| Planting trees is one of the easiest yet effective | | | | Another issue to keep in mind is the drainage. |
| means of giving your garden or your yard a | | | | Good quality, well-drained loam soil is best for |
| face-lift. Trees can provide shade during | | | | planting young trees. Poorly-drained planting sites |
| summertime and protect you from harsh, chilly | | | | will give you problems, since many tree species, |
| winds in the winter. Aside from these, they can | | | | including firs, beeches, yellowwoods, oaks and |
| also add to the privacy of your home while | | | | yews will not be able to handle "wet feet". Avoid |
| boosting real estate values. There are plenty of | | | | areas where stagnant water pools around roots, |
| choices if you re planning to plant a tree. These | | | | since this can lead to "root rot" caused by lack of |
| depend on the size, shape, growth habits and care | | | | oxygen. To test the drainage of a planting area, |
| needed, so choose carefully, because the tree | | | | dig a hole and fill it with water. After a couple of |
| you pick will have long-lasting consequences. | | | | hours, the water should have drained away. If |
| When selecting a tree, the first step is to decide | | | | not, you may have problems with drainage. If this |
| what kind of tree is suitable for your property | | | | is the case, you can plant trees in raised beds of |
| and your needs. Climate and soil are important | | | | 12 to 18 inches of good quality topsoil to solve |
| factors to consider. For example, if you plant a | | | | the problem. |
| date palm, it might have difficulty surviving the | | | | Tree planters in new subdivisions will oftentimes |
| winter season in Chicago. And planting a willow | | | | meet soil quality problems. The PH level of the |
| that always needs an ample supply of water | | | | soil, and therefore its fertility, is often affected by |
| would not be a good idea if you're living in a | | | | construction materials and the resulting rubble. The |
| perennially dry climate. The tree species you are | | | | chemical and petroleum spills which take place |
| planning to get should be able to flourish in your | | | | during building construction also present additional |
| local climate and soil conditions (designated | | | | worries. If the soil contamination is quite severe, |
| hardiness zone). | | | | scraping away the contaminated soil and replacing |
| Another important factor in selecting a tree is | | | | it with good quality topsoil may be the only |
| matching it to the surrounding locality. Think about | | | | answer. |
| the size of the area within which your new tree | | | | One of the critical factors to consider, of course, |
| will be situated. Will that spindly sapling you just | | | | is your personal taste. The way that your |
| bought still be able to fit after 20 or 30 years? | | | | property's appearance and ambience might be |
| Conversely, a willow or an oak tree, both of | | | | improved by the various kinds of trees should be |
| which grow very large when mature, may be not | | | | taken into account. It's recommended to create a |
| the best tree to plant in a small front lawn in the | | | | list of all the trees you want or like, and imagine |
| city. The proximity of the tree to the surrounding | | | | how they would look when planted in your yard |
| houses, buildings, sidewalks, driveways, utility lines, | | | | or garden. Think about how the tree you selected |
| and septic systems should also be considered. If a | | | | would fill in the property over time. You can make |
| tree is not planted in an appropriate area, the | | | | some sketches to help you decide, or if you don't |
| overhanging branches and extensive root growth | | | | have confidence in your artistic skills, hire a |
| may cause damage to nearby adjacent properties | | | | landscape designer or get some landscape design |
| and utility lines, and incur you sizeable expenses in | | | | software. |
| the bargain. | | | | |