You're not alone if you've always wanted a tree in your yard. The Mississippi climate isn't the most conducive to growing trees, but there are some things that can be done to help them thrive! Here is everything you need to know about planting and caring for trees in this region of the country.
The Best Flowering Trees to Grow in Mississippi
Petite Snow Crape Myrtle Tree
Planting Petite Snow Crape Myrtle trees in Mississippi are a perfect choice when you want to add a beautiful white flourish to your garden. The Petite Snow is a versatile shrub-like tree that can be planted anytime. Plant them where you live throughout the year when planting trees in Mississippi and enjoy their year round beauty. These beauties will be sure to provide color all year long as one of the most vibrantly-colored shade trees available in our state, making it a win-win investment that can last for decades or more with proper care. The dwarf Petite Snow produces impressive color in a small package for smaller spaces or cramped city gardening. During the summer months, as temperatures begin to rise and flowers grow weary, it’s important that something is still in bloom. Luckily for us Mississippians or those who live close by, Crape Myrtle trees are an ideal autumn-flowering tree with brilliant red blooms! The best time of year for planting Crapes Myrtles is late winter/early spring (from February 15th - May 31st). This helps ensure ample water availability during our warm summers before they enter their dormant stage due to cooler fall weather. In addition, September or October gives them enough time after the blooming season has passed but before full leaf drop for maximum blooming potential.
Planting & Care
Crape Myrtles should be the first trees planted before any other kind of tree because they prefer full sun and well drained soil. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and just as deep. Use your hands to free any tangled roots before planting to reduce the possibility of continued root growth dissimilar from other areas around the tree. Stability will be important during development, whether that means leveling it or not; mulching will conserve water and provide protection against competing weeds for healthy plant growth. If you don't know the best time to water your myrtle, just stick your hand into the soil 3 inches deep. If it's moist then it doesn't need water. Apply a slow-release fertilizer formula during the early spring and summer seasons. To encourage branching, selectively prune the strong trunks during the first few dormant periods. Make your cuts on earlier-developing limbs to help guide later-developing ones.
Little Gem Magnolia Tree
The Little Gem Magnolia Tree is a medium-sized tree about 20 to 25 feet in height. It has the same wonderful attributes as the Southern Magnolia Tree, but it is easier and more manageable in size. The Little Gem Magnolia is an early bloomer with magnificent, large cream-colored flowers. Best of all, the bright and sweet fragrance can last for more than half of the year. Planting Little Gem Magnolia Trees in Mississippi will not only bring beauty to your home landscape, but also provide a valuable shade tree that will grow up into an impressive specimen. It is fast-growing and has large white blooms with a sweet fragrance. Planting these trees will create beautiful landscaping for homes while providing needed shade from the summer sun.
Planting & Care
A Little Gem Magnolia should be planted in full or partial sun within 5 feet of other trees for a privacy screen or hedge. Make sure that your tree doesn't sit in a low area of your yard where water pools. These trees prefer acidic soil but will grow in heavy clay as long as the drainage is adequate. Dig a hole big enough for the root ball, add settled dirt and water to settle the roots. After planting, water it within 3 inches of the tree. If you're unsure when, check the soil around the roots about 3 inches deep. After planting your Magnolia, it will be drought tolerant and require watering only when the area has not received enough rainfall. Fertilize your Little Gem Magnolia with a well-balanced fertilizer like formula 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 in every early spring. White creamy flowers will emerge in the spring and may bloom throughout the entire summer.
The Best Shade Trees in Mississippi
Wildfire Black Gum Tree
Choosing a Black Gum tree would offer beautiful fall foliage colors without sacrificing on spring flowers or summertime fruits and vegetables since this tree prefers shady conditions over direct sunlight. The springtime blooms of the Black Gum tree and its fall colors will match any landscaping, adding a sense of natural elegance to your property all year long. It also does not have to be an overwhelming or daunting task. The Black Gum trees can grow up to 100 feet tall! One good thing about this tree is that its roots grow deep into the ground and don't create problems with landscaping or cracks in sidewalks and driveways. Plus, Wildfire Black Gums can live for more than 70 years. Imagine the memories your family could make playing under this remarkable tree.
Planting & Care
The Black Gum does not need a lot of water, and prefers locations with plenty of sun. In case your yard is very windy or prone to flooding, it may be necessary to stake up young trees or plant Wildfire in containers that are elevated well off the ground. Plant the tree with a good amount of height above ground and water thoroughly to settle the roots. They should be settled for best results, but avoid getting too close to the trunk so you don't suffocate it. Finally, add mulch around the base of the tree for better moisture retention. When you first plant your tree, water it twice a week for the first few weeks. After this time period, watering frequency will depend on the environmental conditions. Even if you don't fertilize your tree, you will want to eventually introduce a slow-release fertilizer so it can fully develop these skills. If you choose to fertilize early on, add two cups of the fertilizer around the base of the tree for every inch in diameter of your trunk or 8 gallons over 4 years worth depending on your circumstances. In the winter, you can prune your tree by removing lower branches for comfortable shade in the summer.
Silver Maple Tree
Planting Silver Maple trees in Mississippi is a wise decision. An ornamental tree with plenty of benefits and few drawbacks, the Silver Maple is perfect for any yard or landscape plan. With its silvery color and adaptable growth pattern, this easy-to-plant Mississippi favorite will quickly become your go-to shade tree! The Silver Maple tree has enchanting silver leaves and grows at a steady pace. You should plant the tree in areas that other trees cannot grow well to provide shade. Silver Maple is well-suited as a street border or focal point planting. The tree naturally grows near river banks and ponds.
Planting & Care
The Silver Maple is wind tolerant and prefers acidic soil with a pH level of 6.0 to 7.5, but it can be grown in soggy bottomlands or in drier areas devoid of vegetation as well. The tree adores full sun but will tolerate partial shade (for about 4-8 hours per day) and requires regular mulch around the canopy not near the trunk. These tree can live in wet or dry areas. Be sure to water it weekly for the first year and you may need to continue watering it every week throughout its life depending on your location's weather conditions. In areas with strong wind, heavy snowfall, or hurricanes, pruning your tree in the early spring will ensure that it remains healthy. Cut off any dead or diseased branches you may have noticed during the winter months.
The Best Fruit Trees in Mississippi
Powderblue Blueberry
The Powderblue Blueberry plants don’t usually grow in hot, humid climates. The Powderblue Blueberry is an exception because it tolerates heat and requires fewer chill hours than other varieties of blueberries. These variety of blueberry plant will grow year round in Mississippi without any need for pruning, pest management or a heavy water usage. And it's amazing taste will delight you! This plant does not reproduce on its own and another variety of Rabbiteye blueberry, such as the Premier Blueberry, will be required to keep it thriving.
Planting & Care
Powderblue Blueberry plants require a moderate climate with full sunlight and moderately acidic soil. You can plant trees in your flowerbed or pot them nearby, but ten feet should be the minimum distance between. Planting Powderblue is easy. After selecting the desired location and digging a hole for the plant to stand, simply backfill with soil around the root ball and water thoroughly. Powderblue blueberries are drought tolerant but need watering once a week during the first year. To see if they need water, check the surrounding soil for dryness around five inches down. If it is dry here, give them their weekly drink! If you want your plant to grow and bear fruit, you will need to fertilize it. Spring is the best time for this. You don't need to prune your Powderblue Blueberry unless you want to manage its size and shape. If you do want to, do it in late winter.
Niagara Grapes
Paired with the right type of grapevine, there is plenty to love about Niagara Grapes! They produce large clusters of delicious fruit that mature quickly and are easy to train if desired. Niagaras are sweet and not acidic, as well as being widely used for wine, jellies, or juice. While it's always best to plant two varieties together for good pollination, even on its own this vine does wonderfully when given some time and attention - you won't be able to handle how much harvest from these healthy vines come fall! The Niagara grapevine is a climbing vine that can reach heights up 12 feet tall by five or eight inches wide at maturity. They are easy to train if desired. This makes the vine easy and convenient for gardeners who want their plants producing a harvest of grapes in an efficient fashion. Most grape species are self-pollinating, but it's best to plant two vines for a higher yield of fruit.
Planting & Care
Plant Niagara grapes in well drained soil that gets full sun. These plants require a lot of water and do not tolerate drought conditions very well, so make sure to check the irrigation system often. Place the tree in the hole at a pronounced angle so that it can easily root. Cover with soil, leaving 3" on top to discourage unwanted weeds and hold moisture. Begin to backfill the site, tamping down the soil as you go. Apply water to settle the soil and remove any air pockets that may have formed then mulch to retain moisture. Watering regularly for the first year (1-2 gallons a week) will help establish new roots but during this time, avoid getting moisture on grapes themselves and only water through porous soil within the root zone. After established, trees rarely need watering – if dropped leaves are an early warning sign indicating over-watering. Apply fertilizer once after growth begins in the spring, and again four weeks later. Apply twice each year to new trees planted for one additional year. Maintaining the grapevine’s form and size is important for optimal vine health. Pruning should be done when the vines are dormant in late winter or early spring, while foliage should also be removed to allow sunlight on fruit during short growing seasons. Multiple shoots will grow during the first growing season. Some trim their plants back to one or two shoots, while others prefer to let them all grow so they can choose from a variety of cuts in winter. To determine if it is time to harvest grapes, pick a few and taste them. If they are ripe enough, start harvesting them as they mature.
When is The Best Time to Plant Trees in Mississippi
The best time to plant them in Mississippi is during the fall months. Fall will provide you with ample sunlight, soil moisture and a break from heavy summer heat. Fall also provides an opportunity to plant trees before frost arrives, so that they can get established before winter comes around.
Can You Plant All Season Long?
Planting all season long in Mississippi may be possible for those who live in the southern part of the state, like Jackson and Gulfport. Planting season begins in September when temperatures cool down at night to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The most popular time to plant trees is late November or early December, after Thanksgiving dinner and before Christmas day. In northern Mississippi it's best to wait until January or February so that you don't risk frost damage on your newly planted plants from a potential snow storm during planting season.
What are The Best Trees to Plant Each Season in Mississippi
Spring time
The best trees to plant in spring time in Mississippi are red maple, river birch and sycamore.
Summertime
Summer planting season includes pecan, cedar elm or bald cypress as well as magnolia trees which provide fruit throughout the year when planted on their own property during this period of time between April through June just before they flower again come July through September if you want some shade in your yard!
Fall time
The best trees to plant in autumn are tulip poplar, black walnut and sugar maples.
Wintertime
Planting most evergreen varieties is a winter-time activity for Mississippi residents. One of the top recommended species is the northern red oak because it has such good resistance against pests and diseases that can harm your new tree over time.
What Trees Have The Least Invasive Roots in Mississippi
The least invasive tree in Mississippi is the Paperbark Maple, which is also a beautiful tree to have in your landscape. Weeping Willow trees are another good option for those who don't want invasive roots because they grow horizontally instead of vertically and can be planted near lakes or ponds with little risk of damaging the ecosystem.
