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Common front yard trees


Find the Best Trees for Your Front Yard

A strategic tree selection and placement can provide shade, privacy, and even increase your property value. The key is to plant the right kinds of trees in the right places. Since different trees thrive in different climates, first determine your hardiness zone. With that information in hand, view our lists below to help achieve your goals.

Best Small Trees for a Front Yard

If you don’t have much space, but you still want to add beauty and interest to your small front yard, opt for an ornamental tree. These species are known for their flowers and/or fruit in the spring and beautiful foliage in the fall. Here are some of our favorites:

Best Shade Trees for a Front Yard

Do you envision sitting under a large shade tree in your front yard? If so, you need one that will mature into a tall, striking tree with a large canopy. Keep in mind that shade trees take years to fill in and require regular pruning to maintain a healthy shape and size. Our top picks include:

Best Trees for Front Yard Privacy

The ideal way to achieve a natural privacy screen is with compact conifers. Some of the best options for this purpose include:

You have many tree types to consider, and this can make the decision difficult. We can help! The Grounds Guys® can provide expert guidance on which trees would thrive in your yard and meet your goals. Find your nearest location today to get started on your project.

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Best trees for front yards: 10 varieties to suit all gardens

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By choosing the best trees for front yards, you can completely transform your front garden design. The right tree adds height to the garden landscape and creating a point of architectural interest around which the rest of the garden design can be orientated.  

However, with limited space available, selecting the right tree is key. It is important to look for a tree that can comfortably grow in a small garden – and one that will add year-round interest to your front yard landscaping ideas. 

'While really any tree can be grown in the front yard, the best varieties are those that offer some kind of ornamental value such as flower, leaf color, or general texture,' advises Blythe Yost, CEO of the online landscape design company Tilly , 'A few well placed shade trees will lend significance and grandeur to your property for years to come – they are a great investment and will do wonders for your curb appeal.'

Best trees for front yards

When choosing the best trees for front yards, it is important to first work out what you want from the tree. Do you want the tree to offer privacy or do you want it to be a stand out feature in your front yard? Are you looking for something to bring color to your outdoor space, or would you rather something low-maintenance that doesn't drop a lot of leaves come fall? Think size, too, since it's likely that you'll be looking for trees for small gardens, rather than ones suited to larger spaces.

It's also vital to factor in the conditions of your front yard – what sort of soil do you have, is it a north-facing garden or south-facing garden plot, do you have extreme summers and/or winters? All of these things will impact the long-term health and subsequent appearance of the tree – an unhealthy, drooping tree is never going to be one of the best trees for front yards.

‘Make sure the tree you select will thrive in the growing conditions. This includes the type of soil, wind, rainfall, winter cold and summer heat. Check the tag for this information as well as the mature height and spread,’ advises certified arborist and garden expert Melinda Myers . ‘Contact your University Extension service, local garden center, nature center, landscape professionals, certified arborists, or other more localized tree resources to find trees suited to their climate.’

1. Magnolia

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A herald of spring, magnolia is loved for its beautiful goblet flowers and sweet fragrance. There are lots of different varieties, from smaller varieties like Magnolia Black Tulip which reaches about 10 feet at maturity, through to evergreen cultivars such as Magnolia grandiflora that are fairly mess free and offer year-round privacy. 

Magnolia stellata is a popular choice for front yards as it has a small stature but still produces a stunning array of flowers. In fact, it can even be grown in a container so is ideal if you don't have the space to plant a tree in the ground. 

Magnolia trees are suited to USDA zones 7 to 9. One thing to note is that most magnolia trees prefer slightly acidic soil and full sun, though there are some varieties that can tolerate more neutral soil so be sure to do your research when looking for the best trees for front yards. 

2. Pink Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida rubra)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

'When I have a design request from a client that centers around planting trees, I always recommend going for species that attract pollinators and animals,' advises Jane Clarke, landscape expert from Fantastic Gardeners .

Native to Eastern US, Pink Flowering Dogwood is one of the best trees for front yards if you want to attract wildlife into your garden. In spring, its stunning pink blooms will last for up to 4 weeks. Your tree will be rich with bees and butterflies enjoying the nectar. Once its flowered, the bright green leaves of its summer foliage will turn a deep, eye-catching purple shade throughout fall. Tolerant between USDA zones 5 to 9, the berries that the Pink Flowering Dogwood produces in the cooler months will become a mainstay for feeding birds in winter.

3. Paper Bark Birch (Betula papyrifera)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Named for its beautiful white bark, which curls and peels into layers when the tree is mature, the paper bark birch would make for a beautiful centerpiece in a front yard. Famed for being the state tree of New Hampshire, it is a popular nesting site for woodpeckers, blue jay, nuthatches, chickadees and swallows. Able to thrive in gardens in USDA zones 2 through to 7, the paper bark birch is one of the best trees for front yards in colder parts of the country.  

4. Wisteria

(Image credit: Bridget Pierson)

A staple of the cottage garden, wisteria is a romantic addition to any front yard. Whether you decide to grow wisteria up the wall of your house, on an archway over your front path, or over a garden fence, it adds color and character to your home.

