“I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast”
ROCKWALL, TX (Aug. 1, 2024) The beautiful opening stanzas of Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees.” God bless my high school English literature teacher, Mrs. Cohen. She had such high hopes to inspire this classroom of young minds yet unnourished by the beauty to be had in the great literary works of Shakespeare, Robert Frost, and Joyce Kilmer. Unfortunately, my sixteen-year-old mind held only three basic needs in life, 1) food, 2) friends, and 3) girls. And not necessarily in that order.
However, many years later, Mrs. Cohen must have done something right. Apparently, I still remember the opening lines of the poem, “Trees.” I now understand the elegance behind the words of Joyce Kilmer’s poem. As a homeowner, I have come to know that the tree is a beautiful gift of nature which has many benefits. A pecan tree placed on the southern or western side of a home can reduce home cooling costs by shading the roof from the summer sun. An evergreen on the northern side of the home can block winter winds; thereby, reducing winter heating bills. Shade cast from any tree can reduce the amount of space dedicated to water a thirsty lawn. And the reintroduction of trees into the cityscape is reducing the overall temperature of heat islands created by decades of urbanization.
So why am I reminiscing about high school, urbanization, and trees in the middle of August? If you are one of the many whose trees met an untimely death with June’s windstorm, listen up! September is the best time of year to plant a tree! The blistering August sun is behind us. Soils are still warm enough to encourage root growth before winter. And with this root growth, the tree has an early start to tackle the heat the following year.
Choosing the right tree
Now, before you run to the store to find a tree that is inexpensive or looks pretty, do a little research. A bad decision may have you digging up this same tree in a year or two. As important as it is to plant a tree at the RIGHT time of year, planting the RIGHT tree for your landscape is just as critical. A fast-growing tree may provide quick shade; but the wood in this tree is also very soft and brittle. This invites insect problems such as borers, termites, and carpenter ants. If we get an early ice storm in the fall, you may be repeating the same cleanup of broken limbs and fallen timber that we just experienced. Additionally, planting a tree that is not native to this part of Texas is another recipe for failure. Trees that are not native or adapted to grow in this area may struggle in the alkaline soils of Rockwall County. The heat of August can also stress and weaken a non-native tree until it gives up. And finally, planting a tree that is too big for the landscape can cause sidewalks to buckle, irrigation lines to shatter, and foundations to lift.
The list below has many of the reliable favorites well-suited for this area. If you choose a tree that is native or adapted to Rockwall County, you will be blessed by the splendor of a tree for many years to come. And maybe, you’ll think of the poem, “Trees,” as well.
Large Trees
Live Oak
Shumard Red Oak
Chinquapin Oak
Bur Oak
Pecan
Cedar Elm
Chinese Pistachio
Southern Magnolia
Eastern Red Cedar
Medium Trees
Little Gem Southern Magnolia
Shantung Maple
Golden Raintree
Mexican Plum
Redbud
Crape Myrtle
Japanese Maple
Small Trees
Teddy Bear Dwarf Southern Magnolia
Yaupon Holly
Nellie R. Stevens Holly
Waxleaf Ligustrum
Desert Willow
Vitex
Want a broader selection? This online guide lists more native and adaptive plants that will work well in our area. https://txmg.org/rockwall/earth-kind-plant-selection/
Want more tips on how to best plant this new tree? Read this article on the 10 steps to planting and maintaining a healthy new tree in the Rockwall County Master Gardeners website.
To learn more about trees, upcoming classes, and all things from the Rockwall County Master Gardeners, find us at https://txmg.org/rockwall/
By Randy Culpepper, Rockwall County Extension Master Gardener. Photo by Lee Finley. Rockwall County Extension Master Gardener Association is a 501c3 with a mission to provide research-based horticultural education and advice across Rockwall County.
Here We Grow: Fall is the Time for Trees added by Editor on
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