How To Choose The Right Tree For Your Space

Would You Plant A Cactus In Alaska?

How to choose the right tree is more complicated than just picking the one with the leaves or flowers you like and placing it wherever it suits you.

Trees add beauty to your landscape, and there are hundreds of form and size combinations to choose from. Not all trees are best suited for every yard or climate. Before laying roots in your yard, you must answer several questions to choose the appropriate tree that will thrive in your yard.

Why Are You Planting A Tree ( what's it’s function)?

While trees increase property value, they also provide various benefits based on their type. Deciduous shade trees cool homes in the summer and allow the winter sun to heat homes when they lose their leaves. Evergreens can provide a windbreak or a screen for privacy. Trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Trees can reduce the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding.

How to choose the right tree for the right site conditions is the key to tree survival. Do your research before you purchase a tree.

• What are the soil conditions? Soil conditions determine which trees are suited for your property. Taking a soil sample will reveal what nutrients are present, and which plant would grow successfully.
• Exposure to the amount of available sunlight and wind will affect tree and shrub selection. Hardiness is the tree’s ability to survive extreme temperatures of a specific region. Research plants for their hardiness information in your region. Would you plant a cactus in Alaska?
• Ensure there’s adequate room to let trees grow above and below ground. Are there overhead or ground utilities that prevent planting a tree? What clearance is needed for sidewalks, driveways, and patios? What size is best for this location (how large will the tree be when full-grown)?

The top causes of tree death result from things people do, such as under- or overwatering, but the number one cause is planting the wrong tree. The arborists at Artistic Tree and Landscape Creations are available to assess your landscape’s conditions and help you choose the best tree for your yard.