UGA Cooperative Extension

Bryan County Extension
Agriculture & Natural Resources

My Opinion On Trees

Yes, everybody has one and mine might stink. I'm not talking about anything as importantly as who to vote for President or which college football team is the best. I have been bombarded with questions about what kind of tree to plant in the front yard for shade or as an accent plant. I am going to tell you the names of the trees that are generally considered good lawn specimens and a few trees that are not so good in the lawn areas.

A lawn tree is one that will cast shade yet allow you to grow grass beneath it. But, lawn trees are not only for shade, they can also frame your house just like a nice looking door can. Finally, a good lawn tree should offer spectacular color in the form of flowers, foliage or fruit.

Landscape professionals usually choose the following as good lawn trees: Chinese elm, river birch, red maple, crepe myrtle, loblolly pine, and palms (The last two are definitely not on my preferred list.) The flowering dogwood makes a fine lawn tree when it is lightly shaded by surrounding tall hardwoods and pines.

Poor lawn trees will have dense shade, low branches, surface roots, or messy seeds or fruits. All of this can either make growing grass beneath them difficult or greatly interfere with mowing. The southern magnolia, live oak, beech, pin oak, and sweet gum are several poor lawn varieties. If you feel that you need to plant one of these trees, be prepared to plant a shade loving ground cover beneath it.

Now, this is the moment we have all been waiting for, my choice. I want to make this clear. This is my opinion, not the University of Georgia's. I love trees that are native to the area and that have all the characteristics of a great lawn tree. These trees have ascending branches, beautiful fall foliage, no messy fruits or seeds to be concerned with, few diseases or pests, will live almost any where, is one of the first to shed its leaves in the fall letting the sun through to warm our home and one of the last to put on leaves in the spring so lawn grasses can get a head start. Have you guessed yet? Wait just another minute. I said this wasn't as important as voting for president or which football team is the best. A president will just be around for four years and who will remember who was the best college football team last year. A tree we plant in the front yard, I hope, will last a life time. My opinion, (I know the excitement is killing you), is Black Tupelo (black gum) Nyssa sylvatica. This tree is not widely used for landscaping, and probably most people don't even know what it looks like. If you look in the woods in the fall and see the most beautiful reds and purple, it's most likely a black gum. Remember, this is my opinion. The opinion that counts is yours. Personal preference is the best choice.

If you need information on the pros and cons of different trees for the lawn, call 653-2231. It's great to know that so many people are making landscape plans before just jumping in and planting inappropriate trees and shrubs.