| Planting trees is one of the easiest yet | | | | Another issue to keep in mind is the |
| effective means of giving your garden or your | | | | drainage. Young trees do best when planted in |
| yard a face-lift. Trees can provide shade | | | | good-quality, well-drained loamy soil. |
| during summertime and wind protection in | | | | Poorly-drained planting sites will give you |
| winter. Aside from these, they can also add | | | | problems, as many species of trees including |
| to the privacy of your home while boosting | | | | white firs, yellowwoods, beeches, red oaks |
| real estate values. There are plenty of | | | | and yews will not tolerate "wet feet". Avoid |
| choices if you're planning to plant a tree. | | | | areas where stagnant water pools around |
| These depend on the size, shape, growth | | | | roots, since this can lead to "root rot" |
| habits and care needed, so choose carefully, | | | | caused by lack of oxygen. To test the |
| because the tree you pick will have | | | | drainage of a planting area, dig a hole and |
| long-lasting consequences. | | | | fill it with water. If the water hasn't |
| | | | drained away in a couple of hours, drainage |
| When selecting a tree, the first step is to | | | | may be an issue. In areas where drainage is a |
| decide what kind of tree is suitable for your | | | | particular problem, planting in raised beds |
| property and your needs. Climate and soil are | | | | of 12 to 18 inches of well-drained quality |
| important factors to consider. A date palm | | | | topsoil may be a solution. |
| might have a tough time surviving a | | | | |
| Minneapolis winter. And a water-hungry willow | | | | Soil quality in new subdivisions often |
| would starve if you're living in a | | | | presents tree-planting problems. The PH level |
| perennially dry climate. The tree species you | | | | of the soil, and therefore its fertility, is |
| are planning to get should be able to | | | | often affected by construction materials and |
| flourish in your local climate and soil | | | | the resulting rubble. Chemical and petroleum |
| conditions (designated hardiness zone). | | | | spills, which often occur during building |
| | | | construction, pose additional concerns. If |
| Matching tree to site is a key part of the | | | | the soil contamination is quite severe, |
| tree selection process. What is the size of | | | | scraping away the contaminated soil and |
| the site on which your new tree or trees will | | | | replacing it with good quality topsoil may be |
| be situated? Will that spindly sapling you | | | | the only answer. |
| just bought still be able to fit after 20 or | | | | |
| 30 years? Conversely, a willow or an oak | | | | One of the critical factors to consider, of |
| tree, both of which grow very large when | | | | course, is your personal taste. The way that |
| mature, may be not the best tree to plant in | | | | your property's appearance and ambience might |
| a small front lawn in the city. The proximity | | | | be improved by the various kinds of trees |
| of the tree to the surrounding houses, | | | | should be taken into account. Make a list of |
| buildings, sidewalks, driveways, utility | | | | the kinds of trees you admire, and think |
| lines, and septic systems should also be | | | | about how they would look in your yard or |
| considered. If a tree is not planted in an | | | | garden. Consider how your selection will fill |
| appropriate area, the overhanging branches | | | | in to the planting area over time. You can |
| and extensive root growth may cause damage to | | | | make some sketches to help you decide, or if |
| nearby adjacent properties and utility lines, | | | | you don't trust your own artistic talent, |
| and incur you sizeable expenses in the | | | | consult available landscape design software, |
| bargain. | | | | or a landscape designer. |
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