Where to Buy Trees in Tennessee: A Grower's Guide to Getting It Right
If you buy your trees from a Tennessee nursery‚ rather than a big box store‚ you're getting healthier root systems‚ that are already adapted to our climate zones‚ and knowledgeable staff․ You will get informed about what a tree will do in your particular soil․ The difference is usually apparent in the first year‚ in survival rates and growth rates‚ and in future replanting․ When you have propagated our trees on our own farm‚ as we have for over 30 years‚ the difference between nursery grown trees and those delivered when you buy them from a warehouse is obvious․
The Importance of Sourcing and Why It Matters
Most big box trees are shipped from out of state and may even be from growing zones drastically different from Tennessee․ They often have to survive for weeks in parking lots under artificial watering schedules before they are sold․ This stress can cause transplant shock‚ slow growth the first year‚ or even death once the tree is subjected to our summer's clay-heavy‚ humid conditions․
Tennessee ranges from USDA zone 6b to 8a‚ depending on whether you're in the mountains east of Knoxville or down in the Memphis flatlands․ A tree that's been grown and hardened off in-state has already adjusted to our freeze-thaw cycles‚ our red clay‚ and our long‚ muggy growing season․ That's not marketing language‚ it's the actual reason field-grown‚ locally cultivated trees establish more quickly and require less maintenance once they're in the ground․
What to Look for When You Buy
Fortunately‚ there are practical things that mark the difference between a good tree purchase and a wasted one․
While a large tree is desirable‚ a well-branched‚ dense and fibrous root ball is more important․ A small tree will outperform a tall tree with girdled/circling roots almost every time․ Ask to see not only the root flare‚ but also how the tree was grown; field-dug and balled-and-burlapped trees generally have better survival rates in the clay soil of Tennessee than do container trees that may have been rootbound for one or even two growing seasons․
Consider the tree's optimal growing conditions‚ not just how it looks in a photograph․ Some trees prefer full sunlight‚ others partial shade․ While some need well-drained soil‚ the red maple can survive in boggy conditions that would kill a dogwood․
Inquire about structural pruning and pest history․ Good structural pruning when trees are young may encourage strong central leaders and spaces between branches‚ which helps trees resist storm damage․ This is one advantage to purchasing from a working nursery farm instead of from a retail lot: the trees have had years of careful training before they are sold․
What Grows Best Across Tennessee
The foundation of most Tennessee landscapes is the shade tree․ Oaks‚ maples and poplars can be successful in our hot summer climate after establishment․ In 8-10 years a well-sited shade tree can drop deck and home temperatures several degrees․ Weeping trees‚ and some fruit trees are additional species for small lots․
Flowering trees provide seasonal color‚ without the large canopies of shade trees․ Examples include dogwood‚ magnolia‚ crab apple‚ and ornamental cherry trees․ Dogwoods are native to this region‚ and seem to do better than exotic ornamentals on our soil․
Evergreens are the most common plants for screening plants and winter structures․ The most common evergreen plantings are spruce‚ fir‚ pine‚ arborvitae‚ juniper‚ and boxwood․ Arborvitae and juniper thrive on Tennessee's heavy clay and poor drainage․
We should be planting more natives․ The river birch‚ redbud‚ and black tupelo will be better adapted to our rainfall patterns‚ pests‚ and soil chemistry than any tree from elsewhere‚ and will be much less maintenance in the long run if you're not interested in babying a tree for the next five years․
Specialty trees such as Japanese maples‚ topiaries‚ and bonsai can work in gardens and landscaping but usually have specific siting requirements․ In the hotter areas of Middle and West Tennessee‚ Japanese maples need protection from afternoon sun․
Timeline: What to Actually Expect After Planting
In Tennessee‚ fall planting (October through early December) is better: the ground is workable‚ roots are still growing while the leaves are falling‚ and the tree doesn't have to compete with summer heat and moisture stresses while putting down roots․ Spring planting will work‚ but will require more watering during that first summer․
For the first year after a new tree has been planted‚ most of its energy goes into establishing a root system․ Deep watering (one inch of water per week in non-drought conditions) should be performed as necessary during the first two years after planting to get the tree established․ By year three‚ a suitably placed tree should be establishing a canopy․ The time until full maturity is highly variable‚ with a red maple providing reasonable shade in 15-20 years‚ while an oak is a multi-generation investment․
Full-Service Planting Takes the Guesswork Out
Even the biggest‚ best-grown tree can get off to a bad start if you don't plant it to the right depth and in the right manner․ The most common planting error we see homeowners make is planting too deeply․ Planting too deep chokes off the root flare‚ and the tree will decline slowly without your even realizing it․
For your convenience‚ TN Nursery can provide all planting services‚ including digging the proper hole size and depth‚ adding soil amendment‚ staking as necessary‚ initial fertilization‚ and giving you tips on watering to ensure your plant gets the best possible start in its new home․ It's the difference between hoping a tree survives and knowing it's been given the best possible start․
Purchasing From a Grower in Tennessee
That said‚ the source you buy trees from is as important as the kind․ TN Nursery trees are grown on working farmland‚ shipped and planted with root health as a priority‚ and we can let you know honestly whether a particular tree will thrive in your Tennessee yard or not․ This is not something that a seasonal retail employee at a big box store can do․ Search our current inventory on line at TN-Nursery․com or visit our nursery outside of Nashville to see the operation․
