and fall color. Attractive bark and winter silhouettes are also desirable characteristics.
When selecting any type of tree you should consider:
- Mature size of the tree: Is the tree suited to the site and home design? A large shade tree must be sited where it will provide the shade needed and where its roots won’t cause problems. The proximity to overhead and underground utilities, septic systems, swimming pools, building foundations, and paved areas should be assessed. In many situations you want to select trees that don’t grow too tall because they could block a desirable view from your home.
- Pest resistance: Small or large, it’s always a good idea to select a tree that’s not prone to insects or diseases. This is important in reducing pesticide use and lowering the maintenance time required to keep a tree healthy. Avoid pest-prone trees that will require lots of attention, such as white birch which is frequently attached by bronze birch borer or some varieties of flowering crab apples which are bothered by powdery mildew.
- Adaptable to the climate and environment: Many gardeners persist in planting trees not well suited to a particular area. Trees should be winter hardy to UDSA Zone 6 and able to withstand the summer heat stress experienced in this region. Trees that are marginally hardy or prefer milder summers, such as vine maple or quaking aspen, are harder to grow successfully here. It’s upsetting to grow a tree for several years and then have it damaged or killed during a cold winter or stressed by hot summer weather.
- Adaptable to site: Pick a tree suited to the soil conditions and site that has been selected. Trees that do better with in a protected location with some afternoon shade, such as flowering dogwood or Japanese maple, should not be placed on the south side of a building surrounded by concrete and rocks.
- Trees with seasonal interest: Many trees, especially the smaller trees, offer seasonal interest to the landscape... flowers in the spring or summer, fragrance, fall color, fruit, interesting bark, or distinctive winter form. Don’t just settle for nice green leaves in the summer, select a tree that will provide you with appeal all through the growing season.
Small Trees to Consider for Our Region
Flowering Dogwood (mature height 15' to 25' depending on the cultivar) - this is a favorite small tree of many gardeners but it’s not really well adapted to our summer climate and often suffers summer leaf scorch from extended spells of 90+ degree weather. While it’s difficult to establish in this area, once it’s growing well it seems to thrive here. It has wonderful white flowers in the spring and a rich red fall color with bright red berries. It should be planted in a protected location.
Japanese Maple (mature height 6' to 20', depending on the cultivar) - another favorite gem of gardeners everywhere, but it’s also generally not well adapted to our summer climate or soils and often suffers from leaf scorch when not placed in a protected site away from hot summer sun and wind. In the right place this can be the most beautiful tree anywhere. It may not have remarkable spring flowers, but its delicate dissected leaves and fall colors are a delight. There are upright and graceful weeping forms available. Some forms also have colorful winged seeds that provide color interest in the summer. Be sure to look for heat tolerant cultivars.
Flowering Cherry (mature height 12' to 50', depending on cultivar) - perhaps one of the most beautiful small flowering trees available. You’ll find a variety of flower forms from white to pink; large or small; single or double. The tree form varies with upright, spreading, and weeping forms available. Many cultivars have a bronze to deep red fall color. Borers can be a problem, especially if the tree is stressed, and is also subject to several fungus diseases that attack trunks, leaves and twigs. Consider a flowering cherry a short-lived (20 years) tree.
Paperbark Maple (mature height 25') - this is an interesting little maple with dark green, tri-foliate leaves that turn a bri