A Bailey Way of Planting: Choosing Trees That Belong Where They’re Planted

Liberty Hyde Bailey believed that good horticulture begins with understanding the place. Soil, climate, wildlife, and human purpose all mattered to him - not as obstacles to overcome, but as guides. In Bailey’s view, the most successful gardens and landscapes were those that worked with their surroundings rather than against them.

That philosophy feels especially relevant each spring, when local tree sales invite us to think carefully about what we plant and why.

The Van Buren Conservation District’s annual tree sale offers species chosen specifically for southwest Michigan’s conditions. Many of the trees and shrubs available reflect exactly what Bailey encouraged: plants that belong where they are planted.

Native trees such as Black Oak are a good example of this principle in action. Oaks evolved alongside Michigan’s soils and wildlife, making them resilient, long-lived, and deeply valuable to birds and insects. Bailey often wrote about the quiet strength of trees that grow slowly but endure - and few trees embody that idea better than a native oak.

Smaller native shrubs, including American Hazelnut, Elderberry, Highbush Cranberry, and Nannyberry Viburnum, remind us that not every planting needs to be a towering tree. Bailey understood landscapes as layered systems. These shrubs offer food and shelter for wildlife, seasonal beauty for people, and adaptability for smaller spaces. They are practical plants, but also generous ones - serving many purposes at once.

The sale also includes species that demonstrate how function and beauty can coexist. New Jersey Tea, a low-growing native shrub, offers delicate blooms and ecological benefits while fitting easily into home landscapes. Fragrant Sumac provides color, texture, and ground stability, particularly on slopes or challenging sites. These are the kinds of plants Bailey praised for doing honest work without demanding constant attention.

Even non-native ornamentals, such as Common Lilac, have a place when planted thoughtfully. Bailey did not reject beauty; rather, he encouraged gardeners to understand the role each plant plays. Lilacs, long cherished in Michigan yards, remind us that cultural history is also part of a landscape’s story.

For larger needs, trees like Jack Pine serve practical purposes such as windbreaks or habitat restoration. Meanwhile, native grasses and wildflower seeds offered through conservation programs support soil health and pollinators - an approach Bailey would recognize as stewardship rather than decoration.

What unites all of these plants is intention. Bailey urged gardeners and landowners to ask simple but essential questions: Does this plant belong here? Will it thrive without constant intervention? What will it offer to the land and the people who live on it?

Choosing trees through a local conservation district helps answer those questions. These species are selected not for trend or novelty, but for compatibility with our region’s climate, soils, and ecosystems.

In the end, planting a tree is not just an act of hope - it is an act of responsibility. When we choose trees that belong where they are planted, we carry forward Liberty Hyde Bailey’s belief that horticulture is not about control, but about relationship. Rooted in place, thoughtful in choice, and mindful of the future.