Growing Ohio Buckeye Trees
Growing the Ohio buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio, is a magnificent addition to your lawn or garden. With its recognizable five-fingered leaves, shiny brown nuts, and yellow spring blossoms, the Ohio buckeye tree is rarely overlooked. The most unique characteristic of the tree, however, is its ability to grow in different shapes. In the sun the plant grows as a tree, but when planted in the shade, it grows as a shrub. This versatility has obviously made the Ohio buckeye tree popular. Read below for tips on how to plant and grow your buckeye tree.
Planting
If you plant a buckeye tree when it is an infant, look for a specimen with healthy leaves, a single trunk, and roots that are spaced apart. This is to be planted in spring. The location for planting should reflect your goals for the tree. Presumably, you would like the plant to grow in its normal tree-shape, so be sure it will receive plenty of sun. Dig a hole an inch deeper than the level at which the tree was originally planted. Spread the roots evenly around the hole and use the original soil to cover it. Mulch the base, but do not fertilize.
Care and Maintenance
Water your Ohio buckeye tree weekly until mid-November. The exception is if your weekly rainfall total exceeds a half-inch, in which case you can skip watering for that week. The best way to water a buckeye tree is to lay a hose by its trunk and allow water to slowly leak out. This will allow the ground and the tree's roots to become sufficiently soaked.
Be aware of leaf scorch and leaf blotch on your Ohio buckeye tree. These are the plant's two most common diseases, but they have no long-lasting effect on it. The leaves may turn brown or drop early, but the foliage will return next spring.
These easy guidelines will help you foster a healthy Ohio buckeye tree.
