Planting trees is the simplest way to uplift the look of your home and enhance your lifestyle. But before you select trees for your lawn, there are many factors to consider. Here, we will discuss some ideas about selecting trees for your lawn. To help you choose the most suitable trees for your garden.
Selecting appropriate trees for your lawns and gardens is necessary to prevent them from looking shabby and disorganized. The ideas we discuss here will aid you in selecting trees that fit your requirements and match the aesthetics of your home.
Ideas About Selecting Trees For Your Lawn
âž¾ Measure The Growing Space
Before you plant any trees on your lawn, it is crucial to consider the size of the planting area. First, you should know the width potential of the area you want to plant your tree. And consider other factors like distance from a building, fence, and other plants to know how much space your tree can fill.
Next, you should consider the height potential of the space. See that the tree doesn’t touch any powerlines above. Also, see that no branches of the tree are hanging above your home to avoid property damage. Also, ensure that the tree doesn’t shade any vegetable patches, for they require sunlight to grow.
You can choose small ornamental trees like crabapple, Redbud & Flowering Dogwood that grow about 30 feet high and 10-20 feet wide or shade trees like Oak, Maple & American Hornbeam that can be about 30-60 feet high. It depends on your planting space and requirements.
âž¾ Choose According To Your Requirement
When you apply for a job, you need to match the requirements of the employer if you want to get hired. Similarly, the perfect tree for your lawn should fulfill your specific requirements. Here are some common requirements for a tree and the trees that fulfill these requirements.
Requirements |
Trees |
Shade for your outdoor patio | Oak, American Linden, Maple & Tulip trees |
An outdoor play space for your kids. | American Hornbeam, Maple & Thornless Hawthorn |
Screening your home & protecting your privacy. | Bald Cypresses, Chinese Tallow trees, Japanese Pagoda trees & Lemon Bottlebrush |
Add more color to your landscape. | Sugar Maple, Red-Osier Dogwood, Tulip Tree & Red Maple |
A home for bees & birds. | White Oak, Crabapples & Mulberry trees |
âž¾ Choose According To The Growing ConditionsÂ
Before you plant a tree in your yard, you should check if it is compatible with the growing conditions in your garden. These conditions include the following.
- Hardiness zone of your area to see which plants can survive winters in your area.
- Amount of light the planting site will receive and the soil type in your area.
If you cannot find a tree that can grow on your lawn, consider hiring professional tree services to make your area more suitable for plants.
âž¾ Choose Less Messy Trees
If you want to avoid cleaning the mess made by some trees on your lawn, you should avoid the trees that are well-known for shedding their leaves or dropping their fruits. Such as deciduous trees ( Flowering Dogwood, Serviceberry trees, Crabapple, etc.)
Also, you should keep the sidewalks around your home in mind while selecting a tree. So you don’t have to trim back wayward branches. Choose a tree that won’t increase your work. For instance, evergreen trees like the Bay tree, Home Oak & Lawson Cypress. Or coniferous trees like Pine trees & Spruces.
âž¾ Consider Winter
Before buying any trees for your lawn, check if they are deciduous trees. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter, and you will have a completely different aesthetic for your yard during winter if you plant a deciduous tree.
If you are still willing to buy deciduous trees, know that winter will come for them and plan your landscape accordingly. If you want a lawn that looks the same throughout the year, consider planting evergreen & coniferous trees in your yard.
Bottom Line
Choosing trees for your lawn is an exciting yet tricky venture. You want to choose trees that look good while also fulfilling other requirements like providing shade, privacy, and a home for wildlife.
Our unique ideas about selecting trees for your lawn will help you in your quest to create the best garden in your area by helping you choose trees that match both your needs and requirements.