When making your home your ideal spot, there’s more to it than just the actual house. The landscape you choose to accompany your home can greatly influence the appearance and feel of your home. From large to small, thin to bushy, there are a lot options when it comes to selecting the perfect trees to make your house feel like a home.
Deciding on what kind of tree to plant is an important choice to make. As the trees grow, they add lifelong character and appeal to your home, so you want to make sure you pick the right ones. The decision of which tree to plant has long-term implications.
Thankfully, there are some easy tips to keep in mind as you make your selection. Here, we share six things that you should think about before you grab that shovel and start planting a tree in your front yard.
Trees are wonderful. They serve a variety of purposes, from providing shade to filling in awkward space gaps to gaining additional privacy.
According to Sonoran LanDesign’s Arizona landscaping service (http://www.sonoranlandesign.com), the most important step in choosing a tree is knowing why you want to have a tree in your front yard in the first place. Not all trees are equally suited to each purpose, so if you pick out a tree without knowing if it fits that purpose, you could be stuck with a tree you don’t like.
Just like not all trees serve the same purpose, different trees grow at different rates. An article from Better Homes and Gardens notes that the tree’s growth rate may influence the decision of what kind of tree to get. The article says it’s important to scale the trees to the surroundings.
The article also adds that small and medium-sized trees are better for smaller houses and yards. And, regardless of the size of property, it’s better to put smaller trees closer to the house. Taller trees should be placed farther away from the house.
Trees also need different environments and living conditions to grow and thrive. Better Homes and Gardens notes that you’ll want to check the tree’s zone rating for hardiness.
The article also notes that many trees do well in rich soil while others prefer drier soil. Knowing what kind of soil you have around your house will help you decide which tree is best for you.
Some trees also do better in urban conditions as opposed to rural or suburban areas. Certain types of trees may be more tolerant of conditions in urban areas, including pollutants, compact soil and poor drainage. Trees in these areas tend to have a shorter life span.
Some trees may pose a danger to those around it, including children and pets or animals. Some trees have thorns. While many trees drop their leaves over the course of the year, they also may have a tendency to drop twigs, sticks and other debris that ends up in your yard. While these side droppings can be a hassle at times, the beauty of the tree may be worth the extra work.
When it comes to selecting a tree specifically for the front yard, it’s important to remember the curb appeal of a beautiful tree. An article by Anne Balogh from Landscaping Network notes that the right tree can transform your front yard. Balogh adds that trees have the power to add structural components, color, shade and scale to your front yard.
Especially when it comes to picking a tree for a small area, such as many front yards, Balogh says that you want to select a tree that acts as a focal point. However, you also do not want the tree to dominate your house.
Balogh suggests a small tree that has attention-getting features like unique branch shapes or leaves. Such options include dogwoods, weeping cherry trees and Japanese maples. Another way to get curb appeal is to select a flowering tree that adds beauty and color to your yard.
In keeping in mind curb appeal and environmental conditions, you still want to pick a tree that you love. Trees can add so much beauty to you house and should be something you enjoy looking at.
An article from Houselogic has several suggestions of trees that are great as front lawn trees. Trees like crape myrtle, sugar maple and Eastern red cedar can be great options depending on what you’re looking for. Find a style you’re going for and start looking.
If you’re ready to start landscaping in your front yard, be sure you’ve done some research first. With these six easy tips to keep in mind, you can choose a tree for your front yard that will both thrive and add beauty to your home.
