When considering what trees are best to plant in your yard, species and location are everything. Right tree, right place; this is the mantra of all urban foresters. Even the healthiest cactus in the world will die if it were to be transplanted in Antarctica. This is the premise of right tree, right place.
The first thing to consider is whether a tree is native to your area. Native species are those that originated from a given region or ecosystem and have adapted to thrive in the climate and environmental conditions of that area. For instance, bald cypress trees, which are native to the southeastern United States, are highly resistant to tropical storms because the species evolved in an area where hurricanes are common. A callery pear which is native to China, is not used to the weather our region produces and therefore is highly likely to fail during tropical storms, as they evolved in an area much different from Virginia’s.
Choosing native species, especially those common to your specific region of Virginia, is a vital step to choosing a storm-resilient tree. The next thing to consider is the site conditions. Is your lawn constantly a swamp or is it dry as a bone? How much sun does the site receive over the day? Are you near saltwater where there is constant salt spray? These are important things to consider. If the tree is not suited to its environment, it will struggle to survive and be much more likely to fall.
A few examples of wind-resilient native trees to consider planting this fall include American holly, Black gum, Eastern redbud, Live oak, River birch, Southern magnolia, and Sweetgum. When you put the right trees in the right places, they grow into your own storm guardians, helping to protect your home from damaging winds.
