TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
Which Trees Are Native To Georgia?
Georgia, a state known for its rich biodiversity, is home to a wide range of native trees. From the coastal plains in the south to the mountains in the north, the varied landscape of Georgia supports a diverse array of flora. These native trees have adapted naturally to the region's soil, climate, and rainfall patterns, making them well-suited for the local ecosystem. In this article, we will explore 30 stunning trees native to Georgia, highlighting their unique characteristics and the benefits they bring to the environment.
Top Ten Native Georgia Trees:
1. Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata)
The Hazel Alder is a small tree or large, multi-stemmed, thicket-forming shrub. It is commonly found in boggy grounds near rivers, streams, lakes, springs, and wet meadows. This tree features smooth gray trunks with barely noticeable pores. In March and early April, before the leaves emerge, the Hazel Alder produces monoecious flowers. The male catkins are slender and droop in clusters near the branch tips, while the female catkins are bright red upright cylinders located on twig tips. The tree's fruiting cones contain winged nutlets that mature in the fall and persist into the winter, providing a food source for various bird species. With its obovate leaves and dark green color, the Hazel Alder adds a touch of elegance to any landscape. It also has the unique ability to fix nitrogen into the soil through its root nodules.
Common Names: Common Alder, Tag Alder, Hazel Alder
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft tall and 12-15 ft wide
Flowering Season: March/early April
2. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
The Bald Cypress is a classic tree of the southern swamps, known for its distinct feature of raising knobbled 'knees' from its roots. This tree thrives in wet or dry conditions and can withstand flooding. It is a deciduous conifer with short needles arranged in pairs on slender branches. In spring, the needles are yellow/green, turning soft green in the summer and orange/reddish/brown in the fall. The Bald Cypress produces small globular cones that contain triangular seeds, attracting wildlife. With its pyramidal shape and average height of 50-70 ft, the Bald Cypress adds beauty and resilience to any landscape.
Common Names: White Cypress, Bald Cypress, Gulf Cypress, Red Cypress, Tidewater Red Cypress
Growing Zones: 4-10
Average Size at Maturity: 50-70 ft tall and 20-25 ft wide
Flowering Season: April
3. Florida Maple (Acer floridanum)
The Florida Maple, also known as Acer floridanum, is a deciduous tree native to Georgia. This tree is particularly noted for its glorious springtime, warm summers, brisk autumns, and brief winters. It can adapt to a range of soil and moisture conditions, making it a versatile choice for gardens. The Florida Maple supports native wildlife by providing shelter and food. It produces vibrant yellow flowers in the spring and small samaras, or winged seeds, in the fall. With its attractive foliage and ability to thrive in different environments, the Florida Maple is a valuable addition to any landscape.
Common Names: Florida Maple
Growing Zones: Varies across Georgia
Average Size at Maturity: Varies across Georgia
Flowering Season: Spring
4. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
The Southern Magnolia is an iconic tree native to the southeastern United States, including Georgia. This evergreen tree boasts large, glossy leaves and produces fragrant white flowers that can reach up to 12 inches in diameter. The Southern Magnolia is known for its striking beauty and is often used as an ornamental tree in landscapes. It thrives in well-drained soils and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade. The tree's flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while its large cone-like fruits provide food for wildlife. With its majestic presence and year-round greenery, the Southern Magnolia is a beloved symbol of the South.
Common Names: Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay
Growing Zones: 7-9
Average Size at Maturity: 60-80 ft tall and 30-50 ft wide
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
5. Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)
The Blackgum, also known as Nyssa sylvatica, is a deciduous tree native to Georgia. It is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of soil types, including wet or dry conditions. The Blackgum is known for its vibrant fall foliage, which ranges from brilliant red to deep purple. In spring, the tree produces inconspicuous flowers that attract pollinators, and in the fall, it produces small blue-black fruits that are a valuable food source for wildlife. With its attractive foliage and ability to thrive in different environments, the Blackgum is a popular choice for landscapes in Georgia.
Common Names: Blackgum, Tupelo
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 30-50 ft tall and 20-30 ft wide
Flowering Season: Spring
6. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The Eastern Redbud, scientifically known as Cercis canadensis, is a small deciduous tree native to Georgia. It is renowned for its stunning display of pink or purple flowers in early spring, which emerge before the leaves. The heart-shaped leaves of the Eastern Redbud add to its charm, turning yellow in the fall. This tree thrives in a variety of soil types and is well-suited for gardens and landscapes. Its flowers attract pollinators, and its seeds are consumed by birds and other wildlife. With its vibrant colors and compact size, the Eastern Redbud brings beauty to any outdoor space.
