Trees - Ask Extension
Hello,
About a year ago my family moved to Marietta (Devola) from Grove City, OH and we would like to plant a few trees in our yard. This is somewh...
Knowledgebase
Trees #876570
Asked July 09, 2024, 7:25 PM EDT
Hello,
About a year ago my family moved to Marietta (Devola) from Grove City, OH and we would like to plant a few trees in our yard. This is somewhat of a problem as we are not sure what is best to plant, considering the weather, soil, harmful insects, etc.. I favor medium-sized trees which are colorful in some way, such as fruit trees, or flowering ones, because we need to brighten our yard. Would Crape Myrtle be okay? Additionally, we could use a colorful shrub. Would Forsythia work? We are open to any suggestions you might have for us. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Washington County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello!
It's exciting to have a new yard to work on! If you have been in residence for a year, then you have had a chance to see the annual cycle of what is already there in your landscaping, and now you can decide how to augment or change it.
One important thing to think about when adding trees in your yard: How big will the tree be at maturity? If you want your tree to stay medium-sized, make sure that the maximum height listed for your selection is around 20 - 30 feet. (Of course, trees don't read plant tags, so sometimes a really happy tree surpasses the expected maximum height, but at least that number is a starting point when you are selecting your trees.) Also, be aware of overhead power lines, and don't plant something under those lines that can grow tall enough to interfere with them. (Note: it is important to avoid ever "topping" a tree, that is, cutting it across the top to keep it from growing taller. This is terrible for the health of the tree, and can shorten its lifespan. More info here: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-topping-the-cost-is-greater-than-you-think.)
There are several options for flowering trees that could do well in Washington County, depending on the amount of sun in the location, and the soil quality. For example, redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) have lovely blooms in the spring, and are native to Ohio. Serviceberry trees (Amelanchier spp.) are also lovely, and produce berries that the birds enjoy. You might also consider varieties of redbud or crabapple (Malus spp.) that have purple foliage, since that can add more color to the yard throughout the growing season. There are more ideas listed in our fact sheet at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5815, but keep in mind that you need to consider the eventual size of the tree, as well as its sun and water requirements, and its cold-hardiness.
It may be difficult to plant crape myrtle (Lagerostroemia indica) in your area and have it make it through the winter - crape myrtle has not been reliably cold hardy in Ohio, unless it is planted in a sheltered location, away from wind and near a heated building or garage. Even though winters are getting warmer on average, we are still experiencing periods of frigid cold that could kill a crape myrtle. Also, the flower petals of crape myrtles may stain walkways, or the finish on a car or lawn furniture, so if you do choose to try planting one, make sure it is away from driveways, walkways and patios (more info at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagerstroemia-indica/).
If you are looking to add a specimen shrub to your yard, I would not recommend forsythia. The bloom time on forsythia is fairly short, and after blooming it is not that attractive. Additionally, forsythia is not native, so it does not offer much to wildlife. I would suggest taking a look at smokebush (Cotinus spp.), or blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis), or beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), or a native viburnum (such as Viburnum dentatum). Each of these blooms at a different time, and is a different size, so you might find one of these would suit. There are many more ideas available in our factsheet at this link: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5813.
I hope these ideas are helpful. Please don't hesitate to send us further questions as you are planning your yard.
Best,
It's exciting to have a new yard to work on! If you have been in residence for a year, then you have had a chance to see the annual cycle of what is already there in your landscaping, and now you can decide how to augment or change it.
One important thing to think about when adding trees in your yard: How big will the tree be at maturity? If you want your tree to stay medium-sized, make sure that the maximum height listed for your selection is around 20 - 30 feet. (Of course, trees don't read plant tags, so sometimes a really happy tree surpasses the expected maximum height, but at least that number is a starting point when you are selecting your trees.) Also, be aware of overhead power lines, and don't plant something under those lines that can grow tall enough to interfere with them. (Note: it is important to avoid ever "topping" a tree, that is, cutting it across the top to keep it from growing taller. This is terrible for the health of the tree, and can shorten its lifespan. More info here: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-topping-the-cost-is-greater-than-you-think.)
There are several options for flowering trees that could do well in Washington County, depending on the amount of sun in the location, and the soil quality. For example, redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) have lovely blooms in the spring, and are native to Ohio. Serviceberry trees (Amelanchier spp.) are also lovely, and produce berries that the birds enjoy. You might also consider varieties of redbud or crabapple (Malus spp.) that have purple foliage, since that can add more color to the yard throughout the growing season. There are more ideas listed in our fact sheet at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5815, but keep in mind that you need to consider the eventual size of the tree, as well as its sun and water requirements, and its cold-hardiness.
It may be difficult to plant crape myrtle (Lagerostroemia indica) in your area and have it make it through the winter - crape myrtle has not been reliably cold hardy in Ohio, unless it is planted in a sheltered location, away from wind and near a heated building or garage. Even though winters are getting warmer on average, we are still experiencing periods of frigid cold that could kill a crape myrtle. Also, the flower petals of crape myrtles may stain walkways, or the finish on a car or lawn furniture, so if you do choose to try planting one, make sure it is away from driveways, walkways and patios (more info at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagerstroemia-indica/).
If you are looking to add a specimen shrub to your yard, I would not recommend forsythia. The bloom time on forsythia is fairly short, and after blooming it is not that attractive. Additionally, forsythia is not native, so it does not offer much to wildlife. I would suggest taking a look at smokebush (Cotinus spp.), or blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis), or beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), or a native viburnum (such as Viburnum dentatum). Each of these blooms at a different time, and is a different size, so you might find one of these would suit. There are many more ideas available in our factsheet at this link: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5813.
I hope these ideas are helpful. Please don't hesitate to send us further questions as you are planning your yard.
Best,
Thank you so much. It is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.
