Towering treasures
Arbor Day beckons us all to dig a hole, plant a tree
As the old saying goes, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time is now. The latter half of that proverb rings especially true right now. Arbor Day, coming up on April 27, celebrates our magnificent trees and offers ample opportunities to nurture these marvelous woody perennials. Sometimes overshadowed by Earth Day, which is earlier that same week, Arbor Day originated in Nebraska by newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton on April 10, 1872, according to arborday.org. Arbor Day or its equivalent is recognized around the world, but not always on the same day. In Wisconsin, it’s observed the last Friday of April. Arbor is the Latin word for tree.
Of course, no special occasion is needed to plant, climb or simply appreciate trees.
Still, Arbor Day is as good a reason as any to get your hands back in the soil. Blossoms and leaves are unfurling by the day, and area nurseries are bursting with trees waiting for permanent homes to bolster our collective urban forest.
But before spending your money and exerting your brow, consider this tale of two trees, with apologies to Charles Dickens.
Tree one would thrive and become part of a majestic canopy to amaze your great-grandchildren. However, with tree two (the worst of times), it would:
Require pruning multiple times a year (more if there are storms) and invasively sprout mini-mes in inopportune places around your yard.
Attract harmful insects (and possibly fungus!) to look half decimated by late summer as long as the tree shall live.
Be as dead as a doornail (or part of an actual door) about the time you’re ready to sell your house and reap your arboreal investment.
To ensure the best of times with your tree’s story, here’s expert advice from local arborists, trained specialists in the art and science of planting and caring for trees.
Right tree, right place
Because the tree you plant may still be standing long after you’re gone, it makes sense to seriously consider what and where to plant. Remember how tall and wide the tree will be at maturity, and where you want shade vs. sun in various seasons both in and outside your home.
“Planting the right tree in the right place goes a long way in reducing maintenance over the years,” said Bill Reichenbach, International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and horticulturist at Wachtel Tree Science in Merton.
“Some low-maintenance trees that come to mind are gingko, hackberry, Kentucky coffee tree and serviceberry. Some high-maintenance trees include crabapple, honey locust and birch; however, these trees do have attributes that make them worthy trees to be included in the landscape.”
While Reichenbach is a proponent of native trees because they help preserve other native species and flora that depend on the trees, he believes homeowners should strive for variety.
“A diverse planting of trees goes a long way in developing a healthy, sustainable landscape,” he explained. Both native and exotic trees have a place in our landscapes.”
One of Reichenbach’s favorite trees is the native burr oak for its longevity, adaptability and beauty.
Arborist Jim Rude, owner of Natural Habitat Professional Arborists in Wales, also advises homeowners to plant native, Wisconsin-hardy trees, and to think long term.
“Be proactive with plant selection,” he said. “The slowest-growing trees usually turn out the best, but people are impatient.”
Rude also recommends burr oak, along with white oak and sugar maple. Don’t plant ash, Colorado blue and green spruce, Austrian pine, little-leaf Linden, purple-leafed cherry and plum or Norway maple, as they are prone to disease and overused, according to Rude and Reichenbach.
For a long list of recommended trees for Wisconsin, visit the online University of Wisconsin-Extension Learning Store for publication A2865.
In the hole
When planting a tree, the biggest mistake Reichbach sees involves hole depth.
“Trees are often planted too deeply, resulting in poor growth, decline and eventual death,” he said. “It is very important to plant trees with the trunk flare (where the trunk turns to roots) at or slightly above existing soil grade.”
Rude agreed, adding that while holes are often too deep, they are not wide enough. Another mistake is leaving plastic materials and wires around heavy balled-and-burlapped root balls. “I see that all the time,” he said.
Rude recommends discarding as much wrapping material as possible from the root ball. He suggests homeowners buy trees in easy-to-remove pots instead. “Plant something smaller such as a 1-inch caliper. They are much easier to handle.”
Overfertilizing, especially at planting, is also a nono.
“High-nitrogen fertilizer can burn tender roots,” Rude said. “People think you have to fertilize everything; it’s just not the case.”
Other tree sins of commission are routine staking and amending the backfill soil. Rude advised against both.
“It’s got to learn to thrive in the parent soil you have,” he explained; otherwise, the roots will have a disincentive to grow into the native soil. Concerning stakes, he said trees can become dependent on them and don’t send out anchor roots as a result. Only stake if the tree is in danger of falling over.
Trees trump grass
Sometimes homeowners face a battle of trees vs. lawn grass. Densely crowned trees such as the invasive Norway maple shut out so much sunlight they will kill lawn grass underneath.
When homeowners complain about the inability to grow grass under a tree, Rude tells them to go with the tree. “I don’t care about your grass, I care about your tree,” he said.
Reichenbach said homeowners should consider the big picture and context when planting trees.
“Developing a more natural landscape with less turf grass does create an environment more conducive to healthy tree growth and good habitat for more life of all kinds,” Reichenbach said.
He advises homeowners to mulch rather than grow lawn grass under trees. “Proper mulching is very important when planting new trees; however, keep the mulch a couple of inches away from the trunk. Do not pile mulch high up the trunk,” he said.
Mounding the mulch around the base of the trunk is known as “volcano mulch” in the arborist world. It’s an amateur mistake, as it attracts fungus, suffocates the tree and encourages rot. It could even kill the tree.
Be sure to extend the mulch out to the drip line of the branches so the mower will not damage the tree. An underplanting of native grasses or flowers can also be easily added at planting time, as the tree roots have not yet established. Leave leafy debris in fall, as it recycles nutrients and supports insects that provide food for nesting birds in spring.
One last mulch tip is to use bark or wood-chip mulch, not stones, Reichenbach added.
If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, just hire a pro to plant that beautiful flowering crabapple or oak.
Wisconsin’s largest and oldest nursery, McKay Nursery in Waterloo, makes it easy to buy hardy, locally grown trees online at mckaynursery.com, at its retail store at 5655 Lincoln Road in Oregon, or through one of its 73 statewide landscape designers listed on its website.
According to Natalie Jonas at McKay, an averagesize 1 1⁄4- to 1 1⁄2-inch caliper Profusion crabapple tree sells for $179.95 plus $60 for delivery within a 100-mile radius from Waterloo. For professional planting, add $150.
Six-foot bare-root Profusions are available now through June for $62.99, a significant cost savings. Bare-root trees also offer easy transporting and planting.
Spring is the best season to plant fruit trees, Jonas said.
Jennifer Rude Klett is a Wisconsin freelance writer of history, food, and Midwestern life. Contact her at jrudeklett.com.