Fall colors of the Ginkgo tree

Recently I was asked about replanting trees after the destruction of Storm Sandy. I’ve given a lot of thought to this issue since my garden lost 4 large oaks which were living here before I moved into the shade they kindly provided me.

Following the storm, my arborist Ron Strauss of Tree Believers, (631-864-5514) sent his newsletter , “The Root of the Matter”, with recommendations of what to and what not to replant. Here is what he said:

We recommend that you do not re-plant using the following species of trees (all commonly planted in LI landscapes) that did not endure the storms well.

• Emerald Green Arborvitae
• Linden
• Crabapple
• Leyland Cypress
• White Pine
• Red Oak
• Norway or Crimson King Maple
• Flowering Pear
• Douglas Fir
• Weeping Willow

Now to the question of planting recommendations his list included:

• Sycamore
• Sugar maple
• Magnolia
• Beech
• White Oak
• Magnolia
• Sweetgum
• Blackgum
• Baldcypress
• Dawn Redwood
• Dogwood
• Green Giant Arborvitae
• Gingko
• Holly
• Cryptomeria
• Katsuratree
• Weeping Cherry
• Hollywood Juniper
• Crape Myrtle
• Chamacyparis
• Hawthorne

For our smaller gardens, trees that I recommend and have or will be planting are:

• Dogwood ‘Stellar Pink’ (this is one of the disease resistant Rutgers hybrids) 15-30’ ht & spread. Pink flowers in early summer.
• Stewartia pseudocamellia var. koreana. Quite slow growing 30’ht, 20’ spread. Decorative bark. White flowers in early summer. Single or multi-trunk.
• Heptacodium miconoides, Seven-son flower. (recommended by Katherine Tracey of Avant Gardens) 15-20’ ht by 8-10’ spread. Full sun. Bloom time:Sept.

For more particulars of each of these trees, don’t forget to search Google for more information to help you make the right investment choice for your own garden.