Replant the Treescape!

Winter is a great time to plant trees in S. California! Drive around and you’ll see dead trees, most of them non-native pines that require cooler weather and a higher water table than what we’ve been experiencing. We need to replace them – and add to them – right away. Not only do trees provide much needed shade, but their roots go deep into the ground allowing rainwater to penetrate the soil. Their leaves provide mulch: an essential cover for the hard-baked earth. Their height provides perches for the larger raptors, which feed on all those pesky rodents that eat your fruit and vegetables. Trees release moisture into the air, cooling and slowing the hot breeze and keeping pollen viable to pollinate your garden. Here are some fantastic trees that will survive and add beauty to your yard as well:

Love the look of pines? Plant a native Torrey Pine. These stately beauties can grow to 40 feet, are very drought, cold and clay tolerant, and are lovely all year. Their twisty shape is only found on those growing on the windy coastline.

The best investment for native wildlife is the oak, home to over 300 species. Coast Live Oaks and Canyon Oaks are long-term canopy trees that lend a stately look to a home. If you have decomposed granite soil and cooler temperatures, then plant a California Black Oak and enjoy the fall leaf color.

The stunning red bark of the slightly twisty, very drought tolerant Manzanita makes this tree a specimen for your yard. The bell-like flowers bloom in the winter.

Burgandy Desert Willow  is a colorful landscape tree. Its feathery foliage and beautiful delicate flowers provide shade during the hot months, and then drop to allow warmth in during the winter. It requires regular water or should be planted where water settles on your property.

Look for more beautiful trees on the Moosa Creek website, and begin reforesting your property!