As another year wraps up in the capital city, it is worth looking back at the tree care topics that generated the most interest among Tallahassee homeowners. From cold-hardy palms to heritage oaks, the questions our team fielded throughout 2022 reflect the unique blend of tropical and temperate species that makes North Florida landscaping both rewarding and challenging. Here are the five topics that dominated conversations this year.
Palm tree selection and cold hardiness topped the list. After several mild winters, many homeowners pushed the boundaries of what palms they could grow, only to face losses during unexpected cold snaps. The conversation around which palms genuinely thrive in Zone 8b -- species like Sabal palms, Windmill palms, and Pindo palms -- remained a consistent theme. Related questions about palm nutrition, particularly manganese and potassium deficiencies that cause frond yellowing and browning, were also among the most frequent concerns we addressed.
Live oak care was another major topic, which is no surprise given that live oaks are the defining tree of the Tallahassee landscape. Homeowners asked about everything from proper pruning timing to avoid oak wilt transmission, to managing Spanish moss, to dealing with the massive leaf drop that occurs each spring when live oaks exchange their old foliage for new growth. Questions about preserving live oaks during construction projects also came up frequently, as residential development continues to expand into wooded areas around the city.
Camellias generated strong interest as well, particularly varieties that bloom during fall and winter when little else is flowering. Tallahassee has a long history with camellias -- Maclay Gardens is one of the premier camellia collections in the Southeast -- and homeowners increasingly want to incorporate these elegant shrubs into their own landscapes. Tea scale, a common pest on camellias in our area, was a recurring concern. Rounding out the top five were storm preparedness questions, which peak every year as hurricane season approaches, and inquiries about proper mulching techniques, including the ongoing debate about volcano mulching and why piling mulch against tree trunks causes more harm than good. These topics reflect the engaged and knowledgeable community of tree lovers that makes Tallahassee such a great place to practice arboriculture.
