Liriope’s Muse: Tree Care Tips from a Master Arborist
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Liriope's Muse: Celebrate Plant a Tree Day With Us!
This September 28th, communities across the country will celebrate Plant a Tree Day, a national call to action to restore green spaces, strengthen neighborhoods, and give back to the environment. Here in Greater Houston, where our city’s identity is tied so closely to its live oaks, magnolias, and pecans, this is the perfect opportunity to make a lasting impact right in your own yard or in your community.
Why Planting Trees Matters in Houston
Houston is one of the greenest large cities in America, but it’s also one of the fastest-growing. With new construction, extreme heat, hurricanes, and shifting weather patterns, our urban forest faces constant challenges. Planting a single tree may seem small, but multiplied across our neighborhoods, offer many benefits including:
- Cooling shade to fight back against rising summer heat.
- Improved air quality in a city where industry and highways dominate.
- Stormwater protection that helps reduce flooding by absorbing heavy rains.
- Beauty and value for homes and communities, some mature trees can increase property values by 10–15%.
Right Now Is The Best Time of Year to Plant in Houston
Fall is the ideal planting season in the Gulf Coast. By putting trees in the ground now, they’ll have cooler weather and months of rainfall to establish strong roots before next year’s summer heat sets in.
Some excellent classic tree choices for Houston landscapes include:
- Southern Live Oak – iconic shade tree that thrives in our soils.
- Bald Cypress – excellent for wetter areas and flood-prone properties.
- Mexican Sycamore – fast-growing, heat-tolerant, and visually striking.
Some excellent fruiting tree choices for Houston landscapes include:
- Loquat – delicious fruit, simple and easy to care for.
- Plums – specifically of the Methely and Gulf Beauty varieties. They require low chill hours and are tolerant to our hot summers!
- Pears – the varieties Pineapple and Floridahome do well in our Houston climate! They produce beautiful blooms and delicious fruit just in time for and early fall pie!
Some excellent ornamental tree choices for Houston landscapes include:
- Texas Redbud – a smaller ornamental that blooms beautifully in spring, and has a unique growth pattern
- Southern Magnolia – timeless, elegant blooms, and deeply tied to Houston’s identity.
- Vitex – a beautiful purple flowering tree with a growth pattern similar to the crape myrtle.
How You Can Celebrate Plant a Tree Day
- Plant at Home – Whether it’s a shade tree for your backyard or a fruit tree for your family to enjoy, you’ll be investing in future generations.
- Team Up with Your Community – Volunteer with a neighborhood group, HOA, or local park project to help increase our shared canopy.
- Dedicate a Tree – Plant one in memory of a loved one or to honor a milestone. Trees stand as living legacies for decades.
- Donate! – Donating to non-profit organizations who plant trees across the country is another great way to celebrate and be a part of International Plant A Tree Day! Some organizations I recommend are : One Tree Planted, International Tree Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, or The National Forrest Foundation.
Partner with a Professional
Choosing the right tree, planting it in the right location, and ensuring it’s installed properly makes all the difference. At Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc., our Board-Certified Master Arborist and team of trained professionals are here to guide you in selecting species best suited for your property and Houston’s unique conditions.
We believe planting trees isn’t just about landscaping, it’s about building a greener, cooler, and healthier future for our city.
This September, let’s all take part. Plant one tree. Inspire your neighbors. Grow a legacy for Houston.
Liriope’s Muse - Expert Tree Care Tips
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