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