Trees and Shrubs

Use Penn State Extension’s vast collection of resources to help hone your tree and shrub growing skills. Discover educational content on pest, disease, and soil management for tree farming. Explore the best practices for transplanting, pruning, and maintaining trees.

Best Trees to Grow in Pennsylvania: Identifying Shrubs and Trees

Before planting trees and shrubs, you should first give careful consideration to the site in which you’ll be planting. Evaluate the slope, soil type, hardiness zone, exposure, amount of light, soil compaction, drainage, space, and nutrient availability.

To help you identify different trees and shrubs, Penn State Extension has created a selection of resources. Find advice on identifying the best deciduous shrubs for your garden, flowering tree identification for Green Industry Professionals and for home gardeners. Being able to identify different types of trees and shrubs plays an important part in the ISA Certified Arborist exam.

After evaluating the site, select trees and shrubs that will grow well or be able to adapt to the location. Wherever possible, choose the best plant for a given location, bearing in mind growth habitat and ultimate size, cultural requirements, maintenance needs, pest resistance, function, and potential invasiveness. There is an ongoing debate about whether you should plant native, introduced, or exotic species.

Pennsylvania encompasses three plant hardiness zones. In the northern tier and mountainous areas it is Zone 5. In lower elevations, it is Zone 6, while in the southeastern corner of the state it is Zone 7. Evergreen shrubs and trees grown in Pennsylvania have to be able to withstand winter cold to varying degrees.

As well as hardiness, consider whether trees and shrubs are tolerant of dry soil. There are going to be species that can tolerate shade and those that can grow when the soil is constantly wet.

Tree Farming: Getting Started With Trees and Shrubs

A wide variety of species and varieties are available for you to choose from if you’re interested in tree farming. The health and fertility of the soil where you plant your trees and shrubs will affect the rate at which they grow. Effective soil management ensures that you meet the nutrient requirements of your trees and shrubs.

You also need to be aware of the different weeds, pests, and diseases that can affect your trees and shrubs. It’s possible to diagnose many plant health problems yourself, as long as you know what to look for. If you’re unsure about your diagnosis, there are professionals, such as a licensed pesticide applicator, that you can approach for advice.

Care and maintenance of trees and shrubs take various forms. Pruning, for example, is a skill that’s crucial for landscape professionals. There are pruning fundamentals you need to learn. Do you know how, where, and when to prune ornamental trees and shrubs?

You also have to prune landscape trees in a certain way. It may require you to climb the trees in order to prune correctly. This requires not only skills and techniques but also knowledge of safety procedures.

For your employees, Penn State Extension provides Employee Landscape Training that covers the basics of pruning together with planting, watering, mulching, and much more. And the Southeast Pennsylvania Green Industry Conference provides opportunities for you to earn pesticide recertification credits or continuing education units for various professional certifications.