Parks, Recreation & Leisure

Parks, Recreation & Leisure / Parks & Forestry

Tree Talk

Landscaping Tips | Plant of the Month | Tree Talk

What to Plant
Much attention has been paid to trees in Upper Arlington recently as repeated bouts of thunderstorms and high winds have buffetted our fair city, resulting in the loss of many mature trees. Species particularly prone to storm damage lead the list- Bradford Pear, Silver Maple, Cottonwood, and Siberian Elm leading the list. The storms damaged a great number of hardwoods also, as a great number of Sugar Maples were destroyed in the areas along Riverside Drive. This underscores the importance of an ongoing plan of tree planting, both in public places and private yards to keep pace with natural attrition.

The biggest rule in planting any tree (or any plant for that matter) is to duplicate as closely as possible the natural conditions the plant would prefer to grow in in its native area. That being said the next most important thing for trees is to locate appropriate sized trees in appropriate areas so that the trees do not grow into large problems. Location, location, location. Size is key. Trees that grow to be 90 feet high should not be planted as foundation shrubs and are often unsuited for five foot wide tree lawns. One should also take into consideration the scale of one's home in making a selection. The large number of "topped" maple trees in Central Ohio attests to the fact that many ranch home owners would have been happier in the long run with a dogwood or a crabapple. In addition to being an expense, endless pruning of a too large tree can ruin its natural shape and make it prone to rot. Especial care should be taken to select smaller trees under or near power lines. One should also not plant species such as Willows, Poplars or Silver Maples near or overtop sewer or drain lines as expensive plumbing bills will result. Care should be taken to avoid planting trees that drop messy fruit on walkways, streets or driveways. A black walnut dropped by a clumsy squirrel from a height of 90 feet can do significant damage to a car. A sidewalk covered with large rotting crab apples can be a safety hazard.

The first thing one should determine when selecting trees for one's yard is to determine the direction of the sun in relation to the house and the amount of shade currently in the yard. Large shade trees such as Ashes, Oaks and Maples are best planted 20 ft or so at least away from the house and are ideal at the southwest and southeast corners. They are best sited there to give maximum protection from the summer sun in shading the house and lowering air conditioning bills. I would avoid planting large trees directly in the middle of the front yard as they can hide the house instead of framing it in a pleasing manner. One can remedy this problem with an existing large tree by removing lower branches to allow a view of the home but the tree must have some substantial size before that can be done. Large trees should not be planted close to the north sides of homes as the result is often a dank and moldy yard.

Upper Arlington lots are most conducive to smaller sized ornamental trees as only the estate lots have room for multiple mature Oaks. Many of the small flowering trees are understory trees from the forest in their native habitat and do not always perform well in full sun in exposed locations. Dogwoods, Carolina Silverbells. Redbuds, Franklinias and Stewartias are all beautiful small flowering trees but they are happiest if their roots are in shade and their leaves receive much direct sun. They do well planted near the shade of larger trees and they particularly like a break from harsh afternoon sun. They are ideal for the north side of homes as the midsummer sun passing high overhead gives them much light but the roots are somewhat protected. Think of a small clearing in a forest when siting these trees.

The best flowering tree for the small lot in full unprotected sun has to be the Crabapple. I have long been a detractor of disease prone messy fruited crabapples but I have been won over in recent years by the extensive breeding of dwarf, small berried varieties that hold their fruit well into winter, adding to the ornamental show. Weeping varieties such as Molten Lava , Louisa and Weeping Red Jade add interest to the garden, and nothing tolerates sun better. The Adams Crabapples recently planted on Arlington Avenue interspersed with Oaks and other large trees on the oversized tree lawns will be enjoyed by all for years to come.

I cannot close this article without mentioning magnolias. South Arlington is graced with many magnificent Saucer Magnolias, particularly on Cambridge. Tremont Road shopping Center has some Galaxy Magnolias which are a deeper purple than the Saucers, and we are starting to see some of the yellow flowering magnolias such as Elizabeth. A nice Elizabeth Magnolia resides in the Magnolia Grove in the Lane Road Park. The evergreen Southern Magnolia is found tucked against ther north side of homes throughout the city, if one only looks. Star and Sweetbay magnolias are also plentiful but are often mistakenly planted as foundation shrubs and not the 15 to 30 foot trees that they are.

Parks & Forestry Division
Parks & Recreation Department
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5340