MISSOURI URBAN TREES Missouri Department of Conservation MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION REGIONAL OFFICES ADMINISTRATIVE NORTHWEST ST. LOUIS 8PSUI 1VUOBN 4DIVZMFS "UDIJTPO .FSDFS 4DPUMBOE $MBSL /PEBXBZ )BSSJTPO OFFICE 701 James McCarthy Drive 2360 Highway D (FOUSZ 4VMMJWBO "EBJS ,OPY )PMU (SVOEZ -FXJT P.O. Box 180 (zip 65102) St. Joseph 64507 St. Charles 63304 "OESFX %BWJFTT %F,BMC -JOO 2901 W. Truman Blvd. 816/271-3100 636/441-4554 .BDPO 4IFMCZ .BSJPO $BMEXFMM -JWJOHTUPO Jefferson City 65109 Fax: 816/271-3107 Fax: 636/926-9125 #VDIBOBO $MJOUPO 3BMMT $IBSJUPO .POSPF 573/751-4115 $BSSPMM 3BOEPMQI 3BZ 1JLF 1MBUUF $MBZ Fax: 573/751-4467 NORTHEAST OZARK )PXBSE "VESBJO 4BMJOF -BGBZFUUF +BDLTPO #PPOF .POU -JODPMO HPNFSZ 3500 S. Baltimore 551 Joe Jones Blvd. $BMMBXBZ $PPQFS 8BSSFO 4U$IBSMFT Kirksville 63501 P.O. Box 138 +PIOTPO 1FUUJT $BTT 4U-PVJT .POJUFBV 660/785-2420 West Plains 65775 $PMF .PSHBO 0TBHF 'SBOLMJO Fax: 660/785-2553 417/256-7161 )FOSZ (BTDPOBEF #BUFT #FOUPO +FõFSTPO .JMMFS .BSJFT Fax: 417/256-0429 8BTIJOHUPO 4U$MBJS $BNEFO )JDLPSZ $SBXGPSE 4UF KANSAS CITY 1IFMQT (FOFWJFWF 7FSOPO 1VMBTLJ 1FSSZ SOUTHWEST $FEBS 4U'SBODPJT 3424 N.W. Duncan Road %BMMBT -BDMFEF %FOU 1PML *SPO #BSUPO .BEJTPO $BQF Blue Springs 64015 2630 N. Mayfair %BEF (JSBSEFBV 5FYBT 3FZOPMET 8FCTUFS 816/655-6250 Springfield 65803 8SJHIU #PMMJOHFS +BTQFS (SFFOF 4IBOOPO 8BZOF Fax: 816/655-6256 417/895-6880 -BXSFODF 4DPUU $ISJTUJBO $BSUFS /FXUPO %PVHMBT .JTT Fax: 417/895-6910 4UPEEBSE JTTJQQJ 4UPOF )PXFMM #VUMFS #BSSZ 0SFHPO CENTRAL 5BOFZ 0[BSL 3JQMFZ .D%POBME /FX .BESJE 1907 Hillcrest Drive SOUTHEAST Columbia 65201 2302 County Park Drive www.missouriconservation.org 1FNJTDPU %VOLMJO 573/884-6861 Cape Girardeau 63701 Fax: 573/882-9807 573/290-5730 Fax: 573/290-5736 Cover photo by Jim Rathert, Missouri Cepartment of Conservation COPYRIGHT ©1997, BY THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI; REVISED 2009 Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, (573) 751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203. MISSOURI URBAN TREES Missouri Department of Conservation TABLE OF CONTENTS Choose the Right Tree for the Right Space...................................................... 2 Purchasing and Transporting Your Tree ........................................................... 3 Planting Your Tree ................................................................................................. 4 Care of Newly Planted Trees ............................................................................... 6 USDA Hardiness Zone Map ................................................................................. 7 Tree Species Suitable for Special Conditions .................................................. 8 Recommended Trees for Missouri Landscapes .............................................. 9 Conifers .......................................................................................................... 10 Small and Medium Trees ............................................................................ 18 Large Shade Trees ....................................................................................... 31 Undesirable Trees for Landscape Planting .................................................... 48 Summary of Tree Characteristics ..................................................................... 51 Species Index ....................................................................................................... 55 Glossary................................................................................................................. 56 References ............................................................................................................ 57 DEFINITION OF KEY TO SYMBOLS GROWTH RATES OF TREES SLOW: less than 6 inches of growth This symbol indicates a year This symbol indicates a tree that is small the size and shape enough to be planted MEDIUM: of a mature tree in under a powerline. 7-18 inches of growth relation to the height Trees that do not have a year of an average human. this symbol should be planted away FAST: more than 18 inches of from powerlines so at growth a year maturity they cannot fall on or touch the lines. 