“April showers bring May flowers” may be a true statement, but before your garden can really blossom, there is one crucial step needed: simply picking and planting your collection of flowering trees.
Pennsylvania regions are typically either planting zones 5, 6, or 7, meaning the mild climates with cold winters and humid, hot summers are actually ideal for many flowering plants. And while it can be daunting to decide which trees are your garden’s missing piece, when it comes to choosing between beautiful flowering plants, we’re here to help make your decision easy.
If you find yourself stuck, follow along for the Cutting Edge Tree Professionals Flowering Trees Guide. Our Flowering Trees Guide includes the benefits of flowering trees on the ecosystem, recommendations for flowering trees in Pennsylvania, and how to best take care of your flowering trees to ensure a gorgeous display, all season long.
The Benefits of Flowering Trees
Pennsylvania flowering trees have many benefits for you and your home in their aesthetic appeal, but also for the surrounding ecosystem. We’ve compiled the top reasons you should consider planting flowering trees this spring:
- They can serve as food for local pollinators.
- They can enhance the look of your yard and landscaping.
- They can act as a shelter for wildlife.
- They can increase home value.
- They can attract various birds, butterflies, and more.
Top Flowering Trees in Pennsylvania
As mentioned above, Pennsylvania is typically home to three planting zones: Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7, each fit with their own considerations in ideal plants and subsequent planting schedules. To find out which region you’re in, check out the Plant Hardiness Zone Map below, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Now that you’ve identified your region and the accompanying hardiness/planting zone, you can safely choose which flowering trees are not only going to be most beautiful in your yard, but which ones will have the healthiest display, for years to come. Below we’ve compiled a list of our top five flowering trees for your gardens this spring.
1. Dogwoods: native to Pennsylvania, and can reach heights of 40 feet.
- Coloring: pink, white, and yellow
- Hardiness zones: 4-9, varies by species
- Necessary sunlight: full sunlight to partial shade
2. Magnolias: durable trees, meaning they are less susceptible to pests and diseases.
- Coloring: white and pink
- Hardiness zones: 4-11, varies by species
- Necessary sunlight: full sunlight to partial shade
3. Ornamental Pears: white flowers that turn purple in the fall, and unique heart shape.
- Coloring: white
- Hardiness zone: 5
- Necessary sunlight: full sunlight
4. Redbuds: native to Pennsylvania, and are known for their beautiful purple coloring.
- Coloring: purple
- Hardiness zones: 4-9, varies by species
- Necessary sunlight: full sunlight to partial shade
5. American Fringe: fragrant flowers with a lower canopy, and very low maintenance.
- Coloring: white
- Hardiness zone: 4
- Necessary sunlight: full sunlight to partial shade
Flowering Tree Maintenance
The final step to ensuring that your new flowering trees are as healthy as can be, is performing the required maintenance. Flowering trees typically require the standard tree maintenance, but we’ll break down three of the most important components below.
Watering: it is essential to water so your flowering trees have the moisture necessary to fully flower. However, it is important not to overwater, as that could result in complications like root rot. To ensure you are watering a sufficient amount, regularly check your soil’s moisture level and stay aware of weather conditions.
Pest and disease control: in order to prevent pests and diseases from taking over your plants, it’s important to practice good sanitation. This can be done by routinely removing leaves and other debris from the area surrounding your trees, and if necessary, exploring plant health card options.
Pruning: pruning is the essential task of removing dead or damaged limbs, in order to promote the growth of new, healthy ones. While the process is absolutely necessary, pruning too early can damage the plant and hurt your healthy trees. A key tip to avoid this is to make sure you are pruning after your flowering trees have bloomed, to better evaluate the limbs.
We’re Here For You
Another great way to ensure a lavish garden display is by taking care of the plants you have now, in addition to your new ones. If you notice an ongoing issue with your current plants or see issues in your new flowering plants, the expert arborists at Cutting Edge Tree Professionals are here to help. With services in pruning, stump grinding, cabling, tree removal, pest control, and more, we are ready to help you perfect and protect your garden landscape, from this spring to the next.
For more information, you can call us today at (814) 201-9757 or visit our website to fill out our online consultation form.
Source list:
- https://www.skh.com/thedirt/the-best-flowering-trees-and-shrubs-to-plant/
- https://cuttingedgetreeprofessionals.com/the-best-flowering-trees-to-plant-in-pennsylvania/
- https://www.gardenia.net/guide/best-flowering-trees-for-spectacular-garden-display
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/zone-6-plants#
- https://www.plantingtree.com/collections/flowering-trees/+grows-in-zones_7
- https://mulhalls.com/garden-home/the-value-of-flowering-trees-and-how-to-pick-the-right-one/
- https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/pages/map-downloads
- https://phzm-prod.ars.usda.gov/system/files/PA300_HS.png
- https://thetreeplanters.com/common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-caring-for-flowering-trees/
- https://www.ehow.com/facts_7867202_dogwood-tree-grow-pennsylvania.html