Landscaping Tips: Choose The Right Tree

The trees you choose to landscape your home not only add beauty, they can help cut energy costs by providing shade in the summer and buffering cold winds in the winter. Trees clean the air, reduce noise, create privacy and can increase a property’s value by improving the appearance.

It is important to consider a number of factors when choosing the right trees for your particular environment and the best locations to plant trees in your yard.

Environmental factors to consider:

·         Temperature. Low temperatures, especially if they occur suddenly, can freeze and kill the living cells in certain types of trees. Factors that influence temperature such as elevation and which side of a hill the tree will be planted on also need to be considered.

·         Moisture. Do you live in a dry or wet climate? Does your yard periodically flood, or is it continually exposed to the drying effect of wind? Watering can be modified on a dry site, but it is still important to know the optimal soil moisture requirements for your species.

·         Shade. Some species, like white birch and most pines, require full sunlight. Other species, like most maples, hemlocks and yews, grow well in shade.

·         Insects and disease. Every locality has its problems with particular insects or diseases. Although  it is possible to buy varieties that have been bred for resistance to a disease, it is asking for trouble planting a species which is prone to local pests because it places the tree under stress.

·         Soil. Soil depth, structure and pH, in addition to moisture, can make the difference between success or failure. For example, deep-rooted species will need adequate soil depth for their structural roots, whereas shallow-rooted species may be fine on sites with just a thin layer of soil over bedrock or hard clay.

·         Pollution. The accumulative effects of pollution can impact your trees. For example, some species are more sensitive to pollutants such as salt spray from the ocean or street de-icing.

After choosing a species that will grow well in your environment, your next consideration is where the tree should be planted in your yard, depending on whether your goal is shade, protection, or purely for cosmetic purposes.

Trees planted to provide shade provide a greater cooling effect than man-made structures because they not only block the rays of the sun, they add water to the air through transpiration. Position the tree where you want the shadow during the hottest time of the day and year.

When planting trees as windbreaks and screens, low-branching conifers that hold their foliage are most effective for screening unsightly areas and providing privacy. Noise is best

reduced by tall, densely planted trees with fleshy, broad leaves. Combining these two types can provide noise reduction as well as filter dust from adjacent street traffic year-round.

To improve your property’s appearance, one good principle is to never locate a tree where it will split your lot or a view into equal halves. To give the lot an appearance of greater depth, plant on a diagonal line outward from the front corners of the house. Trees planted behind the house and to the side will provide background. Trees with color or some other showy feature can be used as accent points. Small, narrow-crowned species will define boundaries without invading your neighbor’s space.

If you are unsure of what trees to choose to suit your goals, you can ask a certified arborist, nursery professional, urban forester, or extension agent. For more information on choosing the right tree, visit the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org or contact the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. at ww.whbagta.com.