Plant the right tree in the right place

The University of Florida has launched an updated website helping people determine which trees will better survive a hurricane. COURTESY PHOTOS

You can plant the right tree in the right place in cities and suburbs with help from a newly relaunched website from University of Florida scientists.

See the website at floridatrees.ifas.ufl.edu/FloridaTrees.

If “right tree, right place” sounds similar to the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principle of “right plant, right place,” it’s no coincidence.

“By planting species that are more suitable for a particular site, tree benefits can be maximized, management inputs can be reduced and potential risks may be avoided,” said Ryan Klein, a UF/ IFAS assistant professor of environmental horticulture. “Additionally, such trees may fare better during extreme weather events brought on by climate change.”

With the Atlantic hurricane season now upon us, information on the Florida Trees website might mean the difference between a tree surviving a tropical storm or hurricane.

“Using the information provided on the site has the potential to improve the long-term survival rate of tree plantings in the urban landscape,” Klein said. “Providing trees adequate space for future growth above ground and below ground can improve things such as stability, canopy cover, resilience to stressors, etc.”

Previous UF/IFAS research on 150 urban tree species investigated what makes a tree more wind-resistant. In hurricanes Ivan and Jean (2004), scientists found that trees that grow in groups survive slightly better than those grown alone.

Tree survival depends on air and moisture in the soil. If these factors are managed correctly, trees will grow quickly after they’re planted. Some of the most common causes of tree death are planting too deep, not watering enough, or too much.

At last month’s UF/IFAS Urban Landscape Summit, Klein briefly discussed the website.

“Essentially, each group has the potential to benefit in the same way — maximize tree benefits and minimize management inputs,” Klein said. “They can also help establish trees and promote long-term success in the landscape.”

The website is a collaboration of Klein and Howard Beck, a UF/IFAS professor emeritus in agricultural and biological engineering. The Florida Chapter of the Society of Arboriculture funded it. ¦

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