Choosing the Right Place for Your Virginia Native Tree
Planting a tree suitable to your region and natural conditions is very important. Where you place your tree also determines its success!
Native trees have different shapes, sizes, rates of growth, requirements for sun, shade, soil and moisture, etc. These characteristics help guide which native trees are suited to your property and where to place the tree.
GROWTH RATE AND SPACE
How long will it take for your tree to reach its full height? Slow growing species typically live longer than fast growing species.
LOOK UP AND DOWN
Consider where you wish to place your tree. Are there overhead or buried utility lines? Is the site surrounded by streets, sidewalks, driveways, buildings or other trees? How tall and how wide will your tree be when mature? Envision it at full size when deciding where to plant.
Avoid nearby obstacles:
Houses - plant trees at least 15 feet away from buildings
Sidewalks - the roots of maples, willows and Sweetgum are more likely to damage sidewalks
Underground utilities - If planting a tree with a large root ball, call before you dig - dial 811 or visit va811.com - formerly "Miss Utility." Avoid damaging utility lines when you have to dig deep. Be aware that there may be other underground pipes that they don't mark, such as sewer and water lines.
Never plant trees or shrubs within 5 feet of an underground power line.
Overhead wires -
Dominion's recommendations
0-15 feet from the line: No trees. Shrubs under 20 feet tall at maximum growth.
15-30 feet: Small trees allowed (20-45 feet, with the taller trees in this range recommended as you progress away from the power lines)
30+ feet: Large trees allowed.
SUN EXPOSURE
Some trees need several hours of shade every day. Others need full sun all day long. What kind of sun exposure will the place you have chosen to plant your tree provide?
WIND EXPOSURE
In a woodland setting, trees are protected from the force and moisture reducing effects of wind by the trees around them. When placing a tree on a lawn, in a park or other open site, look for features that can shelter the newly planted tree from wind or look for a more sheltered location.
SOIL & MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS
Some trees prefer moist soil, others dry soil and some can tolerate either kind. Local geology and prior land disturbance affects soil fertility and air and moisture-holding capacity. You should have your soil tested every three years and before adding anything to it. To get a soil test kit, contact your county or city Virginia Cooperative Extension Office (www.ext.vt.edu/offices), or your local Soil and Water Conservation District.
VIEWS
Particularly on corner lots, avoid plantings that would obscure traffic signs and line of sight for motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
ENERGY SAVINGS
Plant deciduous trees on the southeast side of the house for morning shade and on the southwest and west for afternoon shade. When deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall, they let sunlight in to warm the house. Plant conifers on the north side to block winter winds.
Diospyros virginiana, Common Persimmon. By Dot Field.
FRUIT/SEED PODS
Some trees drop fruit, seed pods or other materials and create maintenance issues if located over streets, sidewalks and driveways.
Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore. By Connie Morrison.
Sassafras-albidum, Sassafras. By Ruth Meyers.
Cercis canadensis, Redbud. By Phillip Merrit.
Have you seen a tree deeply pruned - sometimes the crown half removed! - because it was too tall to have been planted under utility lines?
Native tree selection
Virginia’s regional native plant guides highlight the characteristics and needs of many of our native tree species. You can also cross-reference between the regional tree lists with the following resources:
Native Plant Finder - Virginia Dept of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Program
Common Native Trees of Virginia - Virginia Dept of Forestry
Tree Fact Sheets - Virginia Tech
Right Tree Right Place Tree List - compiled by the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
What Tree Is That? An easy-to-use guide from the National Arbor Day Foundation
LAWNS
Young trees are often planted on lawns, but turf grass roots hamper tree root growth. Grass roots are dense and occupy the same space where tree roots need to grow, outcompeting trees for water and nutrients and impeding tree growth. Removing turf around the new tree and replacing it with mulch reduces this effect.
Tips courtesy of the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards.
Make one an oak if you can!
Quercus alba, White Oak.
Restoring oaks to suburbia goes a long way to improving wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
In addition to all they supply for mammals and birds, no other plant genus supports more species of moths and butterflies than Quercus. The mighty White Oak - Quercus Alba - supports over 520 species! These moth and butterfly caterpillars are essential food to raise a nest of hungry chicks. The Chickadee needs to collect over 9,000 caterpillars to feed its chicks before they fledge.
Most oaks fall into two taxonomic groups: the white oak group and the red oak group. They all provide lovely fall color. Although all oaks will do well in rich, well-drained soil, swamp white oaks will tolerate moist soils, while scarlet oaks and white oaks will tolerate thin, dry soils.
Oaks grow to be large trees with spreading limbs when grown in full sun. A mature White Oak can spread wider than it is tall!
DEER
Deer can pose problems for young trees. If you live in an area with a deer population, they could pose a special problem because they browse on young trees' tender branches and stems, eat their leaves and male deer damage young trees' bark by rubbing against it to remove the velvet from their antlers. You will want to protect your young tree until it is of a size that deer activity will not impede the survival of your newly planted tree.
Download the new Celebrate Virginia Native Trees (and shrubs!) brochure and share everywhere!
