From a garden and yard perspective, it's a terrible tree as it constantly drops some sort of trash and is impossible to garden under. It's lovely for an estate or woods, though. And very wind resistant too - though not as strong as it's cousin, Sandhills live oak. It's certainly on the longer list that will be part of the book.
Oh, I can’t wait for your new book! Longleaf is my favorite tree. I’ve planted hundreds over the years and they are most entertaining tree to watch grow because they are so unique looking in their baby, toddler and teenager stage of growth. Most of the longleaf trees I have planted were in 2016 in Tallahassee and haves survived 5 hurricanes since. They are the best.
I have all three in my yard. The long leaf were already here and I planted the others. When we cut timber in the mixed woodland and reforested part of our property in Florence we planted 6 acres in longleaf - that was the one area where they had been growing on their own. They lagged behind the short leaf for the first few years but caught up and are now 20 feet tall. One of my sibling resisted but I covered the additional cost for the long leaf and our Forester backed me up. Not only are they beautiful and sturdy, they are also fire resistant.
Hello. I’m developing a small parcel in Hendersonville, NC. I’m glad the Southern Magnolia is one of your recommendations, and we already planted 10. I was going to plant several more, but I’m wondering if you think the ball cypress is a good choice here. I don’t know of a nearby grower for those.
Yes its a great tree for you. I dont know nurseries in your area but I know there are growers in Spartanburg Sc — I bet right in Hendersonville. If you’re doing a forested lot with lots of trees, be sure to add in other species too. Even some red buds and understory trees.
We’re on nearly 4 acres, and I’ve planted a huge variety. The white oaks came crashing down the morning of September 27th. They’re mostly still laying around. Replanting and relandscaping is my business now. Btw, our Cecil Houdyshell is doing great.
Mine too! Too many to count and the clean up of root balls on the ground is massive. One was actually a twin acorn originally years ago alongside another massive oak & the utility pole, transformer, had grown around the wiring, cement there as well, took fencing; Lordy what an enormous mess! No tree trimmer has a clue how to remove my blob!
Too big for standard or even larger chain saws and will not fit into any truck for removal. My only idea 💡 is the Highway Department? Please chime in! I need advice! Thanks….😊
Thank you for addressing this. I have been trying to figure out what trees to replant. Every time I have had to cut down a tree I replant one . I have two magnolias in my yard that have been beat up by storms & bugs but still thriving… I was also wondering about scrub pines,
Pinus virginiana,-Not the prettiest trees but tough…
The love for trees came to me by way of my grandmother. I can remember her pointing with the tip of a walking stick, "Dig here. I may never live to sit under the shade of this tree or hear the birds sing from its branches, but one day, you will."
I approve this message & am espousing it all over the county where I live & work in South Georgia. I too have witnessed folks remove all the big trees from their yard—the ones that survived the 80mph winds & tornadoes. Saying they’ll never have to worry about tree damage again. Maybe so, but I believe they’re going to regret that decision come next summer in the long months of blistering heat.
Your tree choices are SPOT ON. Money is tight since the storm, so I can’t afford to buy many trees but I’m vowing to transplant seedling magnolias from my woods & swamp in places that lost shade. That’s how the beautiful grandmother magnolia out front came to be. My Granny dug it from the woods & placed it there in the early 1950s. She stood strong through the storm & only lost a few limb tips. We are beyond blessed with the trees we did not lose but my heart has been heavy for months from the trees we did lose. Just yesterday as I was leaving for work, the debris collectors were working along the highway in front of our farm removing a pine that stood 80’ tall out at “the water hole” but was felled taking the power lines with it & blocking the highway on that fateful night. I cried for the tree leaving our farm.
Jenks, where can you buy long leaf pine. I don’t see it in nurseries. I am assuming it’s because of the long tap root it puts out when it is quite young.
Great advice. I won't live long enough to see longleaf pines gain any height, but I'll plant them anyway.
They are fast though Idk how long you (or I) might live. I planted seedlings once and started harvesting pinestraw at 9 years.
Re: top 3 sturdy trees for planting.. curious why live oak is not recommended..?
From a garden and yard perspective, it's a terrible tree as it constantly drops some sort of trash and is impossible to garden under. It's lovely for an estate or woods, though. And very wind resistant too - though not as strong as it's cousin, Sandhills live oak. It's certainly on the longer list that will be part of the book.
