Selecting and Planting Trees For

Utah

Jerry L. GoodspeedUtah State University Extension

Establishment is the Key

Don’t plant a tree – plant the roots

A tree is a generational investmentTake the time to do it right70 to 80% of all problems are root related

Tree Root Anatomy

Tree Root Requirements

Oxygen Water Oxygen Nutrients Oxygen Good Soil Conditions

Soil Review

Most tree and shrub failures can be traced back to either the soil or how the tree or shrub was planted.

Proper SelectionRight plant in the Right

spot

Planting

Remember, green side up…

Planting

Planting

Prepare the site:Check for drainageDig the hole:

2 to 3 times widerNo deeper than neededBackfill material at least ½ native soil

Nursery Industry

Plant Material

Bare RootDug in the fallWinter storageInexpensiveSpring plantingEstablishment

Container Plants

Most commonGirdling rootsWere bare rootEstablishedMore expensive

Balled and Burlapped (B & B)

EvergreensLarge caliperPlanting Slow to establishDug in spring, fall

Trees

Crabapples(Malus spp.)

Zone 2 +Small to mediumFast All-season treePersistent or non- fruiting

‘Sugar tyme’

‘Robinson’

River Birch(Betula nigra)

Zone 3MediumModerateShape and textureWet locations

Tatarian Maple(Acer campestre)

Zone 3Small to mediumModerateFall color, seedsSoil adaptability

Bigtooth Maple(Acer grandidentatum)

Zone 3Small to mediumModerateFall colorDry location

Northern Red Oak(Quercus rubra)

Zone 3LargeSlowFall color, statelyAdaptability

Little Leaf Linden(Tilia cordata)

Zone 3LargeModerateFragrance and shapeAdaptable, aphids, included bark

European Larch(Larix decidua)

Zone 3Medium to largeModerateSpring foliage and fall colorMoist and shady

Burr Oak(Quercus macrocarpa)

Zone 3LargeMedium to fastShapePest free, adaptable

Hackberry(Celtis occidentalis)

Zone 3LargeFastNice shapeAdaptable, Water-wise

Ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba)

Zone 3Medium to largeSlow Fall colorPlant males, no pests

White Fir(Abies concolor)

Zone 3LargeFastBlue color and soft needlesWater-wise

Redbud(Cercis canadensis)

Zone 3+Small to mediumSlow ModeratePink and white flowersSeed pods

Limber Pine(Pinus flexilis)

Zone 4MediumFastBlue color, soft needlesNative

Bosnian Pine(Pinus heldreichii)

Zone 4SmallSlowShape and size

Beech(Fagus sylvatica)

Zone 4Large SlowBeautiful, statelyLeaf color

Common Alder(Alnus glutinosa)

Zone 4MediumModerateSoft textureMoist soils

Saucer Magnolia(Magnolia soulangeana)

Zone 4Small to mediumModerateSpring flowersEarly freeze

Goldenrain Tree(Koelreuteria paniculata)

Zone 4Small to mediumSlow to moderateJuly flowers New varieties

Columnar English Oak(Quercus robur ‘fastigiata’)

Zone 4MediumSlow to mediumColumnar shapeLeaves stay on tree into winter

Zelkova(Zelkova serrata)

Zone 4+LargeFastFall color, vase shapeAdaptable, included bark

Sweet gum(Liquidamber styraciflua)

Zone 5LargeModerateFall colorDrainage, fruit

Tulip Tree(Liriodendron tulipifera)

Zone 4LargeFastFlowerWeak wood

American Yellowwood(Cladrastis kentukea)

Zone 4+MediumSlow to mediumShowy white flowersFragrant, included bark

Mulberry(Morus Rubra)

Zone 4+MediumFastLarge leavesLongevity

Dawn Redwood(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

Zone 5LargeFastFall color Deciduous conifer

European Hornbeam(Carpinus betulus)

Zone 5MediumModerateShape, leaf textureDieback

Blue Atlas Cedar(Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’)

Zone 5LargeModerate to fastBlue color and shapeWeeping varieties

Japanese Maple(Acer palmatum)

Zone 4 – 5Small to mediumSlowLeaf color and shapeVariable hardiness, varieties, shady location

Incense Cedar(Calocedrus decurrens)

Zone 5+LargeFastAroma, foliageAdaptable

Cedar of Lebanon(Cedrus libani)

Zone 5LargeModerateStately, graceful

Red Maple(Acer rubrum)

Zone 4 Red fall color ‘Autumn Blaze’ Large tree

Horsechestnut(Aesculus hippocastanum)

Zone 4 to 7Large tree Moderate growthRed species Messy

Deodar Cedar(Cedrus deodara)

Zone 5+ Large cedar Great foliage, shape Aura variety

Flowering Dogwood(Cornus florida)

Zone 5+Small treeNeeds drainage, protectionBeautiful flowers

Hawthorn(Crataegus spp.)

Zones 4+ Spring flowers Small to medium Diseases

Ash(Fraxinus spp.)

Zone 4+ Large Insects Fast growing White

Paperbark Maple(Acer griseum)

Zone 5 – 7 medium Slow Beautiful bark

‘Rezek’ Norway maple‘Monumentale’ silver maple

‘Sherwood Forest’ Arborvitae

‘Katene’ cedar of Lebenon

‘Blue Sparkler’ Larch

‘Nirbeth’s Scots pine

‘Cascade Falls’ bald cypress

Blue giant sequoia

Weeping giant sequoia

Columnar Serbian spruce