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The Garden State, nestled along the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Pennsylvania, features the Northern Red Oak as its state tree. Reaching heights of up to 90 feet, sometimes 140 feet, this oak thrives in varied soil and growing conditions, preferring well-drained soil near streams. Its dark-reddish bark contrasts with its long oak leaves, turning brilliant red in autumn. While the Northern Red Oak is an option, New Jersey planters have numerous tree varieties to consider. Given its small size, ocean proximity, and dual climates, factors to consider include climate, soil type, average precipitation, irrigation, growing zones, and weather damage.
Read about the specifics for your state in the following sections. If you’re looking for some quick ideas on what to plant, consider the following trees as expert-tested and The Tree Center approved:
As property in New Jersey continues to be developed, land owners are searching for trees that will provide privacy from prying neighborly eyes and loud, unwanted noise. There are many fast growing privacy trees in New Jersey, which will quickly grow after initial planting to offer your property and family long sought-after privacy.
The Thuja Green Giant, a staple of privacy trees throughout New Jersey, is a fast-growing pine that will quickly provide a barrier between you and your neighbors. Growing between 3-5 feet a year, the Thuja Green Giant will offer your yard classic French design with minimal hassle. Alternatively, the Leyland Cypress and American Holly will also add color and privacy to your yard’s perimeter.
New Jersey, despite its small size, features two distinct climates. The Northwest region, bordering New York and Pennsylvania, has a humid continental climate, with cooler temperatures due to elevation and geographic barriers. The rest of the state experiences a warmer humid mesothermal climate. Summers are hot and humid, with statewide average highs of 85°F, while winters are cold, with average highs of 34°F. The Northwestern part of the state is significantly colder, with sub-zero temperatures common and a record low of -34°F.
Most trees require well-drained soil rich with minerals to grow. The woodland Downer soil typifies New Jersey; a dark, loamy soil, the Downer series occurs naturally with mixed oaks, hickories, and pines. In cultivation, the Downer soil usually requires additional nutrients for high value vegetables and fruits. Irrigation is usually needed to support these crops in the Downer soil Regardless of the property’s location in The Garden State, a soon-to-be tree planter can perform a simple test to determine his/her soil type.
The squeeze test is a tool pedologists (soil scientists) use to determine the type of soil in a given area. Remove the first layer of soil and grab a handful of damp (but not wet) dirt. Then, squeeze the soil in the palm of your hand. When you open your hand, the results will help you to determine your specific type of soil.
Once you know what soil type you have, you can find trees best suited to the dirt’s properties. Loam is the best soil to have, as its unique qualities make it ideal for holding and transferring water to trees.
New Jersey receives between 43 to 51 inches of rainfall annually, and it is evenly distributed throughout the course of the year. Between 3 and 5 inches of precipitation falls each month, the winter months bringing snow. Snowfall amounts vary both year-to-year and regionally throughout the state. 10 to 15 inches of snow falls along the coast and in the southern portions of the state. In the northeast and central regions, between 15 and 30 inches of snow can be expected. In the northwest, which experiences a different climate than the rest of the state, more annual snowfall is expected. This region usually receives between 40 and 50 inches of snowfall annually, though this can often change year-to-year.
New Jersey’s Downer soils, which cover almost 300,000 acres of land, require additional irrigation to ensure successful crop growth. So do newly planted trees, which require consistent and controlled access to water. After transplantation, the root balls and new growth will be stressed, and this may hinder growth. Inconsistent access to water will make this worse, and any new trees will recoil from growing. Irrigation enables the planter to provide environmental and conservative access to water so as to ensure successful plant growth.
Despite its small size, New Jersey is home to five unique growing zones. A growing zone simply refers to the USDA’s determination of areas where certain plants are most likely to thrive, preferring to focus on minimal temperature ranges in which a plant can survive. The zones in New Jersey are centered around the coast and the higher elevations of the Northwest. Along the coast, temperatures do not extend below 5°F for long periods of time, and throughout most of the central and northeastern regions of the state temperatures do not leave zones 7a or 6b, meaning temperatures do not drop below 0°F to -5°F for extended periods. In the Northwest, though, temperatures will drop to as low as -15°F for extended lengths of time.
New Jersey sits along the Atlantic Ocean, and as such, it can be affected by hurricanes and tropical storms. Most recently, New Jersey was severely damaged during the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy. Winter Nor’easters are more common, and these can cause blizzards or flooding in the region. Tornadoes and earthquakes are rare, but they have been recorded infrequently.