Most varieties are tolerant from zones 5 to 9, though Kentucky wisteria – which is native to North America rather than Asia – can be grown even in zone 3. If growing wisteria, it is important to know how to prune wisteria as this will keep it in good condition and ensure an abundance of flowers.

5. Green giant arborvitae (Thuja x. ‘Green Giant’)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're looking for an architectural, easy to care for, evergreen tree, then green giant arborvitae are one of the best trees for front yards. 'A moderately fast-growing evergreen conifer (3 feet per year), green giant arborvitae are easy to grow and low maintenance making them a great choice for front yards, especially in zones 5 to 9,' suggests Tammy Sons, CEO of TN Nurserys .

Their conical shape and their height – growing up to 60 feet tall – makes them a great focal point for year-round interest. Consider planting either side of a front porch to frame the house, then underplant with flowers and small shrubs for further interest. 

6. Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis)

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This beautiful tree is one of the prettiest trees to grow in the front yard and is suitable for planting from zones 4 through 8. Its bright pink blooms erupt at the start of spring, before the pretty heart-shaped leaves develop later in the season creating a colorful welcome to your home. Growing to 20 feet tall, and around 20 feet wide, this deciduous tree is also relatively small which makes it perfect for front yards.

7. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you are looking for a tree that produces plenty of flowers, then crape myrtle is one of the best trees for front yards. Exploding in a profusion of pink blooms in summer and retaining them well into the fall, they are popularly known as the lilac of the south.  

Tolerant in USDA zones 7 through to 10, the crape myrtle is a fairly small tree – only growing up to 15–25 feet tall – making it a great addition for small front yards. 'The Crape Myrtle trees bring a lot to the table in terms of augmenting your front yard with color that is year-round,' says Luke Kalawsky, manager of Central Phoenix Moon Valley Nurseries  . 'The Crape Myrtle is easy to care for and is moderately drought-resistant once established.

Crape myrtle needs full sun and thrive best in hot and dry conditions, so if you live in an area with high humidity, then they are best avoided as they are susceptible to mildew. 

8. Tibetan cherry tree (Prunus serrula)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tibetan cherry trees are one of the best trees for front yards due to its eye-catching color and interesting shape. Growing in zones 6 to 8, its beautiful, polished mahogany bark creates a stunning feature that adds color and interest all year around, especially come winter when the red bark pops against white snow. Then come spring, it erupts in a host of delicate white flowers, which contrast the deep red bark for a stunning display. 

9. Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're just going to have one tree in your front yard then you need to pick a hardworking variety that will make a statement. The Callery pear, also known as the flowering pear or Bradford pear starts the year with a profusion of late winter and early spring flowers, while its bright green leaves darken throughout the year, shifting to a deep orange-red hue in the fall – the quintessential fall tree. 

'The Flowering Pear is moderate to fast-growing and needs low to moderate watering once established. Flowering Pears love sun exposure and are highly resistant to fire-flight, making the tree a great choice for firescaping,' advises says Luke Kalawsky, manager of Central Phoenix Moon Valley Nursery . 

A large tree, growing up to 50 feet tall and tolerant through USDA zones 4 to 8, it is a great choice if you are also looking for a tree that will add shade and privacy to your front yard. 'Prune to maintain desired canopy shape and size, and fertilize monthly from early spring to fall to receive fullest flower potential,' continues Luke.

10. Bay tree in planter

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Even if you only have a small front yard, you can still grow trees in pots. When it comes to containers, the best trees for front yards differ slightly from the others on this list. Size becomes of vital importance, as the tree must be able to thrive with a constricted root area. Slow-growing trees are best for growing in pots as you won't have to constantly repot them.

There are lots of options for the best trees to grow in pots . Bay is a great choice for a classic, sophisticated look and fairs well in most areas. Olive trees are also popular for those looking to create a Mediterranean garden retreat, and as mentioned before, there are species of magnolia that can also thrive in pots.

What are the best trees to plant in your front yard?

Magnolia, crape myrtle and pink flowering dogwood are some of the best trees to plant in your front yard. ‘Look for trees that do not create a mess or create planting beds around them so the mess is masked by the surrounding plants,’ suggests certified arborist and garden expert Melinda Myers .

The best tree for your front yard will depend on the size of your yard, amount of growing space you have available as well as the climate and the severity of your summers and winters.

What is a good shade tree that is not messy?

Green giant arborvitae, silver dollar tree and southern magnolia are all good options that create garden shade – and are not messy. Since they are evergreen they do not loose their leaves in fall, meaning you don't have to clear up a host of fallen leaves, or worry about them creating an unattractive and slippery welcome to your home. 

