Choose the best tree for your site
Hello Theresa, We retired to Welland and few years ago, from a high-rise in the core of Toronto … I have a raised veggie bed, ornamental grasses and a clutch of wildflowers with a bird bath, three bird houses and a couple of feeders.
My main problem is our only tree, a white pine, has died — it’s bare. We now have no wind break or filtered shade; the birds also use it for a ‘look out’ and resting. It will be terribly missed — it is coming down in April.
We desperately need some type of bushes or fast-growing trees.
Wendy
Dear Wendy, I can appreciate your sense of urgency to replace your tree. Our neighbourhood lost all of our mature boulevard trees due to an infestation of emerald ash borer. While I would like a quick fix, it takes a generation for the replacement trees to mature. Research and patience are the keys to successful tree planting.
Let’s start at the very beginning and talk about how to choose a tree. A popular truism reminds us that beauty is more than skin deep, and so it is with trees. There is more to choosing a great tree than just picking the first tree you like the looks of.
Sun
Consider the conditions you have to offer. How much sun does the space receive? Is there full sun (eight to 12 hours a day) or is the spot shaded by nearby buildings or trees? Many trees, such as maple, chestnut and oak, prefer full sun, while others, such as dogwood and redbud, are at home at the edge of the woods and prefer a little shade during the hottest part of the day.
Soil
Dig a generous hole in the ground where you will be planting your tree. What is the soil like? Is it heavy clay, loam or sand? Not sure? Fill the hole with water. If the water doesn’t drain away quickly, you may have drainage issues. Grab a fistful of soil and press it into a ball. If it clings together, you have clay, if it crumbles you may have sandy loam. Certain trees accept clay soil (may be slow to drain) while other trees demand well-drained soil.
Water
How much rain will this site receive in a typical year? Does the ground hold water well in to the late spring? This can spell disaster for trees such as beech or red oak that resent having their feet wet, while the dawn redwood or river birch will tolerate wet soil.
Problem-free
When reading the tags at the nursery, look for tree varieties that have been selected for their disease and pest resistance. Study the labels carefully. Will air pollution, wind or road salt present a problem for this tree in this location? Are the limbs strong and resilient, or brittle and likely to snap in wind and ice storms? How much maintenance will this tree require? Are you willing to rake up leaves, or would a tree with smaller leaves or needles mean less work? Will it produce messy fruit or seed?
Function
What are you looking for in a tree? A deciduous tree with a wide canopy will provide cool shade in the summer and let the sun through during the winter months. If you are looking for privacy or a wind block, a thick evergreen will be ideal. Maybe you have a narrow spot to fill along a driveway or near the house, consider a tree with a columnar form (tall and slim). Many native trees offer both food (in the form of pollen, fruit and seeds) and shelter for birds and small mammals.
Space
How much room can you offer? Many trees are sold as innocent looking two-metre-tall saplings. Again, read the tags. A two-metre sapling can quickly develop in to a seven- to 12-metre giant with an equally wide spread. Don’t try to squeeze a big tree into a small space, look for a tree with a smaller profile. Along the same lines, how much room will roots need? Does it have a deep taproot or roots that will spread near the surface (heaving patios and walkways)?
Wendy, to answer your question, here are two beautiful trees that grow 45 to 50 centimetres high each year. That means within five years of planting a two-metre-tall tree, you will be able to sit under the shade of that tree. As trees grow, that is pretty fast.
Our native tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a fast-growing, ornamental deciduous tree that prefers a well-drained site. The tulip tree has handsome, four lobed, shiny green leaves are said to resemble a tulip, and showy yellowgreen and orange flowers that appear in mid-June. The flowers are followed by cone-like seed. Autumn brings a display of goldenyellow leaves, winter branches are decorated with attractive buff coloured, cup-like structures. Tulip trees can grow 25 to 30 metres tall and need extra water during summer droughts.
Another beautiful, fast growing tree is the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). This tree is not native to our area, but well worth growing if you have the right conditions. This is a conifer that drops its needles after they turn amber in the fall. The exfoliating bark is a rusty orange-brown and is very attractive in the winter garden. Fresh needles, beautiful in their own right, appear early in the spring. The needles are small and don’t require much cleanup, so maintenance is easy. The dawn redwood will accept heavy soil that holds some moisture. It will reach a height of 21-plus metres at maturity.
Fast growing, attractive shrubs include the red-twigged dogwood and pyramid cedar. Both provide excellent coverage and habitat for birds. — Theresa Forte is a local garden writer, photographer and speaker. You can reach her by calling 905-351-7540 or by email at theresa_forte@sympatico.ca.