Clay is the big story here
Woodbridge sits on some of the heaviest clay in New Jersey. The township was once a center of brick, tile and terra cotta making for exactly that reason, and the old clay pits are now part of the landscape. For trees, clay means two things. Water drains slowly, so a hole dug straight into clay can turn into a bathtub that drowns roots in a wet spring. And compacted clay around newer homes and older yards alike is hard for young roots to break into.
We handle clay by digging a wide, shallow hole and roughening its sides so roots can push out, setting the root flare slightly above grade so the tree is not sitting in water, and backfilling with the native soil instead of a pocket of soft compost that holds even more water. In low spots that stay wet, we pick trees that tolerate wet feet.
Good trees for Woodbridge yards
- Swamp white oak and pin oak. Large, long-lived shade trees that handle wet clay well.
- Red maple. Fast, adaptable and native, with good fall color.
- Black gum. Tolerates wet soil, has brilliant fall color and few pest problems.
- Sweetbay magnolia and serviceberry. Smaller native trees for tight front yards and spots near the house.
- American hornbeam. A tidy, shade-tolerant small tree for backyards under larger trees.
- Honeylocust and Japanese zelkova. Tough trees for spots along busy roads where salt spray and heat are hard on other species.
We do not plant Bradford or other Callery pears, which split apart in storms and have spread across New Jersey as an invasive. We also steer clear of ash, now that emerald ash borer has moved through the state, If tree-of-heaven is sprouting along your fence line, we can take it out while we are there, since it is the main host for spotted lanternfly.
Small lots need careful placement
Many Woodbridge homes are postwar Capes, ranches and split-levels on modest lots, with sewer laterals running to the street and overhead wires along the curb or the back line. A large shade tree needs room. We plan around the house foundation, driveway, sidewalk, sewer line, overhead wires and the neighbors. A big oak may be perfect in a back corner but wrong ten feet from the front steps, where a smaller tree like a serviceberry would fit better.
Before any digging, we call New Jersey One Call (811) to get underground utilities marked, as state law requires.
Storms and salt
Sewaren, Port Reading and the neighborhoods along the Arthur Kill took hard hits from Hurricane Sandy, and nor'easters still push wind and salt spray inland. Parts of town also sit right beside Route 1, Route 9, the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, where winter salt treatment is heavy. We favor trees with strong branch structure and good salt tolerance in those spots, and we prune young trees early so they grow a sturdy central leader instead of weak, tight forks.
How we plant
- Choose good stock. We look for a straight trunk, a healthy root system and no circling roots.
- Set the depth. We find the root flare and keep it at or just above grade.
- Remove wire and burlap from the top. So nothing girdles roots or trunk later.
- Stake only when needed. And remove it after one growing season.
- Mulch right. Two to three inches spread wide, pulled back from the bark.
- Water plan. Deep, slow watering through the first two summers, with a watering bag on larger trees.
When to plant
Fall, from mid-September to early November, is our favorite time in central Jersey. Warm soil and cool air let roots grow without heat stress. Early spring, before leaves open, is the second-best window. Summer planting is possible with careful watering, but we avoid stretches of heat waves.
Common questions
Can you plant where we just had a tree removed? Yes. We grind the stump and usually set the new tree a few feet away from it.
How large a tree can you plant? Anything from small container trees you could carry to larger balled-and-burlapped trees that need equipment to set. Bigger trees give instant impact, but smaller ones often root in faster and catch up within a few years.
Do you work outside Woodbridge? Yes, including Edison, Metuchen, Rahway, Carteret and Perth Amboy.