Dallas Morning News – November 12, 2018
Time to Plant the Best Trees
Lacey oak
Yep – it’s the best time of the year to plant trees. Let’s cover this topic from a different viewpoint by reviewing the trees I have planted at my home and office property. You may be surprised of some of these, but they are all excellent.
Mexican buckeye
Shade Trees I Planted
- Mexican white oak – this is a great evergreen tree that has few if any negatives. It is relatively fast growing and has distinctive, dark green leathery leaves.
- Bigtooth maple – by far the best maple choice for north Texas. Crisp growth, no serious pest problems or cosmetics issues, long-lived and beautiful although varying fall color.
- Caddo maple – good tree but weaker in all categories than Bigtooth.
- Lacey oak – one of the very best trees for residential property. Smaller size than other oaks, few if any problems and nice spring and fall color.
- Texas ash – terrific native that has gorgeous fall color and none of the typical problems of other ash trees.
- Mexican sycamore – extremely fast growing shade tree that is much better than our American sycamore. Hate to have to say that – but it’s true.
- Ginkgo – if you have decent soil, not solid rock, this is a fantastic tree with spectacular fall color.
- Texas red oak – great shade tree with (usually) dramatic red fall color. But, this tree is close to being over-used
- Thornless catclaw acacia – best of the acacias because of no thorns. Delicate, lacy foliage and creamy white spring flowers.
Mexican plum
Mexican white oak
Ornamental (Smaller) trees I planted
- Mexican plum – great native ornamental tree with fragrant spring flowers and very nice orange fall color. Has thorns.
- Mexican buckeye – bushy small tree with purple spring flowers, bright yellow fall color and decorative seedpods holding the marble-sized buckeyes.
- Eve’s necklace – graceful small to medium-sized tree with lacy foliage, pink spring flowers, black seedpod strings and yellow fall color.
- Persian ironwood – distinctive foliage, yellow or red fall color, impressive fall color and unusual red flowers in winter.
- Japanese maple (Several species, varieties and cultivars) – beautiful trunk and bark, colorful buds and new growth, ranging and bright fall colors and distinctive branching in the winter.
Persian Ironwood
Mexican sycamore
Existing Shade Trees on Property I Saved
- Live oak – great tree but close to being overused.
- American elm – largest tree on my property.
- Eastern red cedar – excellent evergreen especially for screening purposes. Females are best due edible berries and no pollen.
- Cedar elm – excellent small-leafed, native elm with so-so fall color.
- Chinese pistachio – beautifully fall color and nice texture all growing season, but now is on the invasive species list because birds are spreading it far and wide.
Texas ash
I hope my list helps you with the tree shopping. Choose wisely, set your trees high and don’t overwater.