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Right Tree, Right Place Right NOW Elizabeth
Rives Arlington-Alexandria County Tree
Steward Barcroft School and Civic League
Meeting October 6, 2005
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Why Plant Trees?

• Provide shade
• Decrease energy costs
• Reduce storm-water runoff and flooding
• Improve air water quality

• Improve health well-being
• Reduce noise levels
• Provide privacy
• Increase property values
• Increase community pride

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Why Plant Trees Now?
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago
the next best time is now. Anonymous
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Tree Selection Considerations

• Site Conditions
• Planting Objectives
• Character
• Shade
• Diversity
• Aesthetic
• Maintenance

• Special Characteristics
• Growth factors
• Form character
• Leaves, flowers, fruit, bark
• Soil requirements
• Other environmental factors hardiness, light
  requirements
• Availability

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Tree Heights Spacing
Small Min. 8-10 from wall of 1-story building
(6-8 from corner) Medium Min. 15 from wall of
1-story building (12 from corner) Large Min.
20 from wall of 1-story building (15 from
corner)
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Medium to Tall Trees
Medium to Large Trees
Over 30 Tall and Wide Shade, Screening Views,
Large Lawn Areas Issues if Too Close to
Buildings
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Red Maple Acer rubrum
Native Medium fast
40 60 tall
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Red Maple
Few Pests Soil Tolerant Many Cultivars
Fall Color Comparisons
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Red Oak Quercus rubra 60-75 Native FAST!
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Red Oak Forms
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Black Gum (Tupelo, Sour Gum) Nyssa sylvatica
Native Slow Medium Growth 30-50 Tall
Vivid Fall Color
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Black Gum Forms
Flat-topped and rounded when older
Pyramidal in youth
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Hornbeams
Mostly pest free/pest tolerant Slow Medium
Growth (30 Tall) Adapted to Shade (C.
caroliniana) Harder to Transplant
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American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana
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European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus
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Hop Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana
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Small to Medium Trees
15-30 Tall Patios, Townhouse Gardens, Front
Doors Under Power Lines
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Kousa Dogwood, Cornus kousa
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Kousa Dogwood
White or pink Blooms longer and later
(June) 20-30
Interesting fruit Slow Medium Growth Pest free
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Dogwood Anthracnose Symptoms
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Redbud Cercis canadensis
Medium - Fast 20-30 high and wide Native
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Yellow in Fall
Forest Pansy Excellent Purple-Leaves
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Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
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Fruit for Birds Native
Excellent in Fall Minimal Pests Average Soil
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Other Honorable Mentions
Gingko Biloba Male only showy yellow fall
color Common Hackberry Native, tolerates heat,
wind, alkaline soil and urban pollution. Good
replacement tree for American Elm American Elm
Princeton, Valley Forge, Liberty varieties Dutch
Elm disease resistant great urban tree Golden
Raintree Bright yellow fall color, showy yellow
flowers in summer adaptable to poor soils,
compacted soils, various soil pHs, pollution,
heat, drought, and urban stress in general
American Yellowwood Tough few pests
lemon-yellow fruit in fall striking specimen tree
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Other Honorable Mentions
Washington Hawthorn Very adaptable to poor,
dry, compacted soils Winter King green hawthorn
(Crataegus viridis) variety more disease
resistant Crape Myrtle Long summer bloomers in
several colors many varieties with interesting
bark Red Buckeye Showy, red flowers in spring
good for small areas Sweet Bay Magnolia Native
evergreen to semi-evergreen moderate to rapid
growth creamy white flowers with lemon scent
from late spring to late summer bright red
seeds tolerates wet feet White Fringetree
White, fragrant flowers multi-stem, 20x20
great near streambeds
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Tree Planting Guidelines

• Dig hole width 2-3x size of root ball depth of
  root ball 2 above grade
• 45 sloped, scarified sides
• BETTER TO PLANT TOO HIGH THAN TOO LOW!!

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Tree Planting Guidelines

• Never lift or jerk the tree by its trunk when
  moving
• Remove burlap at least 1/3 of wire basket AFTER
  placing in hole
• Backfill (you can amend soil, but not too much)
• Water (15-20 gals.)
• Mulch 2-3 but AWAY from trunk/root flare

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Top Causes of Young Tree Failure Mostly Human

• Planting Too Deep
• Improper Species Selection
• Poor Site Preparation and Drainage
• Lack of Watering
• Planting Non-Hardy Tree Stock
• Poor Care in Nursery and in Shipping/Handling

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Top Causes of Tree Root Problems

• Planting Too Deep
• Excessive Mulch Piled Over Root Collar or Flare

Damage by equipment (mowers, trimmers,
excavating, trenching)
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You Too Can Be a Tree Hugger