Adding a tree to your backyard could have many benefits. Trees can provide shade, offer privacy, dampen noise, attract local wildlife and make your backyard look beautiful. On top of this, trees can help combat global warming by absorbing carbon emissions.
Of course, there are many negative consequences to choosing the wrong type of tree or planting it incorrectly. These negative consequences could outweigh the benefits. As a result, you need to make some careful considerations before planting a tree. Below are 10 tips that can help you to choose the right type of tree and plant it correctly.
Look into the growth rate
Before choosing a tree, it’s important to consider how fast it will grow. Some trees like oaks and yews grow no more than 18 inches in a year, while weeping willows and leyland cypresses can grow three to four feet per year.
If you’re looking for a big tree to add to your backyard, you may want to avoid planting a slow-growing tree from a sapling unless you’re willing to wait decades for it to mature to the right size. You can buy full-sized trees to plant in your backyard, but they are a lot more expensive to transport and plant, which is something to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
Fast-growing trees are better suited to those that want fast results, but would prefer to save money buying a sapling. Just make sure that you research the maximum height of the tree so that you know how big it could potentially get – you don’t want to be constantly cutting it back because you underestimated how large it could grow.
Grow trees in pots to restrict their growth
Aside from choosing the right tree species, there is another way to prevent a tree from getting too big. Planting trees in pots or other containers can restrict their growth – the roots only have limited space to grow and therefore the tree cannot reach its full potential size. This can allow you to explore more types of trees without having to worry about them outgrowing your backyard.
You still need to be wary of planting fast-growing trees in pots as the roots may fight to escape. In other cases, the roots may push against the bottom of the pot and lift the tree up, resulting in an unwanted leggy appearance. Choose slower-growing trees to be safe.
Growing trees in pots is also ideal for stone backyards or backyards with poor soil quality. Because you don’t have to grow the trees in the ground, you can place them on any surface.
Olive trees, Italian cypresses, apple trees, flowering dogwoods and Japanese maples are some of the most popular trees to grow in pots.
Choose evergreen trees for permanent screening
Some trees lose their leaves each year, while others never lose their leaves. It’s important to choose an evergreen tree if you’re looking for a tree to provide permanent screening.
Many people make the mistake of planting deciduous trees to provide privacy, only to realize that they offer no privacy in the winter when the leaves are gone. Deciduous trees are also bad choices if you’re looking for a tree to block out local road noise as they will only have an impact in the summer.
What are some of the best choices for evergreen trees? Pines are probably the most popular evergreen tree in backyards and can provide a lot of coverage. Magnolia trees are meanwhile a good flowering option, while holly and juniper will produce berries for attracting birds.
Choose deciduous trees to add color
Deciduous trees have the advantage of turning different colors throughout the year. In Fall, they can bring reds and oranges to your backyard. In Spring, some trees may blossom and bring hues like pink and white to your backyard (maples and cherry trees being prime examples).
Evergreen trees will maintain a uniform green appearance all year round. While some produce flowers like magnolia trees, most do not. If you want to bring a burst of color to your backyard, choose deciduous trees.
Consider the wildlife you want to attract
While most trees will attract some form of wildlife to your yard, the type of animals they tend to attract may vary depending on the species of tree. You should consider the type of wildlife that you want to attract so that you can choose the right tree.
Trees like mulberries, hawthorns and crabapples will often attract birds due to the berries they produce. Many birds will nest in these trees to be close to this food supply.
Oak trees are one of the best choices for attracting squirrels because they produce acorns. However, squirrels will also eat pine nuts from pine trees and beechnuts from beech trees.
Flowering trees like red maples, pussy willows and cherry trees are meanwhile great trees for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Some of these insects may in turn attract other animals.
Don’t forget about your neighbors
When planting a tree, it’s always important to consider how that tree will impact your neighbors. A large tree could end up blocking out sunlight or obstructing views in some cases, so you need to be careful as to where you place the tree.
Always talk to your neighbors before you plant a large tree so that you can be certain they are happy with the decision. It is unlikely you will be forced to remove the tree unless it is a hazard, although you may be required to relocate it or cut it back if enough pressure is applied.
Plant trees in Fall
September through to November is one of the best times to plant trees. If you’ve been thinking of adding a tree to your backyard, it may be worth waiting until one of these months to plant it.
Why is Fall the best time to plant a tree? Because the temperature and soil moisture levels are just right, plus deciduous trees will be dormant during this period. In Summer, the ground is often too dry and the heat results in stress, which can negatively affect growth. In Winter, the ground may become frozen or waterlogged. Planting trees in Spring is more feasible than Summer or Winter, but the weather can be more unpredictable.
Make room for the roots
When planting any tree, it’s important to consider how large the roots may grow. Trees can grow anywhere from two to four times the diameter of the crown depending on the species. As a result, there needs to be enough room around them for roots to grow.
This is why you should avoid placing trees too close to buildings so that the roots do not interfere with the foundations and cause subsidence. Trees should also be placed away from pipes – a common cause of sewer line repair is interference from roots. You should similarly be careful of other structures like patios.
When transferring a potted tree into the ground, make sure to dig a hole that is slightly wider than the pot so that the roots have room to expand out. Square holes are recommended as they encourage the roots to spread out.
Don’t plant the tree too deep
A common mistake that many people make when planting a tree is planting it too deep. While some trees do have roots that can tunnel quite deep, most roots will thrive just below the surface of the ground where there is oxygen and moisture. If you plant the tree too deep, the roots may struggle to get enough water and oxygen. There is more chance of dead roots, and these dead roots will attract pests and diseases as they decompose.
Many trees from nurseries will have soil marks on the stem telling you how deep to plant the tree. Do not exceed this to ensure that your tree grows well.
Add some mulch
Adding mulch around the base of a tree can help to maintain good soil quality. This is very important when initially planting a tree – maintaining a constant soil quality will help the tree adjust to the soil and location.
Just how does mulch improve soil quality? Mulch can help absorb excess water to prevent soil getting waterlogged, while also stopping moisture already in the soil from quickly evaporating in heat. On top of this, mulch may prevent soil getting as hot during heatwave and may prevent the ground freezing us as often in colder temperatures by trapping in heat.
On top of this, mulch can suppress various weeds from growing around your tree. By providing a layer over the ground, it can stop seeds around the base of the tree getting into the ground and germinating, as well as cutting off sunlight to weeds that are already in the ground.
What is the best mulch to place around trees? A few popular options include wood chips, pine needles, shredded bark and cocoa hulls. You can also gather leaves in the Fall to use as natural mulch.