Trees

Trees are one of the most important placements you can put in your landscape design. A tree should generally always be a very attractive focal point in a garden design. There are many different reasons for planting trees. Each is unique to your own garden and taste. For example, you may plant a large shade tree to cool your house in summer from the warm effects of the sun. This helps cut down on costly air conditioning bills. In the same effect, in winter, when the leaves fall, it allows sunlight to warm your home and cut down on heating bills. Large trees can also be used on properties as a sound barrier for street noise or noisy neighbours. Also, trees can cut down on the amount of wind that blows into your garden.

In today's newer properties, the lots are smaller and homes are closer together. Trees are not only used for their attractiveness in the garden, but also used to create privacy screens from neighbours windows, patios, decks etc...

Choosing A Tree

It can be very difficult choosing a tree for your property. Here are some factors that should affect your decision.

• Type of tree you need (Coniferous/evergreen vs. Deciduous - This is based on what you need the tree to accomplish - privacy, block an ugly view, provide shade for a deck etc...)
• Type of tree you want (More based on aesthetics - Winter interest, flowering, scented, topiary/decorative, home for birds, etc...)
• Sun vs. Shade (Note: When planning your landscape design, consider that as your tree grows, it will create more shade, so the plants you select for a sunny location, may eventually be in the shade)
• Colour of the tree in all months (ie fall colour) Be aware of not just the trees on your property, but also your neighbours as well. It may be beneficial for you to plant different species than your neighbours, from a design standpoint as well as a safety standpoint, to cut down on the spread of different diseases.
• Space requirements. You should look at whether the area can withstand the trees eventual growth in its maturity. If the tree is too large for the area in its maturity, it may have to be removed which will cause a very large gap in the landscape design. Not too mention that it is quite costly to have large trees taken out. Do not focus necessarily on what the tree looks like in the nursery. When making your decision, consider the eventual size of the tree.
• Environmental Condition Requirements. The pH level of the soil (acidic or alkaline) should be consistent with what the tree requires for its optimum health. Triple Mix and compost will neutralize acidic soil, where Peat moss will add acidity for trees that require that. See the section on Soil Conditions for an easy way to test your soil.
• Type of Existing Soil. (Clay, sandy, loam, or a mixture)
• Maintenance Level. (Pruning, picking up leaves in fall, cleaning eaves troughs, fertilizing, watering and winterizing)
• Risk of disease or infestation. When choosing a tree, try to find out the history of that species of tree. Have there been a lot of diseases or insects that have caused problems with that variety? If so, are you willing to use the necessary insecticides and fungicides to solve the problem? Consider that a lot of the chemical-based products are being phased out of the market. Are there environmentally-friendly alternatives? What insects like this variety of tree?
• Drainage. Some trees thrive in very moist conditions, where other trees will flourish in dryer conditions, so take your current drainage into consideration. Never plant a tree to stop or alter your properties drainage. Never plant a tree too deep (See the section on Planting a Tree for more information on this).

It is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a tree expert (Expertrees _ ) to ensure that you get the tree you want and the tree gets a home it needs. You should only plant a tree once so save yourself the time, effort and money by using an expert for the tree selection and ideally, the installation of the tree.

Examples of Weights

• 20" (diameter of ball) wire basket weighs approximately 230 lbs
• 24" wire basket weighs approximately 350 lbs
• 28" wire basket weighs approximately 585 lbs
• 32" wire basket weighs approximately 840 lbs
• 36" wire basket weighs approximately 1060 lbs
• 40" wire basket weighs approximately 1545 lbs
• 45" wire basket weighs approximately 1860 lbs

As you can see, it quickly becomes impossible for a homeowner to plant this without assistance. Contact Expertrees for more information or for a quote.

IMPORTANT

Check the utilities around the area you plan to install the tree. The numbers in Ontario are 1-800-400-2255 or 905-709-1717, fax # is 1-800-400-8876.

Shade Tolerant - Trees and Shrubs

• Five-Leaf Aralia
• Rhododendron, Azalea
• Boxwood
• Snowberry, Coralberry
• Dogwood
• False Spirea
• Mountain Laurel
• Japanese Pieris
• Honeysuckle
• Some Hydrangeas
• Some Euonymus
• Serviceberry
• Summersweet
• Japanese Kerria
• Sweetspire
• Currants
• American Elder
• Some Viburnums
• Canadian Helmlock
• Yew

Attractive Foliage - Trees and Shrubs

• Japanese Maple
• Crimson King Maple
• Harlequin Maple
• Barberry
• Dogwood
• Purple Smokebush
• Euonymus
• False Cypress
• Juniper
• Golden Privet
• Purple Sandcherry
• Ninebark
• Golden Mock Orange
• Weigela

Impressive Flowers - Trees, Shrubs and Vines

• Chestnut
• Serviceberry
• Butterfly Bush
• Bluebeard
• Flowering Quince
• Clematis
• Summersweet
• Dogwood
• Smokebush
• Hawthorn
• Forsythia
• Witch Hazel
• Rose of Sharon
• Hydrangea
• Magnolia
• Crabapple
• Potentilla
• Flowering Cherries
• Ornamental Pear
• Rhododendron, Azalea
• Roses
• Elderberry
• Spirea
• Lilac
• Viburnum

Salt Tolerant - Trees and Shrubs

• Norway Maple
• Horse Chestnut
• Tree of Heaven
• Peashrub
• Shagbark Hickory
• Russian Olive
• Burning Bush
• White Ash
• Honey Locust
• Juniper
• Larch
• Honeysuckle
• Colorado Spruce
• Mugho Pine
• Austrian Pine
• Poplars
• Chokecherry
• Pears
• Oaks
• Staghorn Sumac
• Alpine Current
• Rugosa Rose
• False Spirea
• Mountain Ash
• Bridalwreath Spirea
• Snowberry, Coralberry
• Lilac
• Tamarisk

Good Fall Colour - Trees and Shrubs

• Amur Maple
• Japanese Maple
• Red Maple
• Sugar Maple
• Birches
• Katsura Tree
• Dogwoods
• Hawthorn
• Burning Bush
• Ashes
• Maidenhair Tree
• Larch
• Virgina Creeper
• Pin Oak
• Red Oak
• Ornamental Pear
• Sumacs
• Flowering Currant
• Shrub and Wild Roses
• Mountain Ash
• Arrowwood
• Nannybery
• Serviceberry