David Hillock
Extension Consumer Horticulturist
Mike Schnelle
Extension Ornamental Horticulturist
Trees and shrubs normally increase the value of real estate. A combination of trees and shrubs can lower energy consumption as well. Trees have the greatest impact on the living environment, thus it is best to select adapted, pest-free trees and plant them properly.
Planting begins with the selection of species adapted to the site and climate. For example, pin oak and sweetgum will develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. This is due to their inability to take up/utilize certain micronutrients when growing in near neutral to alkaline soils. Yet sweetgum will tolerate poorly drained, clay soils that would kill an oak. While an oak has some drought tolerance, sweetgum has none. The time to decide on the species is long before you go to the nursery to select the tree or shrub. For more information, contact your county Extension educator, local nursery personnel, park or arboretum manager, or study areas of your city that have mature trees.
To ensure successful tree establishment, the following planting techniques and methods should be used.

• ·  *Planting Times
• ·  Planting time varies from fall to spring by plant type and method of growing. Research suggests that early fall planting is best for container-grown and B&B shade and ornamental trees and pines, but spring is best for planting bare-root plants and broadleaf evergreens, such as holly and Southern magnolia. Plants planted in the fall have more time for the root system to become established before the onset of summer heat. Plants installed during the growing season are susceptible to high transpiration rates leading to drying of plant tissues. However, many containerized plants can be planted any time if handled properly.
• ·  Most bare-root or packaged plants should be planted between mid-February and mid-April or up to the end of the frost period. Other than seedling-sized evergreens, only deciduous plants can be transplanted with bare roots