There are many things that people will tell you about growing trees in New Jersey. Some say it's easy, some say it's hard. There are indeed plenty of challenges to overcome when trying to grow a tree in the state but with these guides, it's easier than ever!
The Best Flowering Trees to Grow in New Jersey
Okame Cherry Tree
Many tourists visit the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. to enjoy Okame Cherries blossom and leaves that form a majestic, pink shadow encased by an iridescent canopy of white petals against the blue sky. The showy flowers are up to an inch wide and come in clusters of two to five. The plant thrives in a range of climates so it can be grown everywhere, and provides beautiful yellow-orange-red fall foliage when its leaves turn color. One of the earliest trees to flower, pink cherry blossoms will put you at the center of your neighborhood's attention. To make your home more appealing, plant a row of trees to stand like a frame for the front of your property.
Planting & Care
Find soil with good drainage and at least four hours of sunlight daily. To prepare the hole for your tree, dig it how deep and twice as wide. Leave a small mound of dirt in the center of the hole to set the root ball on and carefully spread out its roots in it. Place your tree, backfill with soil, water to settle its roots, and then mulch around it so that water is conserved. Okame requires water in the form of a slow trickle for 10 to 15 minutes every two inches of soil dries. After only two years of growth, fertilize your tree with nitrogen. Apply 1/10 pound of actual nitrogen per year for each year the tree has been alive. Apply once in the spring or spread that amount into 2-4 equal applications over spring and summer. Prune away any dead or damaged branches in winter. Remove the current year’s old, faded flowers and fruit clusters to promote flower buds for the following season.
Dynamite Crape Myrtle
The Dynamite Crape Myrtle produces some of the brightest red blooms, more so than any other Crapes. This specimen is hassle-free, pest and disease resistant, and drought tolerant for a spectacular show that lasts from early spring until fall. The best part about this tree is its quick growth rate. This Crape Myrtle is one of the hardiest trees available and will provide you with a strong specimen as well as natural privacy. You don't have to worry about them beyond -0 degrees. The Dynamite Crape Myrtle is a bright and colorful flowering tree that withstands tough conditions, producing beautiful blooms without much effort on your part. When it seems like everything else has stopped blooming in the summer, you'll still have vibrant red blossoms. And because they start blooming light-red the first year and progress to a deeper red color each passing year, you'll get flowers that stop everyone in their tracks.
Planting & Care
Choose an area with well-drained soil and plenty of daily suns (at least six hours per day). Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place your tree in it, fill the hole back up with dirt and water to settle the roots. Cover the ground around your tree lightly with mulch to protect it from drying out. Crape myrtles are both drought-tolerant and susceptible to dry soil during the summer. If you’re not sure if it needs water, simply check the surrounding soil for moisture about 3 inches down. Apply a slow-release fertilizer each Spring and Summer. Trim the tree's trunk to 5 or 6 strongest branches below, avoiding trimming any lateral branches at this time.
The Best Shade Trees in New Jersey
Purple Fountain Weeping Beech Tree
The Purple Fountain weeping beech is a durable tree that attracts graceful wildlife to your yard, all while standing up to cold temperatures and moderate drought conditions. It also has a unique purple hue that looks strikingly beautiful in the deep autumn season. With a cascading silhouette and rich, dark-purple foliage, the Purple Fountain Weeping Beech helps make your yard stand out. This tree lives up to its name by providing an unmatched show of color in a natural weeping form. With strong and durable upright growth that doesn't require regular pruning, the Purple Fountain Tree is perfect for beginning gardeners looking for a beautiful standout.
Planting & Care
Plant your Beech tree in ambient sunlight (6-8 hours of sun daily). Dig a hole three times the size of your tree’s root ball and place it in the hole. Fill with soil, water to settle. When establishing your Purple Fountain Weeping Beech, water as you need to, but cease watering at some point over the next few years when it has been established. You can prune in the winter season if needed.
Amberglow Redwood Tree
A towering Redwood tree is an awe-inspiring sight, it is easy to see why they make wonderful additions to many people's yards. Unfortunately, many varieties of redwood can be quite large (possibly too large for your yard). The Amberglow Redwood breaks the mold and allows you the joy of owning this beautiful tree without the burden of size! The Amberglow, a species of Dawn Redwood that is deciduous and has needle foliage, offers many ornamental benefits. In the springtime, this vibrant green tree displays burgundy tips for an eye-catching aesthetic appeal. Fall brings with it a unique orange color, unlike anything you've seen before. The Redwood is one of the best trees for fall because it's easy to grow and disease-free. These are just two more reasons why it thrives in almost any environment without giving you much trouble. It also has a pyramid-like shade which means that pruning isn't necessary either!
Planting & Care
Plant your Amberglow Redwood with deep, well-draining soil in a spot that receives full sun. Only add amended soil around the base of the tree and pack mulch into a thick layer close to the roots for better moisture retention. For brand new trees like Redwood, it is best to water them once per week. If you live in an especially dry or drought-prone region, they may need additional watering on top of what rain provides.
