by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

The mistake that people make with tree purchase for a back yard is not knowing enough about the varieties of trees available, or the growing conditions needed for them to be at their best, though also to be correctly placed so that they do not cause the home owner future problems.

PLANNING

In the planning stages, what needs to be established are important criteria. How big will that small sapling grow and how wide will it's roots stretch when it is grown ? These are important factors to think about because roots too near to the house will cause structural damage to the walls and foundations of your home.

If you have a septic tank, how will the root structure interfere with the efficiency of your septic tank ? These are important questions to ask, though some trees actually help the efficiency of a septic tank by absorbing excess moisture.

What kind of soil do you have ? Establishing the kind of soil you have will give your garden center a good idea of what will grow, or how you can improve the quality of the soil for particular kinds of trees.

How much light does your garden give to trees ? How much sunlight ? How wet is the area where you want to plan and what soil does it have ? All these factors help you make the right decisions in where to plant trees to grow at their best without harm to the plant or to your home.

CHOICE OF TREES

Conifers are delightful when they are small, although if you decide to use conifers and don't want the house filled with flying insects, choosing smaller miniature ones is a really good idea. The problem with trees that grow large is that they also block light, and can make the house dark and dismal. There is also a very positive side to trees that give shade, in that in areas of high heat, they can make the home cooler, although both the density of trees and amount of shade given do have to be taken into consideration at the time of purchase. Choose wisely the placement of trees, bearing in mind how they affect your quality of living within your home. Plant conifers far enough away not to become a nuisance, and make allowance for branch growth and full size of trees in choosing where to put them.

Smaller trees in a back yard can look every bit as stunning as larger ones if the choice is wise. Trees that give flowers are a wonderful choice for the smaller house, such as flowering cherry, and there are several different species that can flower twice a year, giving the back yard that wonderful feeling of beauty. Placing these away from

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>