Tree Planting in Dundalk, MD

Small yards, careful choices

Dundalk grew up around the Sparrows Point steel mill. Dundalk Village was laid out about a century ago as a planned community for Bethlehem Steel workers, and the neighborhoods that followed filled in with brick rowhomes, duplexes and Cape Cods on narrow lots. Those homes have front yards measured in feet, not acres, and many back yards open onto alleys with overhead power and phone lines.

A tree that would be perfect on a large lot can be a problem here within 15 years. Silver maples and other large fast growers end up heaving sidewalks, crowding gutters and growing into wires. So we start with the space: how far it is to the house, the sidewalk, the neighbor's wall and any lines overhead. Then we suggest trees whose mature size fits.

Trees that suit Dundalk

For small front yards and spots under or near wires, smaller trees work best:

• Serviceberry, with white spring flowers, berries for birds and good fall color.
• Eastern redbud, a native with pink flowers in April.
• American hornbeam, tough and tidy in partial shade.
• Crape myrtle for hot, sunny spots by a driveway or alley.

Where there is more room, we look at larger natives like swamp white oak, black gum and red maple. These handle compacted city soil and wet spells far better than many nursery favorites.

Some trees we steer people away from. Ash trees have been hit hard by the emerald ash borer. Bradford pears are weak-wooded and spread invasively. And tree of heaven, which shows up in many alleys, is a host for spotted lanternfly. If you have one, removal is usually the better move.

Planting near the water

Much of Dundalk sits on peninsulas between Bear Creek, Back River, Jones Creek and the Patapsco River. Waterfront and near-water yards can have soggy soil, salt spray and, in big storms, flooding. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 pushed bay water into many homes and yards in the area. Trees planted near the shoreline should tolerate wet roots and some salt. River birch, swamp white oak, black gum, bald cypress and sweetbay magnolia are good candidates.

Property close to the shoreline may fall within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, where Baltimore County has rules about clearing and planting near the water. If your yard backs onto a creek or the river, check with the county before major work. Native trees planted near the shore often help stabilize banks and filter runoff.

How we plant

1. We call for utility line marking before digging.
2. The hole is dug two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper, so the tree does not sink.
3. Circling roots are loosened or cut, and burlap, wire and twine are removed from the top of the ball.
4. The tree is set with the root flare at or slightly above grade, then backfilled with the native soil.
5. Mulch goes on two to three inches deep in a wide ring, kept off the trunk.
6. We water it in well and only stake if the site is windy or the tree is top-heavy.

Spring and fall are the best seasons. Fall planting, from late September into November, gives roots time to grow before summer heat.

The first two years

A new tree needs regular deep watering, roughly once a week during dry spells, for its first two summers. Keep mowers and string trimmers away from the trunk. After a few years, light structural pruning helps the tree grow strong limbs. Our tree trimming crew can handle that, and if an old tree has to come out first, see our tree removal and stump grinding services.

Street trees and shade

Older blocks in Dundalk get very hot in summer, with brick, asphalt and little shade. A well-placed tree on the south or west side of a home can cool the house noticeably within a few years. Before planting near the street or sidewalk, check with Baltimore County about rules for trees in the public strip.

Questions

What size tree should I start with?

A smaller tree, 6 to 10 feet, usually establishes faster than a large one and often catches up within a few years.

Do you plant outside Dundalk?

Yes, in Edgemere, Essex, Turners Station, Rosedale and Middle River.