Exactly the kind of information we need as people try to recover from the storm! I fear it won't seem as important to a younger generation...
Oh, I can’t wait for your new book! Longleaf is my favorite tree. I’ve planted hundreds over the years and they are most entertaining tree to watch grow because they are so unique looking in their baby, toddler and teenager stage of growth. Most of the longleaf trees I have planted were in 2016 in Tallahassee and haves survived 5 hurricanes since. They are the best.
I love them in that stage too! Thank you for planting so many!
I have all three in my yard. The long leaf were already here and I planted the others. When we cut timber in the mixed woodland and reforested part of our property in Florence we planted 6 acres in longleaf - that was the one area where they had been growing on their own. They lagged behind the short leaf for the first few years but caught up and are now 20 feet tall. One of my sibling resisted but I covered the additional cost for the long leaf and our Forester backed me up. Not only are they beautiful and sturdy, they are also fire resistant.
Hello. I’m developing a small parcel in Hendersonville, NC. I’m glad the Southern Magnolia is one of your recommendations, and we already planted 10. I was going to plant several more, but I’m wondering if you think the ball cypress is a good choice here. I don’t know of a nearby grower for those.
Yes its a great tree for you. I dont know nurseries in your area but I know there are growers in Spartanburg Sc — I bet right in Hendersonville. If you’re doing a forested lot with lots of trees, be sure to add in other species too. Even some red buds and understory trees.
We’re on nearly 4 acres, and I’ve planted a huge variety. The white oaks came crashing down the morning of September 27th. They’re mostly still laying around. Replanting and relandscaping is my business now. Btw, our Cecil Houdyshell is doing great.
Mine too! Too many to count and the clean up of root balls on the ground is massive. One was actually a twin acorn originally years ago alongside another massive oak & the utility pole, transformer, had grown around the wiring, cement there as well, took fencing; Lordy what an enormous mess! No tree trimmer has a clue how to remove my blob!
Too big for standard or even larger chain saws and will not fit into any truck for removal. My only idea 💡 is the Highway Department? Please chime in! I need advice! Thanks….😊
Ugh. I hate that for y’all. It would take a year to burn it up. Sounds like a lot of whittling and trimming.
Thank you for addressing this. I have been trying to figure out what trees to replant. Every time I have had to cut down a tree I replant one . I have two magnolias in my yard that have been beat up by storms & bugs but still thriving… I was also wondering about scrub pines,
Pinus virginiana,-Not the prettiest trees but tough…
I love the little scrubby Virginia plne --- its a great privacy screen butnot much of a shade tree.
Very timely!!! While I didn’t get any damage from Helena, I know that trees are what holds not only the soil but the soul of our gardens. 😘
The love for trees came to me by way of my grandmother. I can remember her pointing with the tip of a walking stick, "Dig here. I may never live to sit under the shade of this tree or hear the birds sing from its branches, but one day, you will."
Thanks for these words. I needed to hear these today. I hope others will listen as well.
I approve this message & am espousing it all over the county where I live & work in South Georgia. I too have witnessed folks remove all the big trees from their yard—the ones that survived the 80mph winds & tornadoes. Saying they’ll never have to worry about tree damage again. Maybe so, but I believe they’re going to regret that decision come next summer in the long months of blistering heat.
Your tree choices are SPOT ON. Money is tight since the storm, so I can’t afford to buy many trees but I’m vowing to transplant seedling magnolias from my woods & swamp in places that lost shade. That’s how the beautiful grandmother magnolia out front came to be. My Granny dug it from the woods & placed it there in the early 1950s. She stood strong through the storm & only lost a few limb tips. We are beyond blessed with the trees we did not lose but my heart has been heavy for months from the trees we did lose. Just yesterday as I was leaving for work, the debris collectors were working along the highway in front of our farm removing a pine that stood 80’ tall out at “the water hole” but was felled taking the power lines with it & blocking the highway on that fateful night. I cried for the tree leaving our farm.
My two bald cypress made it through the storm in Augusta just fine. Great recommendation.
Jenks, where can you buy long leaf pine. I don’t see it in nurseries. I am assuming it’s because of the long tap root it puts out when it is quite young.
Etsy or Amazon! just ordered from Etsy from a nursery in Georgia. I think I got 10 young seedlings for 24 bucks or something like that.