Page 28 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 4 - Fall 2024

BRING ON THE BEAUTY
“The most popular hardwood orders we get for homeowners are dogwood and redbud,” said Fields. “These seedlings provide homeowners with a great way to beautify their homes while diversifying the landscape for wildlife and pollinators.”
As planting season in Georgia begins, Fields reviewed the showy tree species popular with GFC online customers:
• White oak – known for its beauty and shade. High-quality wood. Long- lived. Attractive to wildlife, including deer, turkey, bears.
• Crabapple – an ornamental with pretty pink blooms that grows well in shade. Frequently planted around for- estland and hunt clubs; attractive
to deer and other wildlife.
• Dogwood – understory tree known for its aesthetic beauty, including white flowers in spring. Its berries and seeds attract birds and other wildlife.
• Northern red oak – fast-growing oak that produces superb shade, color, and acorns for wildlife.
• Live oak – known for its spreading beauty, longevity, resistance to disease and weather, and acorns for wildlife.
Honorary mention:
• Bald cypress – known for its beauty, lumber benefits, and adaptability to wet or dry conditions.
Bare-root GFC seedlings adapt easily to Georgia soils. Right: Dogwood berries are tasty treats for wildlife.
As you might imagine, when seedling deliveries begin, operating systems go into overdrive. The fledgling trees are lifted at the nursery and then bundled for transport to GFC units across the state. The lifting process begins the last week of November and hardwoods start at the end of December, when they are more dormant. The seedlings need to be completely shut down when they are
harvested. This increases out-planting survival dramatically.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” said Fields. “Customers can pick up their orders at the nursery or we can deliver them to county units. We have 10 seedling coordinators throughout our regions who track shipments and organize individual pickups. It’s an extra busy time of year.”
Seedling Coordinator Ezra Bortner said
SCAN QR CODE to view a list of recommended tree species for urban planting.
Dogwood
Crabapple
White oak
26 | GEORGIA FORESTRY