Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place!

TREE coming soon

Note: The City of Miami Springs requires a permit for planting of any tree in a public right-of-way, and for the removal of a tree in a public right-of-way or on private property.  Permits may be obtained at the Building and Code Compliance Department in City Hall, or online at http://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/building/tree-planting-and-removal-permit  For further information about the permit, please call 305.805.5030.

A tree properly placed today can avoid problems tomorrow. Select the right tree, and plant it in the right place. This will assure you a lifetime of enjoyment and minimal maintenance costs.

  • Determine your purpose in planting: Shade? Screening? Colorful flowers? Fruit? A noise buffer?
  • Avoid improper planting locations: There's more to the ''right place'' than not planting a big tree under a power line. Big trees such as Mahogany, Live Oak, Tamarind, Floss Silk, Kapok or Royal Poinciana, need big areas in which to spread their roots. Think ''small tree, small place'' when you want a tree near the garage, house, pool or patio. You need to imagine what that tree will look like when it reaches maturity. Each tree species grows in a different way, to different heights and spreads.
  • Understand the planting site: Are there any underground or overhead utility connections in the area?  If you’re not sure, call 811.  “Sunshine 811” notifies utility companies where you are planning to dig. The utility then sends a locator to mark the approximate location of underground lines, pipes and cables in your yard. Reminder: The process takes two full business days - Day 1 starts the day after you call.
  • Select a compatible tree.  A list of recommended species is listed below.
  • Plant your tree properly: Dig the hole two to three times as large around as the roots of your tree, but just a little less deep. Leave the root crown (the area where the roots end and the trunk begins) one to two inches above ground level. Be sure to remove the plastic pot, burlap bag, etc. that the plant came in. Backfill using the soil that came out of the hole. Fill the bottom third of the hole, then tamp the soil down with your foot to eliminate any air pockets. Water well. Now, finish filling in the hole, tamp the soil down and water thoroughly once again. Finish up by using leftover soil to create a small wall around the circumference of the hole about two or three inches high. This will help hold water and direct it down towards the roots. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of your new tree will help keep the roots moist and provide lots of nutrients. Stake the tree loosely for protection or support if needed, and remove the stakes as soon as the tree can support itself, in 6 to 12 months.  Use only soft tree ties, and never use wire, even if it’s coated.
  • Water and care for your new tree: Many people plant a tree and think that’s all it takes. Not so! Water, fertilizer and pruning are all a part of tree upkeep.  Young trees that are growing fast need a different type of pruning than older trees.  Please check out the “Tree Trimming and Pruning” page at http://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/publicworks/tree-trimming-and-pruning

RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE Recommended Species List
a. Small trees less than 20’ ht. at maturity and can be planted adjacent to power lines:
CRAPE MYRTLE / LAGERSTROEMIA INDICA
DWARF POINCIANA /  CAESALPINIA SPP.
FRANGIPANI / PLUMERIA RUBRA
LOQUAT / ERIOBORTYA JAPONICA
ORANGE GEIGER /  CORDIA SEBESTENA
*SILVER BUTTONWOOD /  CONOCARPUS E. ‘SERICEUS’
*STOPPERS  / EUGENIA SPP.
*SWEET ACACIA /  ACACIA FARNESIANA
TREE JATROPHA  / JATROPHA SPP.
TREE LIGUSTRUM / LIGUSTRUM SPP.
WHITE GEIGER /  CORDIA BOISSIERI
*Denotes South Florida Native Species

b. Medium Trees 20’-30’ ht. at maturity and to be planted 20’ back from power lines:
*DAHOON HOLLY /  ILEX CASSINE
*IRONWOOD / KRUGIODENDRON FERREUM
*PIGEON PLUM / COCOLOBA DIVERSIFOLIA
*PITCH APPLE / CLUSIA ROSEA
*SABICU (FALSE TAMARIND) / LYSILOMA LATISILIQUA
*SATINLEAF / CHRYSOPHYLLUM OLIVEFORME
*SEAGRAPE / COCCOLOBA UVIFERA
*Denotes South Florida Native Species

