• Ask Mark
    • Search the Library
    • Mark’s Blog
    • eNewsletter / Subscribe
    • Books
    • Links
  • Cullen’s Foods
  • Trees For Life
  • Events
    • Gardening Communities
  • About Mark
    • Mark and Ben’s Bio
    • Book Mark as a Speaker
    • Mark in the Media
    • Contact Us
January 8, 2014

Feet in the Snow, Minds in the Trees

Back in November, I wrote here about trees, and left you with the task of getting out of doors to experience the end of the colourful leafy goodness for yet another autumn season. We are still weeks away from the bright green buds of spring but it’s never too soon to begin planning for a new member to your backyard family.

 When to Plant

The best time to plant a tree is when it’s dormant: in the spring before they “wake up” for some serious late spring-summer growing and in the fall after they’ve finished growing and prepared themselves for winter.

Now is the time to be thinking about what kind of tree to plant. Here’s a little guide.

What to Plant

I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favourite deciduous trees. Keep this list handy when making your decision but remember that this list is not even close to being exhaustive. We have hundreds of native trees in Canada. Check out Tree Canada for a more comprehensive list.

Deciduous

Tree Name

Hardiness Zones

Preferred Growing Conditions

Growth Habits

Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Canada: Zones 3a – 6b Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained

Light: Full shade or full sun

Height: 35m

Trunk Diameter: 100cm

Crown: symmetrical

White Oak (Quercus alba) Canada: Zones 3a – 6b Soil: can tolerate a range of soil types

Light: can tolerate some shade

Height: 35m

Trunk Diameter: 120cm

Crown: dense, broad, mainly symmetrical

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Canada: Zones 1b – 6b Soil: rich, bottomland soil but can tolerate less fertile urban soil

Light: can tolerate some shade

Height: 15m

Trunk Diameter: 60cm

Crown: dense, narrow, mainly symmetrical

Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii) ‘Autumn Blaze’ Canada: Zones 2b – 6b Soil: tolerates intermittently wet and dry soils

Light: best in full sun but can tolerate some shade

Height: 25m

Trunk Diameter:

Crown: dense, narrow, symmetrical

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) Canada: Zones 1a – 6b Soil: moist, well-drained

Light: tolerant of shade for many years and will grow as it receives light

Height: 35m

Trunk Diameter: 90cm

Crown: dense, narrow, symmetrical

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Canada: Zones 6a – 6b Soil: moist, well-drained lowlands; needs fertile soil

Light: shade intolerant

Height: 30m

Trunk Diameter: 120cm

Crown: open, broad, symmetrical

Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) Canada: 2b – 6b Soil: moist, well-drained but can tolerate some dryness

Light: very shade tolerant

Height: 12m

Trunk Diameter: 25cm

Crown: dense, broad, symmetrical

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Canada: Zones 3a – 6b Soil: moist, well-drained

Light: shade tolerant

Height: 25m

Trunk Diameter: 100cm

Crown: broad and symmetrical

Basswood (Tillia americana) Canada: Zone 2b – 6b Soil: moist, well-drained soil

Light: very shade tolerant

Height: 35m

Trunk Diameter: 100cm

Crown: narrow and symmetrical

Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Canada: Zones 6a – 6b Soil: deep, rich, well-drained soils; can tolerate mildly droughty conditions

Light: shade intolerant

Height: 25m

Trunk Diameter: 60cm

Crown: dense, narrow and symmetrical

Canadian Hardiness Map: http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/images/cfs11x8E.jpg

 

Last words

I have a good friend who is an arborist and in talks with him he has urged me to pass along these words: match your tree to your location. Don’t plant trees right against your house; remember that these trees will grow not only above ground but below it. Roots can wreak havoc with your foundation as they travel laterally in search of water and nutrients. Finally, he says that homeowners need to research every tree they plan on adding to their gardens. Know how quickly it grows, how large it grows, and how much maintenance it will need.

The species listed here are large and intended for areas with the appropriate amount of space. Today’s science has been able to create smaller hybrid versions of many trees that are designed for the compact backyard. Check back in two weeks for my top 10 list.

Next week I will give you my list of top 10 conifers.

← Previous post
Dreaming

Next post →
Ten Great Coniferous Trees

Search

Recent Posts

  • Signs of Spring March 27, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week February 2, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week January 11, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week December 9, 2020

Mark’s Blog by Month

Ask Mark

  • eNewsletter
  • Radio/Podcast
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper column
  • TV

Recent Tweets

Mark Cullen Follow

Best selling Canadian gardening author as seen on TV, radio, online and print.

MarkCullen4
2 Mar

Was a pleasure visiting with our #tree loving friends @TonyDiGiovanni1 and @MarkCullen4 today @vinelandrsrch!

Reply on Twitter 1631375315615318018 Retweet on Twitter 1631375315615318018 1 Like on Twitter 1631375315615318018 10 Twitter 1631375315615318018
19 Feb

Increase biodiversity in your yard with these tips from Mark and Ben Cullen. @MarkCullen4

http://ow.ly/u2sE50MVwTA

Reply on Twitter 1627294471200116736 Retweet on Twitter 1627294471200116736 1 Like on Twitter 1627294471200116736 4 Twitter 1627294471200116736
10 Feb

Excited to meet with Mark Cullen and Tony DiGiovanni today to learn more about the Trees for Life Program and how Less Mess can help!

Reply on Twitter 1624161096243240976 Retweet on Twitter 1624161096243240976 4 Like on Twitter 1624161096243240976 6 Twitter 1624161096243240976
12 Jan

This was a great way to start the new year. Congratulations, Landscape Ontario, on this milestone! Thanks to all who made it happen. We’re looking forward to the next one.

#TreesForLife #Congress #LOCongress #ClimateAction #GoGreen #HOHTC

Reply on Twitter 1613670790612017153 Retweet on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Like on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Twitter 1613670790612017153

Comments are closed.

About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
More

Find Mark On

Sponsored Links

Highway of Heroes cullensfoods Share Agriculture Foundation Harrowsmith
© Mark Cullen. Go to top ↑