Fall is a great time to plant trees in North Texas.  Planting when temperatures are cooler gives the tree time to focus their energy on developing a healthy root system so that it will be better prepared to face next summer’s heat.  If you are considering planting tree but are unsure which type to select, step back for a minute and consider this: the tree you plant will benefit not just your yard, it will become part of the “urban forest.”

Urban forests are under constant threat.  Urban trees often have shortened life spans due to poor growing conditions and neglect. When existing trees are removed to make way for development, developers may replace native trees with non-native trees, or with a single species of tree where once a diversity of species grew.  Developers may also plant fast-growing, short-lived trees, such as Bradford pears, which provide short-term benefits which are lost as the trees die out.

If you have space, plant a tree that gets big. Research shows that large trees with broad canopies provide the greatest ecosystem services. Large trees provide more shade, absorb more water, capture more carbon dioxide, and provide more benefit to wildlife than small trees. Many of these large trees are also long lived, ensuring that mature trees will be available to the community well into the future.

If your neighborhood has an overabundance of a single species of tree, plant something different. Species diversity is crucial for maintaining the health of a forest.  Forests with a diversity of tree species have been shown to be healthier and more productive.  If disease or insects threaten a particular species of tree, the other trees will continue to thrive and provide ecosystem services.

Plant a tree while it is still small.  Although many people wish to plant a large, well-developed tree for its immediate impact in the landscape, research shows that younger trees in smaller pots often perform better.  Trees that are already big at planting time are at greater risk for transplant shock and have a higher risk for roots to become encircled and girdled.    A study conducted by Texas A&M researchers found that trees planted from three-gallon and seven-gallon containers recovered more quickly and reached establishment sooner than trees planted from larger containers.  Researchers conclude that “if you plant smaller (and less expensive) plant material and wait a few years, you will realize the maximum economic gain and greater visual impact.”