| Gardeners appreciate the dynamic nature of gardens. With each year the
same garden bed can undergo sweeping change, with new colors, textures and shapes. Trees,
however, are quite different — providing shade in summer and stunning changes of
color in the fall. Their elegance and eventual maturity complete the landscape’s
design. About Deciduous Trees
Leaf-bearing, or deciduous trees are permanent elements of a landscape and serve to
frame the garden, so it is important to choose them carefully.
When selecting trees, gardeners should consider:
- Use – for shade, or as a screen or as an ornament
- Size at maturity
- Rate of growth
Planting Considerations
Deciduous trees can be planted in either the spring or fall. However, keep in mind the
risk of early spring heat spells. When purchasing trees, dig holes for them ahead of time.
If holes are not pre-dug, place trees in shade and soak them with water. This will allow
them to keep for one to two days while digging the site.
Err on the large side when digging holes. Roots must not be crowded. Once finished
digging, mix compost or peat moss with the soil. This is called "backfill".
Spread it at the base of the hole. Then insert the tree and ensure that it stands erect.
Fill the hole half way with backfill and shake the tree to allow soil to settle between
roots. Fill in four to six more inches of soil and pack the soil firmly. Fill the rest of
the hole to within two inches of ground level. This will create a shallow well around the
tree to hold water, especially helpful for the tree’s first summer. Pack soil once
more.
Be sure to brace trees of all sizes, passing wire contacting the tree through a piece
of hose to prevent chafing or bruising of bark. Consider trimming back larger branches to
encourage roots to mature and firmly anchor in the ground.
Water new trees vigorously. Fertilize using a starter fertilizer such Quickgreen or
Vitamin B1. Mulches of manure and other organic matter will be beneficial, also.
The following is a list of trees Pasquesi Home and Gardens recommends for the Chicago
area.
| Latin Name |
Common Name |
Mature Ht./Spread |
Fall Color |
Growth * Rate |
Comments |
| Acer ginnala |
Amur Maple |
20/23 |
Yellow to Red |
Medium |
Very hardy; summer brings red fruits; best in full sun |
| Acer platanoides |
Norway Maple |
50/50 |
Yellow |
Medium |
Provides dense shade |
| Acer rubrum |
Red Maple |
60/50 |
Yellow to red |
Medium or Fast |
Attractive silver-gray bark; tiny red flowers in spring |
| Acer saccharum |
Sugar Maple |
80/50 |
Orange or Red |
Slow |
Vibrant colors in fall; sensitive to heat |
| Alnus glutinosa |
Common Alder |
40/20 |
Green |
Fast |
Dark, glossy leaves stays green in fall; tolerates wet soil |
| Amelanchier x Grandiflora |
Apple Serviceberry |
20/20 |
Orange to Red |
Medium |
Beautiful fall colors; white flowers in early spring; edible |
| Betula nigra |
River Birch |
55/45 |
Yellow |
Medium to Fast |
Tolerates wet and dry soils; interesting brown peeling bark |
| Carpinus caroliniana |
American Hornbeam |
35/25 |
Yellow, Orange & Red |
Slow |
Multi-colored autumn leaves; shade tolerant; gray bark |
| Cercidiphyllum japonicum |
Katsura Tree |
60/40 |
Yellow to Red |
Medium |
Heart shaped leaves; red/purple in spring; blue-green in
summer |
| Cercis canadensis |
Eastern Redbud |
30/30 |
Yellow |
Medium |
Heart-shaped leaves; pink flowers in spring; red bark |
| Cornus alternifolia |
Pagoda Dogwood |
20/30 |
Maroon |
Slow |
Prefers shade and moist soil; attracts birds; white flowers
in the spring |
| Cornus mas |
Cornelian Cherry Dog Wood |
20/20 |
Maroon |
Medium |
Small yellow flowers in spring; red edible fruits |
| Crataegus crus-galli |
Cockspur Hawthorn |
25/30 |
Yellow to Red |
Medium |
White flowers in May; ideal for group plantings |
| Crataegus phaenopyrum |
Washington Hawthorn |
30/25 |
Red |
Medium |
Produces red fruits in fall; white flowers in spring |
| Fagus sylvatica |
European Beech |
50/40 |
Bronze |
Slow to Medium |
Dark gray bark; prefers loose, dry soil |
| Fraxinus americana |
White Ash |
90/50 |
Yellow to Purple |
Medium |
Drought tolerant; requires large area to grow |
| Ginkgo biloba |
Ginkgo Tree |
90/60 |
Yellow |
Slow |
Tolerates many environments; pest-free |
| Liriodendron tulipifera |
Tulip Tree |
85/40 |
Gold |
Fast |
Yellow, tulip-like flowers with orange center; takes 10 years
to flower |
| Magnolia stellata |
Star Magnolia |
15/15 |
Bronze |
Slow |
3 inch white flowers in spring; fragrant |
| Malus sargentii |
Sargent Crabapple |
8/16 |
Yellow to Red |
Fast |
Flowers turn white to rose in spring; has attractive fruits |
| Ostrya virginiana |
Ironwood |
50/30 |
Yellow |
Slow |
Works very well in lawns |
| Prunus cerasifera |
Thundercloud Plum |
20/20 |
Purple |
Medium |
Light pink flowers with dark purple foliage. |
| Prunus serrulata |
Kwanzan Cherry |
30/20 |
Bronze to red |
Medium |
Double, rosy pink flowers in clusters; dark green foliage |
| Pyrus calleryana |
Aristocrat Pear |
40/28 |
Deep red |
Fast |
Open, spreading branches; white flowers |
| Quercus alba |
White Oak |
90/80 |
Red to Purple |
Slow |
Majestic; state tree of Illinois |
| Quercus macrocarpa |
Burr Oak |
80/80 |
Brown |
Slow |
Course texture; great for use in open areas |
| Rhus typhina |
Staghorn Sumac |
25/20 |
Orange or Red |
Fast |
Great in borders; coarse texture in winter |
| Sorbus aucuparia |
European Mountain Ash |
35/24 |
Rusty orange |
Medium |
White flowers bloom in clusters; orange-red fruit |
| Taxodium distichum |
Bald Cypress |
100/35 |
Brown |
Medium |
Tolerates wet soils |
| Ulmus "Homestead" |
Homestead Elm |
55/35 |
Yellow |
Medium |
Dark green foliage changing to golden yellow in fall;
tolerant to Dutch Elm disease |
* Growth Rate Key
Slow: grows less than one foot per year
Medium: grows one to two feet per year
Fast: grows two or more feet per year |
| Pasquesi Home and Gardens is
Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We
have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified,
professional staff is ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.
Pasquesi Home and Gardens is a complete
resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for
the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home and Gardens has an unrivaled collection of
containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both
stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture. |
