Landscaping Tip: Choosing the Right Tree for Your Yard

There are many benefits to planting trees for homeowners and the environment alike. Trees can improve air quality, help reduce noise pollution, and provide shade during hot summer days.

Homeowners looking to gain more privacy, shade and diversity in their residential landscaping benefit from planting trees that will continue to grow over the years.  It’s important to choose the right tree for your yard before you plant it so that you will be able to enjoy these advantages without creating problems in your yard maintenance.

Questions to Consider

There are some basic things to consider when choosing what kind of trees work best in a backyard space:

* What size of yard?

Overall, you want to select trees that are proportionate to the size yard you have. Small yards with a huge, sprawling tree?  This will overwhelm the space and may make it difficult for other plants to thrive.  Small trees in a large yard?  May look uneven and not provide enough shade.

* What climate do we live in?

A general rule is that you should incorporate as many native plants as possible into your landscaping.  For trees, it is important that you select a tree that will do well in the area where you live.  This ensures the tree will thrive and grow with less effort.

* How much time and effort you are willing to put into maintenance?

In general, fruit trees require more effort than non-fruit trees.  They can still be part of the landscape design, though.  There are some types of trees that attract pests more than others.  Caring for these type of trees requires extra time and effort.  Neglecting pests can lead to them spreading to the rest of your plants or to your tree becoming sick.

As the tree grows, consulting local landscape professionals for tree maintenance services such as tree trimming and pruning can help ensure your tree is healthy.

These three questions will help guide what trees to select for optimal enjoyment and ease.

Type of Trees to Avoid

As a general rule, there are definitely some trees you should avoid. Trees with shallow root system or trees that are prone to rot should not be planted in your yard.  They quickly become a hazard as they grow because the trees or branches break easily and fall during winds or strong storms.  The last thing you need is a huge tree branch falling on your roof top or on a loved one.

Aside from trees with shallow root systems, you should make sure to avoid invasive trees that propagate quickly.  Most people plant a tree and want to enjoy that tree.  They don’t expect their entire yard to become overrun with them.  Invasive trees can do this and require a lot of maintenance.

Maintenance and Care

Once you know what kind of tree you will plant, it’s important to understand the type of care and maintenance it will need.   This will affect how often you have to water or fertilize the tree.  It also affects whether your yard needs more sunlight, less sun, and so on.