1 CHOOSE THE RIGHT TREE FOR THE RIGHT SPACE Finding the correct tree for any given spot will not only and tolerate shade well; others require full sun. All enhance the value and appearance of the property, trees will have sparser foliage and fewer flowers at but will avoid problems in the future. Many urban tree reduced light levels. problems are the result of improper location or poor species selection for the planting site. Trees in urban 4. Analyze the soil. Trees grow best in a soil that is at areas are troubled by growing conditions that are much least 3 feet deep, allows water to percolate through less than ideal due to removal of topsoil, soil compaction, it, but can retain adequate moisture for roots. A soil contamination, air pollution or lack of growing space. certain amount of decomposed wood or leaves, or The more limitations on the growing site, the more organic matter, is desirable. An ideal acidity-alkalinity carefully trees will need to be selected. Follow these steps measure, called pH by soil scientists, is about 5 to below to evaluate your planting site. Then use the species 6. Trees planted in poor soils will grow slower and descriptions in this booklet and the table on page 51 to may have more problems than trees growing in help ensure a proper “fit” and a healthy tree. better soil. For information on performing a soil test, contact your county University of Missouri Extension 1. Determine where you want to plant a tree and what office or go online at extention.missouri.edu. you want it to provide—shading a home or driveway, separating two ownerships, screening a neighbor’s 5. Do a simple percolation test by digging a hole 12 backyard, providing cover for songbirds, or any to 18 inches deep and filling it with water. If any number of other objectives. Be specific. water is still in the hole 12 to 18 hours later, then you have compacted or heavy clay soils. Heavy, 2. Calculate how much space you have. Choose a tree compacted soils with poor water percolation may that at maturity will fit that space. You will need to hold too much water and cause roots to suffocate. measure how much room there is for the tree to grow See page 5 on how to plant trees in compacted soil. both in height and width. Well-drained, porous soils can provide more usable water to the roots. Very sandy or gravelly soils cannot 3. Monitor the site to see how much sunlight the tree hold sufficient water for some trees. A few trees are will receive throughout the day. How much sunlight adapted to grow in wet and swampy sites, but most each tree needs to grow well varies with species. will decline in poorly drained soils. Some trees grow naturally as understory trees Small evergreens are useful as privacy screens. All trees serve as habitat for songbirds and wildlife. Large trees on the east and west sides provide shade that can lower a home’s cooling costs by 10 percent. Plant large trees far enough For plantings near powerlines, away from powerlines and use small trees or shrubs. buildings to avoid damage during storms and power outages. Large shade trees improve curb appeal, increasing property values by 5 to 20 percent. Les Fortenberry illustration 2 PURCHASING AND TRANSPORTING YOUR TREE After you have evaluated the tree planting site and Trees are living things and should be treated as such, selected an appropriate species, it is time to visit a especially during the trip home. Protection from drying is reputable nursery or garden center that carries good critical. Roots must be kept moist. Foliage, branches and quality trees. If the species you chose is not available, ask trunks also can dry out. If transporting in an uncovered for suggestions about other trees that will meet the same truck bed, be sure to keep the tree covered to protect requirements. against drying winds. Trees may be available in a variety of root conditions. Trees should be planted as soon as you can. If they Balled and burlapped and bare rooted trees are dug from must be stored, place them away from the ground with only a small part of the root system excessive exposure to sun and intact. Trees in containers may have many or all roots wind. Cover balled and included, but check to be sure the tree is not too large burlapped or bare for the container before purchasing. If the roots closest rooted tree roots to the container are larger than your little finger, the tree with moist wood has outgrown its container and may have a shortened chips, sand lifespan. or loose soil. Each growing method has advantages and disadvantages. Balled and burlapped trees may start normal growth rates sooner than similar size trees that were bare rooted. Container-grown trees are another means of getting a quick start. Trees that are growing in containers or are balled and burlapped may be planted at almost any time of the year. Early spring and fall are the best times to plant bare rooted trees. Planting during the heat of summer is possible, but extra care will be needed