“Liberty has its life in the hearts, deeds, minds of men, and therefore must be earned and refreshed daily.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Those who gained our independence believed that liberty was the secret of happiness and courage the secret of liberty.” – Louis Brandeis
“America is a melody. It must be sung together.” – Gerald Stanley Lee
“Then band together, all brave Americans! By uniting we stand, by division we fall.” – John Dickinson
“It is by the goodness of God that we have in our country these three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence not to practice either.” – Mark Twain
“Freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children through the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and passed on so that they can do the same.” – Ronald Reagan.
As you continue your landscape design, tree selection and placement are very important points for effective landscape design. A very common mistake is “planting the right tree in the wrong place” or “planting the wrong tree in the right place”.
A good rule of thumb when planting is to plant your tree at least halfway up any building, sidewalk, or established boundary as you will determine the specific shade needs in the area. Trees should be placed properly to avoid conflicts with power lines, roads, driveways, sidewalks, and buildings.
The following native shade trees are hardy and reasonably easy to grow in the southern environment. However, make sure you have enough space for your choice.
Native to the Southeast, American holly (Ilex opaca) provides year-round greenery, aided by red berries in fall and winter. It grows up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It prefers partial shade to full sun and tolerates many soil types.
The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is native to the southeast. The mottled bark pattern is the hallmark of this tree, aided by its overall size and large leaves. It can reach a height of 90 to 100 feet and has a trunk diameter of 3 to 8 feet. It thrives in lowland or lowland soils.
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is native to the east coast of North America and along the waterways to east Texas and southern Illinois. Its fine, short needles appear in early spring and are bright lime green in colour. The bald cypress can withstand wet soils, developing a strong trunk that flares out at the base. It creates knees (characteristic above-ground structures) near the root growth around the tree. They grow 50 to 70 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Dropping the needles in the fall can be a nuisance. It prefers moist soil conditions in partial shade to full sun.
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) or tupelo is native from southern Maine to central Florida and west to Michigan and east Texas. The black gum tree produces flowers that attract honey bees, which is why Tupelo honey is popular with honey connoisseurs. It is among the first trees to change color in the fall, displaying brilliant shades of yellow to red-orange before shedding their leaves. Black gum grows 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide and tolerates moist soil, making it a good choice for boggy sites with poor drainage. It prefers partial shade to full sun.
Carolina lime (Tilia americana var. caroliniana) is native from South Carolina to Florida and west to Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. She provides very dense shade under a full canopy and her early summer blooms offer aromatic and medicinal values. Its erect and erect form reaches 60 to 80 feet in height and 20 to 40 feet in width. It tolerates most soil conditions but prefers moist, well-drained sites in full sun.
The redbud (Cercis canadensis) is native to the southeast. Its early spring blooms attract bees and it grows to around 10 meters in height. Its heart-shaped leaves are reddish in color and turn green as the leaves mature. The seeds are produced in pea-shaped pods. Its strength and durability over time has been questioned by some who have planted it in their landscapes.
Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is native throughout the eastern coastal plain from southern New Jersey to central Florida. It is a dependable, fast-growing drought and wind tolerant evergreen, reaching 60 to 90 feet in height and 30 to 40 feet in width. Plant these pines in groups for the best effect, including privacy and shade. Loblolly pine prefers sandy, well-drained soil in full sun with low to medium water requirements.
The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is native from Alabama to Texas and north to Ohio and southeast Kansas. It is a valuable crop due to the edible nuts it produces. Establish this deciduous tree as a young plant, as the taproot makes transplanting this species more difficult as it ages. It reaches a height of 70 to 100 feet and a width of 40 to 75 feet in medium water needs and full sun. It is known for its economic value rather than its scenic appeal.
Southern oak (Quercus virginiana) is native to the coastal areas of the southeastern United States, from Virginia to the Florida Keys and the Texas coast. It is the majestic evergreen tree that lines streets and embodies parks in southern cities. It can take them about a hundred years to reach their adult height of 40 to 80 feet in height and 60 to 100 feet in width. Planted today, it will bring joy to future generations. Mature trees have minimal water requirements and prefer full sunlight.
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is native to the southeastern United States, from the Carolinas, Georgia through central Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi to the east coast of Texas. Reaching 60 to 80 feet in height and 30 to 50 feet wide, this large evergreen deciduous tree produces large, fragrant flowers from May. In addition, its large, thick, waxy green leaves with reddish-umber undersides make an excellent festive wreath or table decoration. Water requirements are average and for growth to its maximum size it prefers full sun.
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is native to southern Connecticut to Florida and east Texas. Its star-shaped leaves turn a deep scarlet in fall before falling to the ground. Beware of the spiked pods that fall down and litter the ground. Growing 60 to 75 feet tall and 40 to 50 feet wide, sweetgum prefers moist soil in full sun.
Let the freedom that the heroes of this country fought for us never be in vain. Let’s all work hand in hand to protect it. Enjoy this Independence Day with worship, services, parades, fireworks, music and celebrations. I wish you a blessed and safe Fourth of July! God bless America!
Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” – John 3:5
“This we pray, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:12
“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” – Psalm 34:11
But [Jesus] said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God also to the other cities, for for this purpose I was sent.” – Luke 4:43
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”—Psalm 105:4
dr Eddie Seagle is a Sustainability Advisor, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Graduate (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor of Teaching and Learning (University). System of Georgia) and short-term missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to csi_seagle @yahoo.com.
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