Trees provide focal points and serve as anchors

Trees provide many positive elements in your yard’s design and choosing the right ones is crucial. Trees provide focal points and serve as anchors for surrounding shrubs and plants. Your eye is drawn to focus in on the trees that have the most pleasing appearance. Trees are a very common method of providing privacy to your yard, both by blocking view, as well as noise and conversation, we all know our neighbors have those good ears! They will also keep street noise levels down. You may also want to consider the energy savings a tree will provide in the summer when cooling your home. A tree will absorb a considerable amount of heat from concrete and will block the sun during hot summer months.

There are many things to consider when choosing a tree for you yard. Begin by asking yourself: Why do I want a tree? For shade? Privacy? Something to look pretty, or block the view of the neighbor's less-than-lovely backyard? Here are some things that will help you make the right decision.

Size
You should take into consideration the ultimate size of the tree and allow enough room in the landscape to accommodate it. Choosing the right size tree will reward you with many years of enjoyment as the tree reaches its ultimate size and mature beauty. Size them proportionate to your yard by using small or medium-sized varieties for smaller houses and yards. On any site, put smaller trees near the house and taller ones farther out in the yard or at its edge. Planting a large tree in a tight area, such as beneath a power line or too close to a structure, can create maintenance problems or property damage. Choose small-spreading trees if you wish to locate them under overhead utility lines.

The Location you choose to plant it
Make sure you allow for branch growth and the full size of the tree in choosing where to plant them. Planting larger trees on the east, south and west sides of your home can maximize energy savings in southern climate and planting on the north side saves energy cost in the winter months in the north. Other things to consider are their root systems, such as willows, for instance, as they are particularly aggressive so they should be planted well away from structures. Ashes, red maples, white spruce, river birch and sycamore can do well in wet conditions if their other needs are met. Also, certain species shed leaves, sap, flowers, and seeds; crab apples and cherries drop fruit everywhere, tempting children and prone to sticking to your shoes. When trees are planted too close together, they cannot develop a healthy root structure as there is simply not enough space for the roots to grow.

The trees' shape, texture and color
There are trees used for privacy, small ornamental and other landscape trees and shade trees all with different shapes and color. They each provide a natural beauty of their own. Like the naturally symmetrical form of blue spruce which allows an attractive Christmas tree shape to often be produced with a minimum of shearing. Japanese Maples are usually quite small with red leaves and very attractive ornamentals. Red Maples are large and provide a large spreading canopy of shade and bring wonderful color to their fall leaves.

Climate and soil conditions
Your climate plays a very important role as to which tree species will grow well. So does your soils pH, which is a measure of its acidity, and your soil’s pH really makes a difference as to which trees will be healthy. Soils with a pH of 7.0 or greater will not grow healthy oaks and red maples. Also if the soils are heavy clay or drain slowly, that will limit species selection because many trees can not survive in these soils.

Lifespan
Different species have different life spans. For example, Maple and Oak will live it seems forever while Laurel Oak only lives about 50 years, and becomes increasingly susceptible to storm damage and disease the older it gets. Fast-growing trees will increase in height by several feet a year but typically have a shorter life span.

Care
Every kind of cultivated tree has assets that suit it for some landscape use. Each also has certain requirements critical to its survival in the yard. Giving your tree the proper amount of care and water will allow the root system to develop properly. A well developed root system means a full, lush, healthy tree! The success of your tree will also depend on how well you prepare the soil and how conscientiously you care for it.

Some people’s method of choosing a tree for their yard is to drive around town and look for ones they like and discover some of the common species that are being planted. This is not all bad but it can lead to less tree species diversity in your area.

You can also ask yourself what trees nurture your soul, fit your lifestyle, and will give you years of pleasure and enjoyment, but be aware a mature plant can look much different than a young one. Many specimens look nice as young plants, but look very different 20 years later. Others are just the opposite - they start off less appealing, but mature very nicely.

Just remember planting trees in your yard will enhance your neighborhood’s environment, produce colorful foliage and beauty and provide many years of enjoyment.


Planting trees “by the Yard”