Landscaping TreesAre you planting new landscaping trees in your yard, or are you working around older established trees? Do you have a specific purpose for tree installation, such as to provide a wind-break or shade, or are you simply adding style and beauty to you design?
As with all landscaping plants in your backyard landscape design, it is important to know the purpose that you are trying to serve so that you are able to select the best landscaping trees for your design.
I have several well-established trees on my property which for the most part, I have decided to landscape around. One of my favorite trees is the over 50 year old Cottonwood that I have in the Northeast corner of my backyard. It’s spread is enormous in that corner, and provides a great deal of shade and protection from the wind. This type of tree however, is prone to breaks, and I have had several large branches land in my yard following a storm (large enough that they had to be cut before being moved). The tree is located about 30’ feet from my above-ground pool, so I do have some “leaf issues” throughout the year, but I’m willing to deal with it because of my love for the tree (and the pool).You’ll want to consider all aspects of the landscaping trees that you want to add to your backyard design. For example, I have a very old Chestnut Tree which is planted approximately 10-15 feet from the house (too close for my liking) and as a result, my gutters are constantly clogged, the roof of my house is covered with moss where the tree hangs over the house, and the tree is in the way of a driveway expansion that I’d like to do. Chestnut Trees are beautiful in the springtime when they bloom, but they are very messy year round. They shed sticky sacs in the early spring, from which the flowers emerge, they eventually shed the flowers in the late spring, and then seeds in the fall that are covered with a thorny coating, which my poor poochy has stepped on numerous times! I would have preferred to have that tree in one of the corners of my lot where I could enjoy it without having to deal with the mess. (The sticky sacs all over my house each year can be a little annoying to deal with.) So take all of these factors into consideration when deciding on your landscaping trees. Nature Hills Nursery (opens new window) has an unbelievable amount of live trees to choose from....over 150 species! Trees were the very first product offered by this company, and it shows in their wide selection available for purchase. Another beautiful, but messy, favorite is the Magnolia Tree. Because of it’s smaller size, it’s a good tree to plant close to the house in a corner location, but be careful as to what else is located in that area. The large petals from the flowers that bloom in spring will cover the ground once the blooming season is over. You might not want those petals to cover your driveway or patio. Another favorite of the landscaping trees is the White Birch. These tall, slender trees look very nice with accent lighting, the leaves are relatively small and easy to deal with and the tree itself does not take up a great deal of space. One of my personal favorites, which I have recently added to my backyard landscaping design, is the Sugar Maple! This is a relatively common tree often found along parkways, and it offers the most brilliant colors of orange and red in the fall.
If fall is one of your favorite seasons, this tree would be a wonderful addition to your backyard landscape design. I live in a very woodsy area, but the colors in fall are surprisingly drab. I ordered a Sugar Maple from a catalog last year, but unfortunately, it didn’t take. I was able to buy one from Steins this year, during their after Labor Day Sale (which meant I got the tree for 50% off! What a deal!) It's about 8 feet tall, and so far it's doing very well in it's new home. I was able to get it for only $20.
One way to obtain the trees that you’re looking for, if your patient enough that is, is to find a tree that your looking for in a neighbor or friends yard, and ask for a “baby” in the spring. Squirrels are constantly planting the seeds from trees throughout the yard they are located in, and there are often loads and loads of babies to be found throughout the lawn in the springtime. I have already used this method to obtain a baby from my Chestnut Tree, so when I eventually cut down the one that’s intruding on my driveway, I can plant it’s baby in a better location. Colorado Blue Spruce landscaping trees are beautiful evergreen trees that look nice throughout the year, particularly when planted in a row on one side of the property. If you're tight on space, and would like a wind-break along with a privacy border, consider planting an evergreen shrub such as an Arborvitae or a Juniper. I have a row of arborvitaes along one of my property lines. I LOVE the privacy! Gurney's Seed and Nursery (opens new window) is one of my favorite online/catalog companies to order plants from. I have purchased apple trees and blueberry bushes from them, and lots of vegetable seeds. One of my orders failed to contain an item, and I found their customer service department to be friendly and easy to reach. The problem was resolved very quickly. Take a look for yourself! Whatever decision you make, be sure that you want the tree as it will be in it's full-grown condition. Educate yourself as to how high the tree will grow, and how wide it will spread. Take into consideration the tree's root system (you wouldn't want it to uproot a driveway, or be too close to the foundation of your house), the amount of shade it will provide, and the amount of material that it will shed each year. Careful planning and preparation will ensure that you are happy with your decision for many years to come! Didn't find the landscaping trees you were looking for? Search for it here:
Henry Fields (opens new window) is another company I order from regularly. This company not only sells trees, but a little bit of everything else such as house plants, fertilizers, tree supports, and more.
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