Town of Leesburg, Virginia
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Tree Planting
All things related to proper tree selection, planting, care and maintenance
Tree Planting Details
VS7 Tree on Slope Planting Detail
VS10 Shrub on Slope Planting Detail
Tree Planting Specs
Help Increase Leesburg's Tree Canopy
1.) Plant a tree
2.) Scan the QR code or click here: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/38e2af0617c24f4d953936f329273811
3.) Report what you planted and upload a photo
That's it! Your newly planted tree will show up on the Town's online crowd-sourced GIS map along with other trees from your neighbors, contractors, landscapers, developers, and the Town staff. Each year on or around Arbor Day, scan the QR code again and upload the latest picture of the tree.
Remember, planting a tree is not the end of the relationship. Studies have shown that a weekly watering for the first 2 growing seasons gives a new tree significantly greater chance of survival. So please water your new tree often. After the first 2 years, fertilization will also benefit the tree and speed up its growth rate to create a shade tree sooner.
Tree Selection Guide
The recommendation lists include trees that currently thrive in our community, are native, non-invasive, and are attractive year-round. Unfortunately, even some of our native trees are victims of pests and diseases these days so though other trees are able to grow in our Piedmont Virginia area, not all are recommended for ease of maintenance and long-term survival.
Recommended Trees
|
Large Trees (>35 feet) |
Red Maple, Sugar Maple, River Birch, Beech, Ginkgo, Sweetgum, White Oak, Willow Oak, Shumard Oak, Bald Cypress, Hybrid Elms |
|
Medium Trees (20-35 feet) |
European Hornbeam, Yellowwood, Honey Locust, Black Gum, American Hop Hornbeam |
|
Small Trees (<25 feet) |
Red Buckeye, Serviceberry, American Hornbeam, Redbud, Fringe Tree, Witch Hazel, Sweetbay Magnolia, Sourwood |
| Evergreen Trees |
White Fir, American Holly, Southern Magnolia, Norway Spruce, Arborvitae, Red Cedar |
| Fragrant Trees |
Franklinia, Fringe Tree, Magnolia, Sourwood, Yellowwood, Sassafras |
| Salt-Tolerant Trees | Bald Cypress, Black Gum, Honey Locust, Red Cedar, Sweetgum |
5 Small Trees for Your Landscape
The following small trees are excellent additions to any home landscape, large or small, and are readily available at area nurseries.
American Hornbeam, (Carpinus caroliniana)
Size: Approximately 25 feet tall by 25 feet wide.
Growth: Slow.
Flower: Not very showy.
Bark: Gray and smooth.
Fall Color: Orange-red.
This tree is a native to the region. It should be transplanted in the spring, will grow on dry sites, and can grow in shady spots as well.
Blackhaw Viburnum, (Viburnum prunifolium)
Size: 15 feet tall by 12 feet wide.
Growth: Slow.
Flower: White in spring.
Fall Color: Red.
This tree is also a native and transplants well to most soil conditions. It can be planted in sun to partial shade, and is a good choice for dry sites.
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, (Cornus mas)
Size: 20 feet tall by 15 feet wide.
Growth: Medium.
Flower: Yellow in spring before the leaves appear.
Bark: Exfoliating, flaky.
Fall Color: Varies.
This dogwood is not native to the United States so it is resistant to the disease that affects our native flowering dogwood. This dogwood can be planted in sun to partial shade.
White Fringetree, (Chionanthus virginicus)
Size: 15 feet tall by 15 feet wide.
Growth: Slow.
Bark: Gray and furrowed.
Flower: White in spring.
Fall Color: Yellow.
The Fringetree is native to the area. It should be transplanted in the spring to a sunny location.
Witch Hazel, (Hamamelis virginiana)
Size: Approximately 25 feet tall by 20 feet wide.
Growth: Medium.
Flower: Yellow, around November.
Bark: Smooth.
Fall Color: Yellow
Common Witch Hazel is native to the area. It is tolerant of urban conditions, but prefers moist soils. It should be planted in a shady location.