Common Names: Eastern Redbud
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 ft tall and wide
Flowering Season: Early spring
7. Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
The Longleaf Pine, scientifically known as Pinus palustris, is a tall evergreen tree native to Georgia. It is a slow-growing and long-lived species that can reach heights of over 100 feet. The Longleaf Pine is well-adapted to fire-prone ecosystems and has thick, fire-resistant bark. This tree is known for its long, slender needles that grow in bundles of three and its large, cylindrical cones. It provides important habitat for wildlife, including the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. With its remarkable height and ecological significance, the Longleaf Pine is a symbol of the South's natural heritage.
Common Names: Longleaf Pine
Growing Zones: 7-10
Average Size at Maturity: 80-100 ft tall and 30-40 ft wide
Flowering Season: Spring
8. American Holly (Ilex opaca)
The American Holly, scientifically known as Ilex opaca, is an evergreen tree native to the eastern United States, including Georgia. It is recognized for its glossy, spiky leaves and vibrant red berries, which persist throughout the winter. The American Holly is a dioecious tree, meaning it has separate male and female trees. The female trees produce the iconic red berries that are a valuable food source for birds. This tree thrives in well-drained soils and is often used as a decorative tree during the holiday season. With its striking foliage and winter interest, the American Holly is a cherished tree in Georgia.
Common Names: American Holly
Growing Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 30-50 ft tall and 15-25 ft wide
Flowering Season: Spring
9. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
The Sweetbay Magnolia, scientifically known as Magnolia virginiana, is a small to medium-sized tree native to Georgia. It is commonly found in wetland areas, such as swamps and stream banks. The Sweetbay Magnolia is known for its fragrant white flowers, which bloom in late spring and early summer. The tree's leaves are glossy green on top and silvery-white underneath, creating an attractive contrast. It produces red seeds that are enjoyed by birds and other wildlife. With its tolerance for wet soils and its beautiful flowers, the Sweetbay Magnolia adds elegance to any landscape.
Common Names: Sweetbay Magnolia
Growing Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 10-60 ft tall and 10-40 ft wide
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
10. White Oak (Quercus alba)
The White Oak, scientifically known as Quercus alba, is a large deciduous tree native to eastern North America, including Georgia. It is renowned for its majestic stature and its longevity, with some individuals living for several hundred years. The White Oak features distinctive lobed leaves that turn shades of red and purple in the fall. This tree produces acorns, which are an important food source for wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and deer. The wood of the White Oak is highly valued for its strength and durability, making it a popular choice for furniture and construction. With its grand presence and ecological significance, the White Oak is a treasured tree in Georgia.
Common Names: White Oak
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 60-100 ft tall and 50-80 ft wide
Flowering Season: Spring
The diverse landscape of Georgia provides a home for a wide range of native trees. From the Hazel Alder with its nitrogen-fixing abilities to the majestic White Oak with its longevity, each tree brings unique beauty and benefits to the environment. By planting native trees in our gardens and landscapes, we can support local ecosystems, provide habitat for wildlife, and enhance the natural beauty of our surroundings. So, let's embrace the richness of Georgia's native trees and contribute to the preservation of our biodiverse landscape.
For more information on planting trees near Monroe, Ga. click the link below to be connected with a local arborist.
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Top 3 Best Trees To Plant For Shade
When the Georgia summer heat hits, it can be brutal. Raising your monthly power bills and sucking all the moisture out of your landscape are some of the disadvantages to having a yard with full sun.
Planting a tree provides a number of benefits including:
Lower monthly power bills
Open opportunities for more plants that thrive in partly shaded areas
Raise overall home value
Provide a spot to cool off and enjoy nature
Here’s what made our list for the best trees to plant for shade.
GINGKO
Gingko trees are some of the most unique specimen on the market. They are coated with fan shaped leaves unlike any other. Their golden yellow fall color will make you take a second look. Best of all - they are some of the most pest-resistant trees you can plant.
Sun: Full Sun
Height & width: 80 feet tall, 40 feet wide
OAK
Known for their size, oak trees of all species provide substantial shade when they are fully matured. They aren’t the fastest growing trees but they are one of the most monumental.
