BigTreeSupply.com: Trees and Soil Types

By Nancy Penrose

Trees get their water and nutrients from soil, which is made up of minerals and organic materials like leaves, plants and insects. Soil is one of the main factors that influence a tree’s health and growth.

There are six basic types of soil: clay, sandy, silty, loamy, chalky and peaty.

Clay soil is sticky when wet and hard when dry. There are very few air spaces between the particles that make up the clay. Because the particles are so close together, the soil drains more slowly and nutrients are retained longer. Trees that grow well in clay soil include the white pine, Norway spruce, white cedar, red maples, poplar, European larch and white ash.

Sandy soil has the largest particles of all the different types of soil. It feels dry and gritty. Water will drain quickly in sandy soil, which means nutrients will pass through the soil faster. There are several trees that will grow well in sandy soil, like the red oak, white cedar, poplar, Scotch pine, white pine, red pine and European larch.

The particles in silty soil are smaller than sandy soil and retain more moisture. Silty soil has a smooth texture that is formed by fine sediments and compacts fairly easily.

Loamy soil is a mixture of clay, sand and silty particles. It retains both moisture and nutrients, and is one of the best soils for growing plants. Loamy soil is a good growing environment for the red oak, white and green ash, sugar and red maple, white cedar, European larch, Norway spruce, white spruce and poplar.

Chalky (lime-rich) soils are extremely alkaline and drain rapidly.

Peaty soil, which is made up of partially decomposed organic matter, is acidic. It retains water but contains fewer nutrients than loamy soils.

A big tree specialist can tell you what types of trees are a good match for your planting environment. With expert advice, the tree you purchase and plant will thrive.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Seattle / Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree selection at http://bigtreesupply.com/sales-inventory/and for more tips on big trees care or installation go to arboristblog.com. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. Assists Homeowner with Difficult View Screening Situation

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a large tree nursery and tree transplant company, was asked to replace a large plant in a difficult to reach area of the client’s property.

The client’s neighbors opened up a large view corridor between the client’s windows by removing an existing hedge on their side of the fence line. Wanting a solution immediately, the client contacted Big Trees. One aspect of the project was to find a plant large enough to replace the previous hedge. The second aspect was the access into the backyard was too small for the needed equipment to handle a larger plant.

Big Trees found a larger Portugal Laurel in their nursery that fit all of the specifications needed to fill the new void. The next challenge was to figure out how to get the 3,000-pound Laurel into the backyard. After going through different options, it was decided to hire a crane and send the tree up and over the house. When the day came for the project, the crane was set up and moved the Laurel, over the house, as close to its new planting hole as possible. Once released from the crane, the Big Trees crew physically dragged the plant to its new home. The clients were thrilled to regain the privacy they desired.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees, stated, “The satisfaction we experience in situations like this never gets old for us. Some of our clients we may only work for once, and we get to make such a difference in their lives and gardens. The inside thrill for us is getting to see so many of these projects work and turn out in a wonderful fashion, and getting this similar thrill and enjoyment routinely! It’s a great feeling!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.