Homeowners Guide to Landscape Tree Selection
There are a few key steps for success when choosing and installing a landscape tree.
Selection |
| Choose the right tree for the right spot. Consider the final height and spread to the tree canopy. Overhead lines, sidewalks and structures can be damaged or damage your tree. |
Purchase |
| Choose healthy nursery stock suited for Fort McMurray Zone 2a cold hardiness. The tree you choose should be disease and insect free and should meet Canadian Nursery Stock Standards 9th Edition. |
Transportation |
| Be sure to protect your tree during transport. Use a tarp or a covered vehicle to prevent the tree from drying out and ensure your tree health. Take care to not drop or otherwise damage the root ball during transport. |
Planting |
|
Take care to avoid digging in the areas of utility lines to prevent damage and potential gas or water leaks. It is important to be conscious of what kinds of trees fare better in our region. Below is a list of landscape trees that are more likely to thrive in our climate and soil composition. Engineering Servicing Standards provides guidance for the proper planting of a tree. Be sure to plant trees 10 meters from your house, which will have the biggest impact on protecting your home. Planting trees 3 meters apart will help reduce the intensity of a wildfire. It is important to be conscious of what kinds of trees fare better in our region. Below is a list of landscape trees that are more likely to thrive in our climate and soil composition. FireSmartSince the May 2016 wildfire, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo introduced FireSmart principles within the community. |
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height (m) | Crown Spread (m) | Growth Rate |
|
Manitoba Maple |
Acer negundo |
12 |
10 |
Fast |
|
White Birch |
Betula papyrfera |
12 |
9 |
Slow |
|
Green Ash |
Pensylvanica |
20 |
10 |
Slow |
|
Poplar |
Poplar x (zone 2 cultivar) |
15-25 |
6-12 |
Fast |
|
Brandon elm |
Ulmus americana 'Brandon' |
15 |
12 |
Slow |
|
Siberian elm |
Ulmus pumila |
12 |
10 |
Fast |
|
Amur maple |
Acer ginnala |
6 |
5 |
Fast |
|
Russian olive |
Elaeagnus angustifolia |
6 |
6 |
Fast |
|
Crab apple |
Malus x (zone 2 cultivar) |
5 |
4 |
Slow |
|
Bur oak |
Quercus macrocarpa |
10 |
8 |
Slow |
|
Laurel-Leaf willow |
Salix pentandra |
16 |
7 |
Fast |
|
American mountain ash |
Sorbus Americana |
8 |
5 |
Fast |
|
Showy mountain ash |
Sorbus decora |
8 |
6 |
Fast |
|
Jack pine |
Pinus banksiana |
12 |
3 |
Slow |
|
Larch/Tamarack |
Larix laricina |
12 |
3 |
Fast |
|
Siberian larch |
Larix sibirica |
12 |
3 |
Fast |
|
White spruce |
Picea glauca |
20 |
5 |
Fast |
|
Manitoba Maple |
Acer negundo |
12 |
10 |
Fast |
|
White Birch |
Betula papyrfera |
12 |
9 |
Slow |
|
Green Ash |
Pensylvanica |
20 |
10 |
Slow |
|
Poplar |
Poplar x (zone 2 cultivar) |
15-25 |
6-12 |
Fast |
|
Brandon elm |
Ulmus americana ‘Brandon' |
15 |
12 |
Slow |
|
Siberian elm |
Ulmus pumila |
12 |
10 |
Fast |
|
Amur maple |
Acer ginnala |
6 |
5 |
Fast |
|
Russian olive |
Elaeagnus angustifolia |
6 |
6 |
Fast |
|
Crab apple |
Malus x (zone 2 cultivar) |
5 |
4 |
Slow |
|
Bur oak |
Quercus macrocarpa |
10 |
8 |
Slow |
|
Laurel-Leaf willow |
Salix pentandra |
16 |
7 |
Fast |
|
American mountain ash |
Sorbus Americana8 |
8 |
5 |
Fast |
|
Showy mountain ash |
Sorbus decora |
8 |
6 |
Fast |
|
Jack pine |
Pinus banksiana |
12 |
3 |
Slow |
|
Larch/Tamarack |
Larix laricina |
12 |
3 |
Fast |
|
Siberian larch |
Larix sibirica |
12 |
3 |
Fast |
|
White spruce |
Picea glauca |
20 |
5 |
Fast |