Planting
trees in our yards is a great thing, trees have many useful purposes.
Trees add beauty and interest to our landscape. Trees provide shade,
privacy screening and help block the wind. On a larger scale trees
slow down rain fall and run off and help prevent drainage and erosion
problems. Trees also utilize CO2 gases (which are the topic of much
discussion and controversy regarding green house effect and global
warming) and they exchange CO2 gases for oxygen which is a good thing
for other living organisms.
There
are many varieties of trees to select from and many considerations
to take into account before purchasing a tree.
•
Trees need space to grow both for their roots and the canopy of the
tree, so it is important to consider the space you have and the variety
of the tree. Some people want to have a tree be the center piece of
their landscape. Other people want to have more of a forest effect
with a number of trees planted at the minimum spacing so they blend
together. Either way it is important to plan ahead and choose the
right tree for the right spot.
• If you want to provide shade for part of your house in the
summer but allow the sun to warm your house in the winter choose a
deciduous tree that will grow large and plant it in the best spot.
If you want to screen your bedroom window from a neighbors view, you
may want to choose an evergreen that keeps its foliage year around.
Perhaps you want to enjoy beautiful blossoms in the spring or great
fall color in autumn. All these things require thought and planning.
• It may be useful to hire a Consulting Arborist to help you
determine your needs and desires and help you plan and select the
best trees for your situation and enjoyment.
You
must also consider the features of your property when planning to
plant trees. If you have a low spot in the yard that collects water
after a rain this is usually a bad spot to plant a tree. Most trees
sitting in water for a few days at a time will be sickly or die. Some
trees planted on a slope in your yard that faces south will dry out
too quickly and not get enough water because of the slope and exposure
to the sun. A wide spreading tree planted in a narrow space between
two houses will require constant pruning and be in conflict with its
natural growth patterns. Some trees that grow more commonly in a warmer
climate zone or in the under-story of a natural forest setting may
not do well exposed to cold harsh winds or direct sunlight. These
trees may need to be planted in protected areas.
Once
you have done your preplanning and determined the best trees for your
needs, desires and site location; the next step is to select the right
tree from the nursery. This topic will be covered in next month’s
article, “Planting Trees in Your Yard – Selecting the
Best tree from the Nursery.
Preservation
Tree Care Inc
At Preservation Tree Care Inc our in-depth knowledge of trees and
skill at treating them, make us leaders in the Science and Art of
Preserving Trees.
Mark
is a Board Certified Master Arborist and President of Preservation Tree
Care Inc.
