by Peter Messerschmidt

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Trees increase the appraised value of your property.

I learned this recently, in the process of selecting a realtor to help sell my home. The fact that we had well-placed mature oak trees on the property was not only a selling point, it added almost $20,000 to our asking price, when compared to similar homes without trees.

Knowing this, it becomes important to know WHERE to plant trees in your yard. In large part, there are few hard and fast rules, but there ARE several things to consider, before making a trip to the tree nursery. First you must determine WHY you are planting trees- beyond the by now obvious "to increase property value."

Are you looking to plant something to shade the house in the summer? This affects your tree choices- both a deciduous hardwood and an evergreen could serve your purpose, but remember that shade in summer also means darkness in winter if you choose an evergreen.

Are you mostly interested in creating an aesthetically pleasing landscape? Are you mostly interested in "something pretty?" There are lots of varietals with variegated and colorful foliage, bright blooms, and fall color. There is also an abundance of shapes, from tall and slender, to low and creeping.

Are you trying to BLOCK a view- of the convenience store across the street, for example? Some trees grow rapidly, and have been cultivated specifically as good "screens." Spruce, pine, fir and some junipers are thick and evergreen, making them especially nice candidates to block an unpleasant view.

Similarly, if the facade of your house is not that attractive, "screening" it slightly with a tree might add curb appeal, but without the destructiveness of letting ivy or some other creeper grown on your house.

Perhaps you've always wanted a tree that "does" something, like a walnut, pecan or apple tree? Remember that "producing" trees also tend to produce a certain amount of mess, so they are often best planted a distance from the house. Additionally, fruit trees tend to attract insects, so you may not want that cherry tree right outside your bedroom window.

Also, be objective about who YOU are, as a gardener and a person. Some trees have "messy habits" (leaves, blooms, seed pods, etc.) and may not be a good "match" for someone who hates yard work. You may love the way a Sycamore tree looks, but remember you have to deal with a cloud of seed pods and huge leaves everywhere.

Additionally, if you're allergic to a certain kind of tree pollen, think twice about planting that kind of tree-

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