Many years ago, I was employed in the landscape industry, where I installed trees and shrubs on many commercial and residential properties throughout the metro Atlanta area. Recently, I was driving through an area of the county and visited a site where I installed some oak trees roughly 25 years ago. At that time, they were small saplings. Now, they are relatively large in both height and width. These trees are healthy and attractive because they were planted in the right location with adequate space to grow to the size they are today. Unfortunately, many landscape plants are installed in sites where they will outgrow the space and into other plants and structures. Plants should fill the area, not compete for it. Knowing the mature size of what you are planting will help reduce the likelihood of having these types of troubles.
After planting, most plants will increase in size over time. Some species grow faster than others; some will ultimately be larger than others. If they are not spaced correctly, the plants will begin to crowd each other resulting in increased competition for water, nutrients, light, and space. Plants with a more vigorous growth habit will overtake the others. Other detriments are increased disease and insect activity due to lack of airflow, higher moisture levels amongst the plants, and weaker plants.
A common species harmed by improper spacing is the Leyland cypress tree. They have the potential to grow 60 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet in width. This fact is rarely taken into account when they are planted. They are popular because homeowners desire a fast-growing plant that will provide a screen for privacy. If planted too close together, they will grow into each other. They are also at increased risk for certain fungal canker diseases, which cause branches to start turning brown and dying. In a row of Leyland cypress, one or more of the trees can often be observed dead or dying. If spaced apart correctly, the chances of these issues occurring are reduced.
Frequently trees under power lines are pruned harshly to keep them from growing into the lines. This heavy pruning, also known as topping, severely harms the tree. Smaller growing trees or shrubs need to be planted in these locations. Homeowners must learn how large their landscape plants will be when they reach maturity. For example, let us say a homeowner plants a southern magnolia, which can ultimately grow to 40 to 60 feet in height. However, they want the tree to reach 10 to 20 feet tall. They mistakenly believe that constant pruning will keep it at the desired height. The problem is this species naturally grows much taller. Regular pruning to keep it at this height will be detrimental and cause a poor appearance. Instead, the homeowner should plant a smaller tree such as Japanese maple, Chinese fringe tree, or dogwood.
With trees, consider how the ultimate size can affect the condition of your home. If planted too close to the foundation, certain species of trees could cause damage. As trees increase in size, their roots could start uplifting and damage the concrete surfaces of driveways and sidewalks and possibly harm the foundation. Also, they are at increased risk of being blown over in storms.
Remember, knowing the size of landscape plants can reduce the likelihood of problems and create an attractive, healthy landscape.
Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Henry County. He can be contacted at 770-288-8421 or tdaly@uga.edu
