• Topics: Environmental Horticulture  | Landscape Tree Selection -- South Florida  | Landscape Plant Selection -- South Florida  |  Black, Robert J 

Ornamental Trees for South Florida¹

Trees are an indispensable part of the landscape. They give a home, street, or commercial site individuality, beauty, and tranquillity. Because of their long life, trees give the surroundings a sense of permanence and stability.

Trees are vital in combating environmental pollution. They help keep the air supply fresh by trapping and filtering dust, removing carbon dioxide, and at the same time releasing oxygen. Trees reduce noise pollution by acting as barriers to sound, lower temperatures by shading and through evaporation of water from their leaves, and reduce soil erosion. Trees can camouflage harsh scenery such as city dumps, auto graveyards, and industrial sites. Furthermore, trees beautify our gardens, streets, and parks and please our senses with interesting shapes, patterns, colors, scents, and seasonal changes. Every homesite should include several ornamental trees.

Selection of a Tree

Tree selection is mainly a question of personal preference. However, the species should be well adapted to the site and satisfy the purpose for which it is intended. In Florida, the number and variety of trees are so great that the choice is not always simple. Table 1 lists information about desirable trees for southern Florida. Trees listed are some of the best choices for home landscaping, and all have proven suitable for planting in southern Florida. No attempt has been made to include all trees that can be grown in south Florida.

Planting Trees

Because of better developed and more compact root systems, nursery-grown trees are easier to transplant and grow more successfully than those taken from the woods. It is impractical when moving wild plants to dig and move more than a small portion of the root system, and without an adequate root system the tree may die after transplanting. The best place to purchase a tree is from a reputable nursery. Container-grown trees can be planted any time of the year. The nursery will be able to provide information on where and how to plant the tree selected.

Follow the steps below when planting a tree:

1. Have a nursery salesperson cut the container so that the tree can be easily removed.

2. Make the hole two to three times as wide as the container the tree is in.

3. Make the hole no deeper than the height of the root ball.

4. Gently place the tree straight in the hole and be sure that the root ball is not deeper than the existing landscape soil surface. Fill around the ball with soil and gently firm the soil. Water thoroughly while planting to remove any air pockets.

5. Form a basin around the edge of the root ball with a soil ridge 3-6 inches high to facilitate watering.

6. Mulch with a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic material to buffer soil temperature, conserve moisture, and reduce weed competition.

7. If needed, support the tree by staking or guying.

8. Water the tree daily for 1-2 months, then 3 times a week for 2 months, then weekly until established.

9. Fertilize 4 to 6 weeks after planting with a slow-release fertilizer on the surface of the root ball and the backfill soil.

Fertilizing

Fertilization is usually desirable when we are trying to get newly planted trees established. We normally want the new tree to get off to a quick start and grow rapidly so that it will fill the planted area. When this is the case, fertilize about 4 to 6 weeks after planting and then 2 to 3 times per year for the following 3 years. Two of the annual applications are normally scheduled around February and October for south Florida, and March and September for north Florida. A third application can be made during the summer. Once trees are established (3 to 5 years after transplanting), they will not need additional fertilizer if they are growing in a landscape where turf and shrubs are fertilized.

A complete fertilizer with a ratio of approximately 3:1:2 or 3:1:3 (e.g. 12-4-8 or 15-5-15) is generally recommended. Similar analysis fertilizers such as 16-4-8 (4:1:2) can also be used.

Fertilizers that are slow release, controlled release, sulfur coated or with nitrogen such as isobutylidene diurea or ureaformaldehyde have extended-release periods compared to fertilizers that are readily water soluble. Thirty to fifty percent of the nitrogen should be water insoluble or slow release so that plant roots can absorb the nitrogen over a long period of time. A fertilizer containing thirty to fifty percent slow-release potassium should be used in south Florida or where soil potassium is frequently inadequate.

The amount of fertilizer to apply to trees can be determined by calculating the area under the trees and then applying fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of area.

Fertilizer placement in relation to the tree root zone is very important. Fertilizer should be applied to the surface of the mulched and unmulched areas around a tree out to a distance no more than one and a half to two times the canopy diameter. If the turf was fertilized within the two preceding weeks, do not apply additional fertilizer to the turf area around the tree.

Tables

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

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