David Touchon, The Cibolo Land Manager
The thick green pelage of summer growth is slowly turning a tawny brown, and the limbs are hanging low. Fall in the Texas Hill Country is the optimal time to plant, prune and organize your tree inventory. It is important to note that we are on the cusp of the Dark Season and preparing your land overlay is everything!
Much like the Vine article from a few months back there are “wildland trees” and “homestead trees”. Trees provide shade and a natural beauty to every property so who are we to judge? There will always be the Oak-vs-Elm, Maple-vs-Sweetgum, Basswood-vs-Mulberry regional debates so just plant a Pecan!
Tree companionship is a thing, and many trees often form Clumps, Stands, Thickets and Motts that buffer winds and serve as valuable screening vegetation. These seemingly unwieldy tree stands are in fact nursery areas for other types of flora and provide essential needs for many types of fauna.
Trees provide critical habitat for every critter imaginable whether woodland, riparian, marsh or grassland savanna. It is important to note that certain types of fauna will only inhabit certain types of trees due to highly specific needs and chemical interactions yet to be fully comprehended by the human mind.
Trees are durable however some trees are more durable than others. Juniper, Horse Apple and Bald Cypress are extremely durable because they are rot resistant. Trees such as the Oaks, Elms and Walnuts are considered “Hardwoods” since their wood is considerably harder due to slow growth and tighter annular rings, hence hardwood floors. The Texas Hill country is a hardwood dominant area due to rainfall hence no Forest product industry. The most marketable tree in the Texas Hill Country would be the Ashe Juniper due to its durability. Special note: Bald Cypress is a “soft wood” but not harvested for wild commercial use.
Who does not like Mast? Mast production is what many Texas Hill Country trees are known for. The two most common Mast producers are Oaks (Generally speaking) and Pecans. Mast is the much-needed food item that many wildland critters need with the approach of winter. Many hours can be spent around the homestead removing mast from your pools, but we celebrate an abundant giving of Pecans!
I cannot write about trees without my inner plant snobbery rising to the surface. Everyone has their own bias about what tree is the best so I will broach this conversation with a couple of my favorites that everyone should plant.
- Cedar Elm: the best of the best!
- Sugarberry (Hack Berry/Palo Blanco): can get gnarly but responds well to pruning and you can hedge them!
- Sycamore: tough, native and noisy
- Horse Apple: great wood weird fruit
- Escarpment Black Cherry: rare in most cases and very modest
- Pecan: Texan to the core
- Anaqua: Looks like a Live Oak but has white flowers
- Mesquite: Tough, historic and great to cook over
- Mexican Buckeye: Understory tree for sure, easily managed and purple flowers
- Special mention Gum Bumelia: Plant these trees and you will be just fine.
- Oaks: Everyone wants Oaks! Live Oaks, Red Oaks, Blackjack Oak, Spanish Oak, Lacy Oaks, Burr Oaks, Post Oaks, Chinquapin Oaks and Shin Oaks. Large Oaks motts throughout the Hill Country have been decimated by Oak Wilt, however there are countless heritage Oaks that have withstood the test of time for good reason.
Learn from your trees and understand what they are telling you through evaluation and conversation. Trees provide many things throughout the world, and I do not want to live in a world without Guacamole!
See you in the woods!
