Wintertime is the best time to plant trees since the cold temperatures will lessen the chance plant shock. Larger trees, which are sometimes too large to be placed into containers, are delivered balled and wrapped in burlap. It is not necessary to remove the burlap before planting since it will rot away. When planting these trees, dig the hole wider than the root ball and mix the existing soil with a good quality soil conditioner or planting soil before filling in the hole around the root ball.   

If you are interested in planting shade trees in your yard consider some of the following suggestions. October Glory Red Maple has a brilliant red fall color and grows to forty feet tall. It is a fast growing tree. Autumn Blaze Red Maple has a similar growth habit but has a little larger leaf than the October Glory variety. Zelkova is another great shade tree. It will grow 50 to 80 feet tall and has red and copper fall leaf color. Oak trees also make wonderful shade trees. Willow Oak is widely used because of its narrow leaf and tight growth habit. It will grow 40 to 60 feet and has yellow fall color. Red Oaks are also good shade trees and well known for their red fall color. There are several varieties of Red Oak including Shumard, Nuttall, and Overcup.

If you want to plant ornamental trees, there are several good choices. River Birch has white peeling bark. Dogwoods have white or pink blooms. Yoshino Cherry has white blossoms in the spring. Japanese Maple has a beautiful growth habit and interesting leaves and bark. Forest Pansy Red Bud is known for its burgundy leaves and pinkish purple blooms in early spring.

These are just a few examples of available shade and ornamental trees. Ask a garden center professional for suggestions your landscape.

Happy Gardening.