Sun: Full sun
Height: Up to 80 feet tall
TULIP POPLAR
The tulip poplar tree is one of the largest U.S. native trees. Its name originates after the cup shaped yellow flowers. It provides optimal shade and brilliant fall color.
Sun: Full sun
Height & width: 90 feet tall, 50 feet wide
If you are looking for more information on planting shade trees in Georgia, click the link below to be connected with one of our tree care experts!
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How To Care For A Crepe Myrtle Tree
Crepe myrtle trees are one of the top favorite trees to plant in the southeast region. There are a wide range of hybrids that all present different colors, hardiness and bark. They are a deciduous tree and will provide showy flowers in summer time and a bright fall color shortly before they return to a dormant state.
How do I care for my crepe myrtle tree?
Proper planting
First and foremost, ensuring soil pH is slightly acidic and well draining will give you the best results. Not sure what type of soil you have? Local certified arborists can take a soil sample from the area you would like to plant to give you an inside look on what you may need to supplement with. Plant your crepe myrtle in full sun (6 hours or more per day) to get the best blooms!
Fertilization
We recommend having a tree care specialist apply a fertilizer to your soil to keep your crepe myrtle healthy and thriving.
Watch out for fungus and pests
Crepe myrtle trees are susceptible to a number of fungus and pests including:
Aphids
Spider mites
Scale
Japanese beetle
Powdery mildew
Cercospora leaf spot
Having routine tree health exams by a local certified arborist provides early intervention of any and all pests and diseases to stop them before or when they start.
Regular pruning
The basic maintenance of a crepe myrtle tree is regular tree trimming. While you should remove all dead branches throughout the year, extensive crepe myrtle trimming should only be performed in the dormant season by a reputable tree service company.
If you are interested in crepe myrtle care or have additional questions, click the link below to be connected with a local arborist today!
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How To Winterize Fruit Trees
Prevention is key in caring for fruit trees. After your fruit trees have become infested with certain diseases such as peach leaf curl, brown rot, or pests, it can be much more costly to cure the problem rather than simple prevention.
If you haven’t yet planted your fruit trees yet, its a good idea to do some research on different varieties. There are many different specimens of fruit trees that are resistant to the bigger diseases and problems such as:
Pears
Plums
Cherries
How do I prepare my fruit trees for winter?
The first step in preparing your trees for winter time is doing a good old fashioned fall cleanup. This includes removing any rotten or dropped fruit on the ground and on the trees and raking up all the leaves around the base that could be a good hiding spot for particular pests.
Next, you will want to establish, if you haven’t already, a solid maintenance tree trimming plan with an ISA certified arborist. Tree trimming in winter is vital to removing all dead and diseased branches, allowing your trees to reach their full potential next season and ward off any threats of pests entering old wounds. Be sure you have your tree trimming done in winter time, their dormant season, unless otherwise deemed necessary by an ISA certified arborist.
Finally, you can choose to spray dormant oils, a non toxic prevention method that seems to work well for apple trees, plum trees and pear trees in winter. This can help to keep common pests like aphids and scale insects away.
If you have fruit trees that could use some attention or would like more tips and tricks to provide them with the best fruit tree care in Snellville, click the link below to be connected with one of our certified arborists now!
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After a Tree Removal, Can I Replant Another In The Same Spot?
If you have just had to remove a tree from your property that leaves a big open space, you may be wondering, when and where can I plant a new tree to take its place?
Replanting another specimen in your yard provides a substantial increase in property value as well as an overall increase in aesthetic nature.
Can I replant a new tree in the same spot as the other I removed?
Yes and no. Planting a new tree will ALWAYS do best in fresh soil, however there are a few things to keep in mind if you decided to stick with the same spot.
There could be some roots still in the area, preventing your new tree from reaching its full capacity until they disintegrate.
If you had stump grinding done, the sawdust left behind could change the components of the soil immensely.
If you had the previous tree removed due to disease or pests, its important to note that the pathogen that caused the disease could be lingering in the soil and attack the new tree as well.
Having the area assessed by an ISA certified Arborist is best to rule out any potential future issues for you and your new tree.
If you are ready to plant your new tree but still have some questions that you would like to be answered by a professional tree care associate from our team, click the link below to get connected now!
Connect me with an Arborist!
How Do I Protect My Newly Planted Trees In Winter?
Planting new trees in your landscape can be a fun and satisfying project. If you timed your project right, planting your new specimen should be performed in dormant season through winter.
