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