Looking for the best trees to plant in PA for fall color? Pennsylvania is famous for sporting lots of colorful foliage every fall. By making careful choices, you can have that same beautiful view in your own backyard when you choose the best trees to plant in Pennsylvania for fall color.
Beyond offering fall color, trees are plain ol’ good for your yard, for a whole host of reasons.
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Improve Air Quality – Trees help reduce air pollution, absorb carbon dioxide and provide shade.
Reduce Rain Runoff – Trees will help absorb rainwater which keeps your garden from getting over-saturated.
Protect from Wind – When strategically planted, trees can block the wind and force it to go around your garden. That will help protect delicate garden plants and fruit-bearing plants.
Protect from Bad Weather – Hail and hard rain can ruin your garden if it hits at the wrong time. Trees placed in the right areas can help lessen the impact of bad weather and help save your garden.
Attracts Pollinators – We need bees to pollinate our gardens. Planting certain types of trees can help attract all kinds of pollinators, including bees. You should plant native trees, though, which will attract the right pollinators.
No matter which trees you plant, they’ll provide all of these benefits. However, only certain ones will give you the autumn color you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at five of the best trees to plant in PA for fall color.
Sugar Maple
If you’ve been “maple sugaring” at the Lancaster County Central Park, you’ve seen sugar maples up close. Sugar maples are tapped in the winter for their sap to make maple syrup. They turn a light orange color in the fall and can grow to 60 feet. (Photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli.)
Red Maple
The maple family has a large number of varieties. The red maple is very popular in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. And it does just what the name implies. In the fall, its leaves turn red. Red maples can grow to 50 feet. (Photo by Simone Roda.)
Sweetgum
All kinds of birds will flock to your sweetgum tree come winter when its spiky seed pods appear. In the fall, sweetgums put on a show of changing colors, from bright yellow, to red, then purple.(Photo by Ontologicalpuppy.)
Oaks
The oak family also includes a large variety of trees. The most popular oaks in Lancaster County are the scarlet oak, white oak and pin oak. They all bear a shade of red in the fall. (Photo by Famartin.)
Ginkgo
The ginkgo tree is very popular in our area. They’re easy to identify by their fan-shaped leaves. Ginkgo leaves turn a bright yellow in the fall. (Photo by Túrelio.)
Ready for Autumn
Any or all of these five best trees to plant in PA for fall color will give you quite a show come late September or October. If you need any assistance designing your fall garden, contact us through this website or call us at (717) 951-5951.
See also:
Best Plants for Landscaping in Pennsylvania
Front Porch Decor for Fall in Lancaster
Inspiration for Your Fall Planters in Lancaster County
Source: Penn State Extension. Featured photo: Seattle Parks.