All We Are Saying Is Give Trees A Chance

Trees add interest to any landscape

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.   – Chinese Proverb

It is easy to take for granted the effect trees can have upon us, but their impact can be both aesthetic and tangible.  Just this week, The Wall Street Journal reported one study found that homes with trees planted between the sidewalk and the street sold for $7,130 more, on average, than homes without street trees.   

In landscaping terms, trees can often serve as the anchor for a yard in good and bad ways.  Eucalyptus are notorious for dropping branches on unsuspecting pedestrians and making the soil toxic for other plants.  Aspen root systems are insidious and will try to take over your yard.   Many fruit and nut trees such as the black walnut create seasonal messes and are pollen machines. 

Since a tree is likely to be a long-term commitment, picking the right species requires a little homework and patience.  Often it takes a little imagination to picture that sapling in the orchard supply store as a great strapping oak thirty years hence.

One online resource is Sunset Magazine Plant Finder.  Simply plug in your zip code, specify other parameters such as the amount of sun, water and space are available, and the website will generate a detailed list.