But maybe you found the perfect tree for your yard and wanted to plant it sooner than later. That’s okay! We understand. Now that winter is rolling around, however, it’s most important to provide them with the best support possible to ensure their survival.
Cold weather brings along a lot of troubles for new trees. Ice storms, sub-zero temperatures, and strong winds can break branches and damage trees that haven’t had enough time to establish a healthy root system. The constant freezing and thawing of the soil with random spurts of sun can cause root damage and dry out the tree, exposing it to cold damage.
Winter weather in Georgia is unpredictable so having a certified Arborist help you with your newly planted tree will ensure optimal growth. But we have come up with a few tips and tricks to help in the meantime!
Water, water, water! - Until your tree has a healthy root system, it is important to keep the soil moist, not saturated before the ground freezes in October through mid-November. This will ensure your tree is properly hydrated through the winter drought. If you notice any browning on evergreen trees feel free to give a little extra after this time period, though.
Insulate the soil with mulch - Mulching around the base of your trees provides a large number of substantial benefits from preventing erosion, weeds and retaining moisture as well as heat. It can help prevent cold winter air from penetrating the soil, exposing the roots to cold damage before they are established. We recommend placing a 4 inch layer around the base of your trees, new or old, keeping it at least 2 feet from the trunk.
Tree trimming - The dormant season is the perfect time to prune back those new or old trees since they are growing much slower in this time frame. Removing dead or dying branches can help your trees maintain their energy for the beautiful blooms in spring time!
Wrapping - Wrapping your trees in a breathable fabric such as burlap is a great practice that can help to preserve your trees health while they are still getting established in their new home. There is a specific way to do this, however, so it is best that you consult with a certified Arborist about tree wrapping and preservation
Are your trees ready for the harsh effects of winter in Georgia? We give FREE estimates with our ISA certified Arborists. Give us a call today for a free risk assessment and evaluation of your trees health by clicking the link below!
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What Types of Fruit Trees Are Easiest To Grow In Georgia?
It’s almost dormant season for our trees which is a great time to start planning and planting trees for next year!
Fruit trees can be a blessing and a curse. Some varieties require a ton a maintenance whereas others can mostly tend to themselves with a smaller effort. We have made a list of our top easiest fruit trees to grow in Georgia weather to help you choose which is best for your lifestyle.
Apple Trees
Apple trees are a favorite in Georgia because they are easy to grow, cold hardy, perfect for most yards and supply a heavy harvest in late August through November. Common threats to Apple trees include:
Aphids
Japanese Beetles
Deer
Rabbits
Squirrels
Apple trees are most prone to diseases such as blight and mold so do your research and make sure you have a local certified Arborist nearby to diagnose and cure these before they take over.
Pear Trees
Pear trees are a second favorite because they are also cold hardy, heat resistant, and could be grown well in pots.
A few common threats are:
Aphids
Root rot
Pear trees thrive in the heat and the cold, but overly wet conditions can invite a dose of root rot in to kill off your precious trees. A certified Arborist can help diagnose tree root rot as well as perform a risk assessment for the placement of your pear trees!
Peach trees
Because who doesn’t love a good old Georgia peach? They are also fabulous in heat, great for vertical gardening and grow pretty quickly. So if you’re looking for a fruit tree to produce in 1-2 years, the peach tree is your candidate!
A few peach tree threats include:
Cold weather
Blight/mold disease
These are just a few of our top favorites in fruit trees. If you would like more reference on how to plant your fruit trees, please feel free to contact our office using the link below and we can connect you with one of our local certified Arborists! Happy planting!
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Why Is Topping Your Trees Deadly?
Sometimes, due to improper planting or planning, the trees we once loved outgrow them selves and become a problem. It may seem easiest to just chop them at the top to shorten them back down to a reasonable size. However, doing so could put your trees at major risk for decline.
Why is tree topping bad for my trees?
Improper pruning leaves the tree open for pests and decay to take over
It triggers response growth, a trees natural reaction to grow a large amount of smaller weaker branches in place of what was lost. This can be very unsightly and dangerous in heavy storms
The tree struggles to repair the large amount of leaves and branches lost, its main food source
Topping your trees can end up being much more costly than just removing them al together and replanting and specimen that fits your style.
If you have trees that have outgrown their space and need some recommendations on how to fix them, our Arborists in Monroe are always available at the link below!