by Glory Lennon

Created on: November 13, 2007   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

Now that you've made the wonderful decision to plant a tree where are you to put it? Here are some general suggestions for evaluating this important decision. Oh, yes, it is a most important decision. A tree is a major investment and a semi-permanent one as most trees outlive your average human's life span. And even those that are short lived, meaning 20 to 30 years, will be an eyesore and not the perfection it should be if it's not in the right place. The following must be carefully evaluated.

First, how big is your yard? I have four acres with my house right smack dab in the center providing me with tons of room for very large trees, I'm talking 80-100 feet high. We planted these just far enough from the house that during a winter blast any branches thrown off would not reach my dwelling. There's nothing scarier than a branch through a window during a hurricane, tornado or a nor'easter. Ask Dorothy Gail from Kansas, she'll tell you.

So, let's say your front yard is 100 feet by 100 feet. If you plant a tree on the edge of your property line you could have an 80-90 foot tall tree without it being in danger of hitting the home if the worst thing happens and it should fall entirely, not a likely thing to happen, by the way so don't freak out. That was our general rule for planting around the house. But since there are so many wonderful trees under thirty feet tall there was no need to place the truly majestic tree anywhere near the house. Thirty feet tall is a very friendly size indeed for the average half or quarter of an acre plot.

So, what if you have a postage-stamp sized yard? Does that mean you cannot have a tree? Absolutely not! There are many trees for the small yard, those barely reaching twelve feet. This is where placement becomes crucial. Even a small tree will lose its welcome if it's not placed where it can grow without causing you problems down the line.

For instance, if you like the view of your neighbor sunbathing in the nude, perhaps she's a Victoria's Secret model, then I don't suggest you place a tree that will eventually block your view. None of our trees blocked anything we didn't want blocked, like our neighbor's rusty car in a thicket of brier roses and our other neighbor who for whatever reason liked to stare at me as I worked in the garden. Creepy! A row of Colorado Blue Spruce to the rescue. No more creepy neighbor. What I wouldn't give for a neighbor who looked like Brad Pitt instead of Mr. Creepy. More's the pity.

The placement

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