Trees play a huge role in your landscape, not just because of their physical size, but because they will last for decades to come and are unlikely to be removed. A great tree can make a landscape, whereas the wrong tree can look out of place or become overbearing.
Choosing the right sized tree for your landscape is critical for both aesthetic and practical reasons. A tree that’s too small is going to look silly and will fail to deliver the impact that you want, but a tree that’s too large can detract from the more delicate elements of your yard.
That doesn’t even begin to touch on the implications of choosing a species that grows too much, causing damage to your yard and potentially also your home. Picking the right tree is essential, and it’s a decision that you should take your time with, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to remove the tree and start over!
Thinking About the Future
Don’t rush into this decision, you will probably keep the tree for decades to come and you want to still be happy with it in the future. With this in mind, it’s often best to avoid trendy species, instead, opting for a common type of tree that you will still enjoy years from now.
You’ll also want to consider the lifespan of the tree and how large it will grow. Some families underestimate trees like oaks, ending up with huge trees that can last for generations. Think about what you want to do to space in the future, is the tree something that you want to grow and stand the test of time, or not?
Integrating Trees into Your Landscape
As well as thinking about the future, you also need to think about the now. It’s essential that you talk with a professional landscaper like ourselves so that you can understand how best to incorporate trees into your landscape. Certain species can look better in different styles of garden, but without expert knowledge, you might not know what to choose.
It’s important to realize how significant a tree is when you first buy it, how large it will grow to become and what the tree will look like at different times of the year. If you are adamant that you don’t want a bare tree, an evergreen is the best option, but if you like overreaching, thick branches then an oak might be a better option.
Positioning to Your House
Choosing where to position the tree is essential not only for the way the landscape looks but also for practical reasons of safety. The biggest trees also have the most damaging root systems, which can impact on the structural integrity of your home.
In general, you should place smaller trees closer to your home and the largest trees further away. This placement also tends to look the best because it prevents your home from becoming overshadowed by a larger tree, whereas small trees can make your home look larger and more luxurious.
You might also consider the shedding of leaves and falling branches. If the species of tree that you choose tends to lose leaves, you probably would prefer if those leaves fell to the ground rather than onto the roof of your home.
Similarly, having the risk of a significant branch falling onto your home, the cars in your driveway or the path where you family walk, is less than ideal!
Choosing a Species
Finally, you need to consider the species and genus of the tree; this will have a considerable impact on the size of the tree at different periods in its life. Small trees include; citrus trees, pine, crabapple and Japanese maple.
However, if you want a larger tree, then you could look at oak trees, spruce, sorrel and saucer magnolia. If in doubt, ask one of our experts which trees they would recommend for the space that you have, the colors that you desire and the environment in which you live.