c. Large Shade Trees greater than 30’ ht. at maturity and to be planted 30’ back from power lines. Large canopy shade trees for lawns and street trees:
BALD CYPRESS / TAXODIUM DISTICHUM
CALOPHYLLUM / CALOPHYLLUM SPP.
FLOSS SILK TREE / CHORISIA SPECIOSA
GOLDEN RAINTREE / KOELREUTERIA ELEGANS
GOLDEN SHOWER TREE / CASSIA FISTULA
*GREEN BUTTONWOOD / CONOCARPUS ERECTUS
*GUMBO LIMBO / BURSERA SIMARUBA
JAPANESE FERN TREE / FILICIUM DECIPIENS
*LIVE OAK / QUERCUS VIRGINIANA
*LOBLOLLY BAY / GORDONIA LASIANTHUS
*MAHOGANY / SWIETENIA MAHOGONI
*MASTIC TREE / MASTICODENDRON FOETISDISSIMUM
PARADISE TREE / SIMAROUBA GLAUCA
*REDBAY /  PERSEA BORBONIA
ROYAL POINCIANA / DELONIX REGIA
*SLASH PINE / PINUS ELLIOTII ‘DENSA’
*SWEETBAY / MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA
YELLOW POINCIANA / PELTOPHORUM PTEROCARPUM
WILD TAMARIND / LYSILOMA BAHAMENSIS
YELLOW POINCIANA / PELTOPHORUM PTEROCARPUM

*Denotes South Florida Native Species

d. Small Palms less than 20’ ht. at maturity and can be planted
adjacent to power lines:
PINDO PALM / BUTIA CAPITATA
BAMBOO PALM / CHAMADOREA SPP.
CAT PALM / CHAMADORIA CATARACTARUM
*NEEDLE PALM / RHAPIDOPHYLIUM HYSTRIX
PINDO PALM / BUTIA CAPITATA
*SILVER PALM / COCOTHRINAX ARGENTATA
*THATCH PALM / THRINAX SPP.
*Denotes South Florida Native Species

e. Large Palms greater than 20’ ht. at maturity and to be planted at the
average palm length plus two feet for clearance from power lines:
(#’)indicates average palm frond length
ALEXANDER PALM / PTYCHOSPERMA ELEGANS (8’)
BISMARK PALM / BISMARKIA NOBILIS (7’)
CANARY ISLAND DATE / PHOENIX CANARIENSIS (15’)
CHINESE FAN PALM / LIVISTONIA CHINENSIS (7’)
COCONUT PALM / COCOS NUCIFERA (15’)
HURRICANE PALM / DICTYOSPERMA ALBUM (12’)
PAUROTIS PALM / ACOELORRHAPHE WRIGHTII (5’)
ROYAL PALM / ROYSTONEA REGIA (15’)
*SABAL PALM / SABAL PAMETTO (7’)
SENEGAL ISLAND DATE / PHOENIX RECLINATA (10’)
*Denotes South Florida Native Species

f. Small trees that can also be considered large shrubs, depending on soil, age, nutrients, sunlight and pruning:
*COCOPLUM / CHRYSOBALANUS ICACO
*FIREBUSH / HAMELIA PATENS
*FLORIDA PRIVET / FORESTIERA SEGREGATA
*JAMAICAN CAPER / CAPPARUS CYNOPLALLOPHERA
*MARLBERRY / ARDISIA ESCALLONIOIDES
*MYRSINE / RAPANEA PUNCTATA
*SIMPSON STOPPER / MYRCIANTHES FRAGRANS
*JAMAICAN STOPPER / EUGENIA FOETIDA
*WAX MYRTLE / MYRICA CERIFERA
*Denotes South Florida Native Species

 

 

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