Right Tree, Right Place

Many people often plant trees without thinking much about how large they will become once they mature. It's difficult to imagine that the six or eight foot tree you plant today could grow as tall as 80 or 100 feet over time.

Our Right Tree, Right Place brochure can help you select a tree that is appropriate for the space you're considering. This guide provides suggestions for how to ensure you plant the right tree in the right place to prevent the tree from growing into overhead power lines.

Zone 1 - Small Trees

Species	Drained Soil	Moist Soil	Sun	Shade	Mature Height (ft.)	Value and Remarks
Junipers	*		*		30	Keteleeri, Canaerti, Columnaris
Arborvitae	*	*	*		20	Techny, American, Emerald
Paperbark Maple	*		*		25	Exfoliating bark
Serviceberry	*		*	Semi	30	White flowers; orange-red fall color
Redbud	*	*	*	Semi	35	Purplish flowers in spring
Fringetree	*		*	Semi	30	White blooms in spring
Dogwoods	*		Semi	Semi	40	White or pink blooms
Kousa Dogwoods	*		*	Semi	20	Good resistance
Cornelian cherry dogwood	*		*	Semi	20	Yellow flowers - early spring
Smoke tree	*		*		30	Green- and red-leafed varieties
Winter king hawthorn	*	Semi	*	Semi	35	Red berries in winter
Royal star magnolia	*	Semi	*	Semi	20	White blooms in spring
Sweetbay magnolia	*	Semi	*	Semi	30	Tulip-like blossoms in spring
Ann magnolia	*	Semi	*	Semi	25	Pinkish-white tulip flowers in spring
Flowering Crabs	*	Semi	*		25	Choose disease-resistant
Japanese tree lilac	*		*		30	White blooms late spring
Red buckeye	*	Semi	*	Semi	25	Red blooms
Akebono flowering cherry	*		*		25	Pinkish-white flowers in spring
Carolina silverbell	*		*	*	25	White bell-like flowers in spring
American hornbeam	*	*	*	*	35	Ky. native; beech-like foliage
Paw paw	*	*	*	*	20	Tropical-like foliage, edible fruit
Witch hazel	*		*	Semi	15	Winter bloomer
Hop-hornbeam	*	Semi	*	Semi	35	Good native ornamental tree
Crepe Myrtle	*		*		15	Train into multi-trunk flowering tree

Zone 2 - Medium Trees

Species	Drained Soil	Moist Soil	Sun	Shade	Mature Height (ft.)	Value and Remarks
Katsura	*	Semi	*		75	Good yellow fall color
Yellowwood	*		*	Semi	60	Native; white, pea-like blooms
Aristocrat Pear	*	Semi	*		45	Best of the ornamental pears
Sawtooth Oak	*		*		60	Yellow fall color
Honeylocust	*	Semi	*		50	Choose patented varieties
Foster Holly	*		*	Semi	35	Avoid exposure to windy locations
Sourwood	*		*	Semi	75	Beautiful mid-summer bloomer
American Holly	*	Semi	*	Semi	45	Berries range from red to yellow

Zone 3 - Large Trees

Species	Drained Soil	Moist Soil	Sun	Shade	Mature Height (ft.)	Value and Remarks
Red maple	*	*	*		80	Choose patented varieties
Sugar maple	*		*		100	Yellow-orange fall color
River birch	*	*	*		90	Multi-trunk specimen
Ginkgo	*		*		100	Choose named varieties
Tulip poplar	*	Semi	*		150	Shiny leaves; yellow fall color
Sweetgum	*	*	*		125	Maroon-purple fall color
Blackgum	*	*	*		90	Brilliant red fall color
White oak	*		*		100	Wide-spreading; slow grower
Bald cypress	*	*	*		150	Ferny needle-like foliage
Zelkova	*		*		70	Choose patented varieties
American elm	*		*		100	New disease-resistant varieties
Pin oak	*	*	*		100	Sensitive to high pH
Willow oak	*	*	*		75	Excellent shade tree
Red oak	*		*		100	Rapid grower of the oaks
White Pine	*		*		150	Problems in heavy clay soils
Norway spruce	*		*	Semi	150	Short, dark green needles
Hemlock	*		*	Semi	150	Can withstand shearing

No matter what type of tree you purchase and where you plan to plant it in your yard, always be sure to call before you dig. The depth of underground utilities (i.e. electricity, natural gas, water, cable and telephone service) varies.

When you call 8-1-1, Kentucky 811 will coordinate with its member utility companies in your area to have the underground service lines marked. The utility companies will mark your yard using the American Public Works Association's standard utility color code — at no charge to you — to ensure you know where their service lines are buried.