As Hurricane Sandy pummeled the East Coast recently, the storm uprooted thousands of trees up and down the Eastern Seaboard. The lesson? Some kinds of trees stand up better than others to wind. With winter weather approaching, we've rounded up a few favorites.
In addition to choosing a wind-resistant tree with strong branches and a hardy root system, make sure you buy varieties that thrive in your climate. Before purchasing a tree, check this Map to make sure it's recommended for your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.
Above: Also known as an American Holly tree, Ilex opaca is hardy from growing zones 5 to 9. A bare root American Holly that is from three to four feet tall is $28.99 from TN Tree Nursery. Photograph by M. Ward via Flickr.
Above: Hardy from zones 6 to 10, Crape Myrtle flourishes in the South. There are many kinds, ranging from dwarf varieties under three feet tall to 30-foot-high specimens. A large selection of Crape Myrtles is available from Nature Hills. Photograph by Monceau via Flickr.
Above: Tolerant of heat and cold, as well as of both wet and dry soils, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, also known as a Green Ash Tree, grows as tall as 60 feet in zones 3 to 9. A Green Ash tree, from four to five feet tall, is $42.83 from Nature Hills. Photograph by Edward M. Roqueta via Flickr.
Above: Reaching heights of up to 65 feet, Ginkgo Biloba 'Autumn Gold' will live longer than 150 years. Hardy from growing zones five to nine, it will tolerate poor or compacted soil; a five-to-six-foot tall tree is $59 from Forest Farm. Photograph by Obni via Flickr.
Above: Zelkova serrata, native to Asia, grows as tall as 50 feet and is hardy from growing zones 5 to 8. For a similar look, a five-to-six-foot tall Zelkova Serrata Mushashino is $59 from Forest Farm. Photograph by Christophe Ramonet via Flickr.
For more tips on weather proofing your trees, see "Surviving a Storm: Expert Tips from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden."