chamomile repels ticks, mosquitoes, and flies
Hardiness Zone – 3 through 9

Wildflowers (Multiple species)

Wildflowers are flowers that grow without any help or intervention from people, growing naturally in their environment. Some may grow wildflowers in their garden, but most wildflowers are native plants and grow in woods, meadows, wetlands, or anywhere they adapted to grow.

Size at Maturity – Wildflowers reach a few inches to a few feet in height, depending on the species and variety
Benefits as a Companion – Wildflowers provide critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife, which is crucial for ecosystem function and pollination. Wildflowers can also improve soil health, prevent erosion, and improve water quality
Attracts – Bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and ladybugs which help to increase harvests and keep common pests like aphids under control
Repels – Flowers like daisies, red clovers, poppies, and wild carrots can act as natural pesticides by attracting useful (predatory) insects to repel nuisance pests
Hardiness Zone – All zones have cold-hardy wildflower species

Lavender (Lavandula)

Lavender is one of the most beloved floral scents we use today. Its soft purple buds symbolize grace, calmness, and even luxury. Lavender is so synonymous with serenity that it is associated with the crown chakra, known for its spiritual connection.

Size at Maturity – This species reaches 2 to 3 feet in height
Benefits as a Companion – Lavender attracts a variety of pollinators and deters rabbits and deer
Attracts – Lavender attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects to the garden, making it an excellent choice for a fruit tree companion
Repels – beetles, moths, fleas, mosquitos, flies, nematodes, rabbits, and deer
Hardiness Zone – 5 through 9

Marigolds (Tagetes)

Marigold flowers consist of multiple overlapping petals that get smaller and more condensed towards the flower’s center, similar to a carnation. The blooms may be single or double colored and can appear in varying yellow, orange, red, and maroon hues.

Size at Maturity – This species reaches 6 to 24 inches in height, depending on the variety
Benefits as a Companion – Marigolds attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. They attract predatory insects, like ladybugs, that feed on aphids and other pests. The limonene in marigolds can deter whiteflies, and the plant’s roots secrete chemicals that kill nematodes
Attracts – Spider mites, snails, bees, Japanese beetles, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators
Repels – Whiteflies, nematodes, mosquitos, cabbage worms, squash bugs, tomato worms, wasps, and spiders
Hardiness Zone – 2 through 11

Best Companion Plants for Fruit Trees

In this article, you discovered species information on some of the most beneficial companion plants for your fruit trees.

Knowing what to plant around your fruit trees can help you improve soil structure, attract beneficial pollinators, and deter pesky insects and wildlife.

Not knowing about companion plants can leave your fruit trees susceptible to soil erosion, insect infestations, and reduced crops from poor pollination.

Sources:
scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JARS/v50n3/v50n3-dancer.html
ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17642
extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/companion-planting-home-gardens
womensconference.byu.edu/sites/womensconference.ce.byu.edu/files/49e_1.pdf
erc.cals.wisc.edu/healthylakesgrants/files/2020/06/NativePlantCompanionGuide.pdf

For the original version of this article visit: http://www.thetreecareguide.com/beneficial-companion-plants-for-fruit-trees/