Free field tool / Florida yards
Read the site.
Then name the tree.
A printable worksheet for recording sun, water, exposure, utilities and mature planting space before choosing a tree.
One worksheet = one planting site. Use direct observation where possible, label uncertainty, and verify the final species against current primary guidance. Blank lines and checkboxes are intentionally printer-friendly.
Name the site
Record one precise planting area rather than describing the whole yard.
Watch light and heat
Observe on the ground where the tree would stand. A single midday reading can miss important shade.
Read water and drainage
Revisit after meaningful rain. Note both the wettest period and the dry interval that follows.
Separate salt from wind
Salt spray, salty flooding and open wind are different pressures. Record each one you can support with observation.
Map the mature envelope
Measure for the future crown and root zone, not the nursery container.
Check below ground
A clear surface is not proof of a clear digging area. Contact Sunshine 811 before excavation and follow the marks and instructions provided.
Build a three-tree shortlist
Compare candidates that fit the same measured envelope, then verify current range and site tolerances in primary sources.
Before buying
Five final questions
- Does the tree fit the measured mature height and spread?
- Do its documented light, moisture and exposure tolerances match this exact site?
- Can the roots develop without predictable conflict with paving, structures or utilities?
- Is the nursery tree structurally sound, with a visible root flare and no obvious circling roots?
- Have current local rules and underground utilities been checked before planting?
Primary starting points