The Best Fruit Trees in New Jersey
Golden Delicious Apple Tree
The Golden Delicious tree is a low-maintenance fruit and can be grown in your backyard with good organic food. This apple variety grows quickly while keeping its sweetness, making it one of the country’s most popular apples. Not only is our Golden Delicious Apple Tree disease resistant, but it also produces fruit without the need for pesticides. Our tree has already borne fruit in its nursery! The apples are perfect (size and taste) to cook with or eat as raw produce; making them a great option for anyone seeking a solution that does not require toxic chemicals.
Planting & Care
Choose a location with well-drained soil and six hours of full sun each day, then plant the tree by digging a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Fill the hole up halfway and water to settle the earth, backfill to cover it up again on top of your watered down under layer. Add a large layer of mulch that touches underneath your tree's trunk but not on top. Apple trees require watering often, around once a week. But when there is no rain for an extended time, you may need to water more often. To determine if the plant needs watering, just feel the soil under around 2 or 3 inches - if it's dry here, then it's time for some water. After your fruit-bearing tree is established, you should periodically prune it to remove anything that's either weak or dead. Prune during periods of dormancy, making sure to cut away any vigorous upright branches and weak areas on the tree.
Hardy Orange Tree 'Flying Dragon'
The Hardy Flying Dragon orange tree is perfect for people who want the illusion of dragons flying through their yard every year, or simply enjoy having lots of oranges at harvest time. Plus, this tough tree can be grown easily in containers – even ones shaped like bonsai trees! This variety's design changes from wicked-like when its large thorns are exposed during winter months to soft flowering shrubs with brilliant colored flowers that attract butterflies all spring long followed by juicy fruit on top of evergreen leaves turning shades of yellow, red, and brown as fall approaches. The Hardy Orange is a tough tree that does well in both sunny and shady areas. It's drought-tolerant and barely needs pruning, so it's a time-saver with virtually no upkeep required, needing only a bit of sun and water to thrive.
Planting & Care
Plant your fruit trees in a location with lots of sunlight (6 to 8 hours per day). The tree will grow tolerably in partial shade, but the production might not be as high. The Flying Dragon Trifoliate Orange Tree also enjoys well-draining soil and can grow in many different types of soils, including clay, sandy loam, and loam. When you know it's time to plant, dig a hole that is twice the size of your tree's root system and just as deep (or find a container with drainage holes for this purpose). Put the tree into the hole and carefully backfill, tamp down around your tree. Finally, apply mulch around the base of your plant. To keep the Flying Dragon Trifoliate healthy, water it about once or twice a week. When the tree is established, however, it's typically okay with just annual rainfall and doesn't need extra watering unless there's an extended drought. If you are not sure when to water, simply dig two inches deep around your tree. If Check that for soil damp isness dry about 1, its foot needs to below be the surface watered. of the ground. If the soil is dry here, it's time to water. Fertilize trees every year using a 15-5-19 fertilizer formula, applied in three separate applications each year. The first application of fertilizer is applied in July when you cover one-third of the recommended volume to your tree, and the second application is applied in September when another quarter of this total amount is spread out as well. The final 4 months should be finally allotted for total nourishment: one whole cup per 10 ft. Trim away any shoots that appear below the graft union (where two stems have been joined to form a new tree), and remove any dead or damaged branches. The Flying Dragon Trifoliate tolerates pruning well, so if you want it to grow as a small-sized tree, you can shape it accordingly. Some people eat oranges, but most don’t because they are overly tart and full of seeds. However, you can find other uses for them such as savory marmalades or in condiments when dried. And if you pick them and store them for two weeks before squeezing the juice out, you will be able to drink them.
When is The Best Time to Plant Trees in New Jersey
The good news is that it’s never too late, just make sure they have a nice dose of water and nutrients. Spring is usually a good time to plant, as it will expose your tree to less cold air once summer comes around (and therefore be more likely to thrive). However, planting later into autumn may prove beneficial if warmer weather is still expected at that point of the year. Regardless of what time of year you choose, always make sure not too much snow cover has accumulated before attempting any type of groundwork.
Can You Plant All Season Long?
The answer is yes, but there are some things to consider. With some good plans and a little bit of luck, your yard will be full of beautiful trees in no time.
What are The Best Trees to Plant Each Season in New Jersey
Springtime
The best trees to plant in the Spring in New Jersey are Bradford Pear, Flowering Dogwood, and Magnolia.
Summertime
The best trees to plant in Summer in New Jersey are Scarlet Oak, Tulip Tree, and White Birch.
Fall time
Trees that thrive when planted during fall months include catalpa and sweet gum; both will tolerate cooler temperatures well into December and January respectively.
Wintertime
If you have a large space for your tree then go ahead and choose any species of evergreen that grows well in colder climates like Cedar Elm. For smaller spaces consider planting an Eastern Redbud with its beautiful purple flowers.
What Trees Have The Least Invasive Roots in New Jersey
The least invasive trees in New Jersey are the Cherry Laurel, Winterberry, and Honeylocust trees. The only downside to these is that they don't grow well in wet soil or heavy clay soils which are two of New Jersey's most common types of soil. If you have a sunny spot for them then any tree will do just fine as long as it has a large enough "root-spreading" area so they can get established. Some of these species also work well: White Oak, Scarlet Oaks, Red Maple Trees, Black Locusts (Black Gum), Tulip Tree, Birch Alleghany Firs, Pine Cedars, Umbrella Pines, Currant Bushes, and Flowering Dogwoods.
