Standout Trees
Trees provide a foundation for your landscape and benefit us in so many ways. Yet with all the great things we know about trees, most people are not sure how to go about selecting the right tree for their situation.
One of the things you can do to help select your tree might be to drive around your neighborhood and see which trees are doing well and which ones you like. Look over your landscape and check for powerlines and other obstacles. Think about the care it will take and use recommended tree lists for Florida to make your choice. By following good tree selection and planting advice, the right tree can help to transform your yard into the paradise you have always wanted.
The Value of Trees
It's well known that trees bring beauty and shade to the landscape, but they also add financial value to your property. Have a certified arborist appraise the dollar value of your trees. If they're damaged or destroyed, you may be able to recapture your loss through an insurance claim or as a deduction from your federal income tax.
Standout Tree Selections
Trees like magnolias and oaks have been gracing Southern gardens for centuries. Today, gardeners can look for modern updates on these classic trees.
'D.D. Blanchard' is a stately Southern magnolia cultivar that features large dark green leaves with coppery undersides, and produces spectacular blooms.
The live oak cultivar 'Cathedral' has an upright form and offers a full, dense canopy. Another good cultivar, 'Park Side', has a broader form. Both have strong central leaders and are nice trees for larger yards.
A wonderful flowering tree for Florida gardens is the 'Natchez' crapemyrtle. It has lovely cinnamon-brown bark and blooms all summer long with clusters of white flowers.
The woody, wing-like growths along the branchlets of the winged elm.
Photo: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Check with your local garden center to find a standout tree for your landscape.