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How to Choose a Tree

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Planting trees is an easy and effective way to beautify your property. Trees can provide shade during summertime and protect you from harsh, chilly winds in the winter. Aside from these, they can enhance privacy all while increasing real estate values at the same time. There are plenty of choices if you’re planning to plant a tree. These depend on the size, shape, growth habits and care needed, so choose carefully, because the tree you pick will have long-lasting consequences.

When selecting a tree, the first step is to decide what kind of tree is suitable for your property and your needs. Climate and soil are important factors to consider. For example, if you plant a date palm, it might have difficulty surviving the winter season in Chicago. And a water-hungry willow would starve in the desert sands. The tree species you are planning to get should be able to flourish in your local climate and soil conditions (designated hardiness zone).

Matching tree to site is a key part of the tree selection process. What is the size of the site on which your new tree or trees will be situated? Will that spindly sapling you just bought still be able to fit after 20 or 30 years? Conversely, a willow or an oak tree, both of which grow very large when mature, may be not the best tree to plant in a small front lawn in the city. The proximity of the tree to the surrounding houses, buildings, sidewalks, driveways, utility lines, and septic systems should also be considered. If a tree is not planted in an appropriate area, the overhanging branches and extensive root growth may cause damage to nearby adjacent properties and utility lines, and incur you sizeable expenses in the bargain.

Drainage is yet another issue to consider. Young trees do best when planted in good-quality, well-drained loamy soil. Heavy clays in poorly-drained sites present particular problems, since many tree species, including firs, beeches, yellowwoods, oaks and yews will not be able to handle “wet feet”. Avoid areas where stagnant water pools around roots, since this can lead to “root rot” caused by lack of oxygen. To test the drainage of a planting area, dig a hole and fill it with water. After a couple of hours, the water should have drained away. If not, you may have problems with drainage. If this is the case, you can plant trees in raised beds of 12 to 18 inches of good quality topsoil to solve the problem.

Tree planters in new subdivisions will oftentimes meet soil quality problems. Construction materials, in addition to creating unsightly and difficult-to-work rubble, can alter the soils fertility by raising or lowering pH. Chemical and petroleum spills, which often occur during building construction, pose additional concerns. If the soil contamination is quite severe, scraping away the contaminated soil and replacing it with good quality topsoil may be the only answer.

One of the critical factors to consider, of course, is your personal taste. Think of how different kinds of new trees can enhance the attractiveness of your property. Make a list of the kinds of trees you admire, and think about how they would look in your yard or garden. Think about how the tree you selected will fill in to the planting area over time. You can make some sketches to help you decide, or if you don’t trust your own artistic talent, consult available landscape design software, or a landscape designer.

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Planting trees is an easy and effective way to beautify your property. Trees can provide shade during summertime and protect you from harsh, chilly winds in the winter. Aside from these, they can enhance privacy all while increasing real estate values at the same time. There are plenty of choices if you’re planning to plant a tree. These depend on the size, shape, growth habits and care needed, so choose carefully, because the tree you pick will have long-lasting consequences.

Tom Higgins is a researcher and writer working for http://www.plantnurserysupplies.com, where you can get all the nursery supplies at the best prices. Visit us for all your nursery needs.

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