Trees for Timbergrove
Timbergrove lost a large percentage of its tree canopy in the double whammy of the May 16 Derecho and hurricane Beryl. This article provides some guidance for choosing trees to plant and for tree planting tips.
Our neighborhood was named Timbergrove Manor because when it was created there were a large number of mature trees in the neighborhood. But sadly, Timbergrove lost a large percentage of its tree canopy in the double whammy of the May 16 Derecho and hurricane Beryl. Our trees provided us with shade, the cooling effects of water transpiration, a home for our feathered friends, and pleasing greenery. Fortunately, the lot sizes in Timbergrove allow us to plant shade trees for the future. So, together, let’s put the timber back in Timbergrove!
In consultation with Trees For Houston and utilizing online resources recommended by Harris County Master Gardeners, this article provides some guidance for choosing trees to plant and for tree planting tips.
There are a couple of native trees which are very strong and wind hardy. As most people would guess, the Live Oak tree is one tough cookie. Fun fact: the wood of the Live Oak is so strong that the Old Ironsides warship was made from it and withstood enemy cannon fire at a much closer range than other vessels. The Bald Cypress is a similarly long-lived tree that is common in coastal swamp areas that suffer multiple hurricanes over the life of a bald cypress. The Bald Cypress grows “knees” in a large area around the base of the trunk. Arborists hypothesize that the knees somehow contribute to the tree’s stability.
Palm trees are also stalwarts of hurricane prone areas. The palms that are native to the upper Gulf Coast area are Texas Sabal Palm and Dwarf Palmetto Palm.
Not only are we afflicted with hurricanes, the Houston region is also susceptible to droughts and heat waves. There are several tree species which, once established, are drought hardy. These include Mexican Sycamore, Eastern Red Cedar, Sweet Gum, Bur Oak, Nuttall Oak, Red Mulberry, and Texas Redbud.
And for those who are now wary of planting trees that get very tall, there are several tree species that get no higher than 20 feet. Some of these have berries that the birds love. Included in this list are American Holly, American Fringe Tree, Buckeye, Carolina Buckthorn, Roughleaf Dogwood, Eastern Redbud, Elderberry, Flameleaf Sumac, Hawthorn, Laurel Cherry, Possumhaw Holly, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Texas Redbud, Wax Myrtle and Yaupon Holly.
Planting tips: The best time to plant trees in our area is October and November. A tree that will become a large shade tree should be planted more than 15 feet from your house. Newly planted trees should be supported with a ring of 3 or 4 metal posts tied to the tree with rope. (like those posts for temporary orange fences). Keep these supports in place for years. The tree trunk should be protected from the ropes with rubber or cloth around the rope. Be diligent about watering your tree for the first five years of its life.
For those of you lucky enough to still have some large shade trees, have the trees evaluated by a certified arborist every one to two years. A fast growing tree like a loblolly pine or a willow oak may become weak or unhealthy after only 30 years, but treatments by a professional arborist may help sustain the life of the tree for much longer.
For a listing of native trees and their strengths, please go to list of trees
Resources:
Harris County Extension Horticulture - Trees
Trees for Houston Master Species List:
Texas Tree Planting Guide - Texas A & M Forest Service