For Release November 7, 2004

I Want A Pretty Tree!

AGRI-VIEWS
by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

Any autumn, when we have some striking fall tree foliage, I will receive a deluge of phone calls wanting to know what the tree at the corner of X and Y streets is, or the tree in front of this or that building. The caller wants to know because they drive by there on a regular basis and they like the fall colors. But what they really want is a "pretty" tree!

Here's the challenge right up front. Many of the spectacular trees, the ones with the brilliant orange and red fall colors, are not native to the Great Plains and can be very difficult to grow. Some of them are also very slow growing, so be patient! Then assuming that you can get them to survive, there is no guarantee that you will have awesome color every fall. Color intensity is a complex function of both growing conditions and fall weather. That said, let's discuss some of the trees that you may see or may want to consider planting for fall color.

If you want to stay with trees native to the Flint Hills you are going to be limited to those with yellow fall color. Three come to mind; redbud, green ash and eastern cottonwood or what I like to call Kansas Aspens. (The aspen of the Rocky Mountains is in the poplar family, just like our cottonwoods - they are closely related.) The redbud and green ash do well in most any home landscape. The cottonwood is a big tree that needs deep soil and lots of moisture to thrive.

Non native, but generally quite hardy is a group of trees that can have deep red to purple fall color. Bradford or Callary pears and lacebark elm fall in this category. They are some of the last trees to turn color and lose their leaves so early frosts can diminish their color. They are also at a slight risk, because of the long leaf retention, to suffering limb damage if we have an early heavy snow. The white ash has brilliant purple and yellow fall color. Commonly available varieties of white ash to consider would be Rosehill Ash and Autumn Purple Ash.

There are some oaks that can have good fall color. Our native bur oak and chestnut oak can have some yellow fall color, but generally it tends to be more of a yellow brown color. The red oak group has more fall color, but can have more challenges. Avoid Pin Oak at all costs. Our soils are too alkaline for it to be a consistent performer. Red oak, and Shumard's red oak are much better choices. Amazingly, red oak, if taken care of, can grow several feet per year!

Now we move into the real challenging group. These trees have the potential to just knock your socks off with their fall foliage color. In this category we have sweet gum and then the red and sugar maples. These are all very subject to scorch from the hot southwest winds of summer. Bark sunburning and die back are also a problem in maples because of their thin bark. Use a loose plastic sleeve to protect the bark of these young trees when they are first transplanted. They will also do better planted where they are protected from the southwest summer winds. If you want to try one of these, consider Bonfire or Green Mountain sugar maple, Red Sunset or October Glory red maples. All of these varieties are noted for their brilliant red to orange fall color.

Having a tree with great fall color isn't impossible in our area. It just takes a little time to select the right variety, plant it in the right location, and then take very good care of it! The best part of all, we still have plenty of time this fall to get those trees bought and planted in our yards!

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