Choosing a Tree for the Garden

By: Maryam Parsi

If you have a small-to-average sized garden, the decisions about what trees to plant are probably the most important landscaping decisions you will make. You might like to consider the following tips which will help you to choose the right tree for your garden.

Shade

If you want summer shade but winter sun then a deciduous tree is the best choice.

The degree of shade will determine the type of plants that will grow underneath the canopy.

Screening

If the main purpose of the tree is as a screen, then deciduous trees are not very suitable. A lightly foliaged evergreen may be a better choice.

Trees which grow too tall often provide no screen at all as the foliage is way above everyone's heads.

Roots

The degree to which tree roots create problems depends almost as much on soil type as it does on the species of tree selected.

While many trees have the capacity to cause foundations to crack, paving to lift and pipes to be invaded, some trees are particularly likely to cause damage. Avoid planting weeping willows, evergreen alders, rubber trees, umbrella trees, Chilean willows and poplars close to buildings or above pipes and drains.

Allergies

Because plants affect people differently there can be no guarantee that the trees you choose are harmless to absolutely everyone.

Litter

Trees are living things and all will drop leaves, twigs, flowers, etc. Sometimes the litter is part of the tree's charm. Deciduous trees drop their leaves all at once, evergreens drop litter constantly but in small quantities. . Keep in mind that tree litter ceases to be a problem when it simply adds to a mulched area below its canopy - and returns the nutrients to the soil where they belong.

Beauty

Choosing trees for beauty is a matter of personal taste, but try to choose one that offers more than just one desirable feature. Consider leaf colour, leaf shape, growing habit, flowers, fruits, seed pods, colour and texture of bark, aroma of leaves and/or flowers and the sound of the wind in the leaves (she-oaks sigh!)

Site

Most importantly choose a tree that suits its location - appropriate aspect, light, climate, moisture level, soil type, pH and drainage - rather than try to change the location to suit an inappropriate tree.