Trees are great. Who doesn’t love trees? They are both beautiful and functional and can help enhance any property or garden. Want proof of that? Take a drive through the nicest neighborhood in your area and it’s likely that the boulevards and homes are lined with mature trees.
If you are thinking of planting a tree or maybe several in your landscape and garden, here are five important factors to consider when selecting or planting a new tree for your property.
1. Size and Scale
The most important factor about selecting a tree would be consider the eventual size and scale of the tree and how big it will grow in maturity. Selecting the right tree for the size of the property and garden will ensure that the tree will perform well and will not have any limits put on its growth, size and shape. It makes no sense to plant a tree in a location where it will not thrive and grow successfully.
Think about the eventual size and scale of a tree when you plant and try to locate a mature tree of the same kind and variety and see how it has grown over the years and how much room it often needs to thrive. Consider how it will grow in relation to its surrounding and other nearby trees.
2. Location & Placement
As with real estate, location, location, location is another important factor to consider for new tree planting. The location of the tree will often be the greatest factor of success for the tree and its establishment. Locating a tree involves not only thinking about its eventual size and scale, but should also factor in other site conditions such as sun orientation, wind protection and privacy.
The proper light and exposure to the sun will give the tree the fuel it needs to flourish. With flowering and blooming trees, the sun is even more important to help the blooms flourish. Crape myrtle trees for example, will provide colorful blooms throughout the summer as long as they receive ample sunlight. Plant one in the shade or with restricted light and the blooms will be much less profuse and vibrant.
3. Deciduous or Evergreen
When choosing the right tree, you should also consider whether the tree is deciduous (loses it’s leaves each season) or evergreen (keeps it’s leaves through the winter.) Both deciduous and evergreen trees have their own advantages. Deciduous trees will change with the season, offering spring and fall color as well as allowing sunlight to pass through in the colder winter months. Evergreen trees are often selected for their year-round leaves to help provide privacy and screening as well as protection in the colder months.
4. Spring, Summer or Fall (and Even Winter) Color
Trees can often steal the show in a landscape when it comes to spring and fall color. Flowering shrubs and perennials usually draw the focus in the commercial landscape, but the trees are the framework for the landscape and can make an equally as impressive show.
5. Purpose
Don’t just plant a tree haphazardly. Avoid the typical builder tree planting that you see in the suburbs where a home builder will just stick in the cheapest tree possible in the middle of the yard. It often looks ridiculous, especially when your neighbors have the same tree in the same spot.
Plant it for a reason and a purpose. it can be for any number of reasons as we have discussed above such as to provide shade, spring or fall color, screening and privacy, wind protection and environmental enhancements for your home or office. The real artistry is to plant a tree that will achieve many of these benefits while creating a visually attractive look for your property and can enhance the value of your property over time.