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature four years ago, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

Beautiful trees for the garden: photos, how to choose, care for, arrange

October 30, 2014. Read 45400 times

Content

Many owners of their own houses, summer cottages dream of creating a beautiful and fertile garden in their backyard, where in the summer you can relax in the shade and enjoy the taste of fruits and berries from the trees. However, in order for the trees to bear as many fruits as possible, they have enough light and fertile soil, you must first choose the right trees for the size of your garden. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to choose, plant and care for a young fruit and berry or exotic garden. Also in our article will be presented high-quality photos of beautiful trees for the garden.

How to choose the right trees for your garden

First of all, let's get acquainted with the size of the trees. For small areas, it is best to choose dwarf breeds. If your garden is medium in size, then in this case you can plant fruit and berry and ornamental trees of medium and small height. For example, you can plant apple trees, hawthorn, thuja, birch, bird cherry, which do not grow above 10 meters.


Important. Trees of the varieties described above very rarely exceed the house, thereby not closing it from view. Also, branches or falling fruits will not be able to damage the roof or cladding of the house.

Before selecting trees for planting, it is necessary to pay attention to the texture of foliage and branches. You should carefully choose a landing site. For example, if you want to hide the flaws in your home, it is best to plant coniferous trees. You can plant spruce, thuja, which will close the space from prying eyes within a radius of 4 meters and become a beautiful hedge. To create shade, it is best to use broad-leaved trees, such as maple, cherry, etc.

Recommendation. Do not use tall trees in the garden that will cover other trees from the sun. In addition, some tree species such as maple or birch consume a lot of water, draining your yard, requiring additional irrigation.

Soil

Be sure to study the soil in your area, as many varieties of trees are quite demanding. Deciduous varieties of trees love moisture, such as aspen, birch. Pine from excess moisture can die. That is why for soil with excess moisture it is best to use garden special varieties of trees.

Today, the following types of trees are increasingly used for gardening:

Traditional trees

Every year there are more and more exotic and ornamental varieties of trees that allow you to decorate any garden. However, for many years traditional tree varieties have proven to be unpretentious, frost-resistant and fertile.

Traditional trees are further subdivided into:

Coniferous tree varieties for the garden:

Coniferous trees for the garden

Evergreen varieties of trees are distinguished by unfading beauty, unsurpassed aroma and unpretentiousness to living conditions.

Spruce.

To date, there are already more than 50 varieties of spruce. With the help of an evergreen tree, you can create an amazing landscape design, a beautiful hedge with an indescribable coniferous aroma.

Spruce

Spruce may be represented:

High needles

Traditional spruce can reach a height of tens of meters, for this reason, it is worth planting it only far from the house or buildings, and in the event that you have a large personal plot. There are also decorative fir trees, which, as a rule, do not grow above 5-6 meters. Spruce retains its pyramidal crown and color throughout the year.

Traditional varieties of beautiful deciduous garden trees:

Rowan
Birch

bird cherry
Chestnut

Oak
Elm

Deciduous varieties of trees will be a great decoration for every garden, creating a pleasant aroma, coolness and shade in the hot season.

Maple red

Maple Red

A very pretty tree with purple foliage that will brighten up any modern garden. With the correct formation of the crown, you can get an ornamental plant with beautiful spreading branches.

Red maple may vary:

Maple prefers the following favorable conditions:

Traditional varieties of fruit trees:

Young fruit trees

Fruit varieties of trees are distinguished by beautiful lush flowering, amazing aroma, large juicy fruits and beautiful leaves.

Pear
Peach

Plum
Cherry

Sweet cherry
Apricot

Apple tree

Red apple tree

The apple tree is the most popular garden tree in the world. Juicy and tasty fruits, beautiful lush color, unpretentiousness to the habitat allow planting an apple tree on almost any soil.

Apple trees are divided into:

Today there are several hundred different varieties of apple trees, from dwarf to tall. Depending on the degree of ripening, fruit variety, each type of apple tree requires different conditions for ripening and care.

Apple trees prefer the following favorable conditions:

Exotic trees

Unusual trees

With the help of exotic trees, you can create a colorful landscape design, where the indescribable aroma of flowering will soar.

Among the most popular and undemanding exotic trees are:

Cercis
bougainvillea

Euonymus winged
Sakura

Exotic trees prefer the following favorable conditions:

Of course, today not one landscape design can do without exotic trees and shrubs. Bright and colorful colors, great aroma and amazing appearance create an indescribable landscape in the backyard.

Bougainvillea

French ornamental wood available in 12 different varieties. Differs in amazing red flowering and pleasant aroma. Increasingly, Bougainvillea is used to decorate arbors and recreation areas. Quite unpretentious and very beautiful tree.

Bougainvillea

Shrubs

In the backyard, shrubs are increasingly our use in creating landscape design. Amazing bright flowers, pleasant aroma and the ability to create almost any form of shrubs allowed them to be used in every household plot.

The most popular and picky varieties of shrubs:

forsythia
mahonia

Rhododendron
Camellia

Barberry

Barberry

Barberry has found wide application as a decoration on the ground for landscaping. Differs in decorative mulch of a contrasting shade, easily transfers pruning and gives in to formation. Barberry is often used to create hedges. Available in purple, red, and yellow.

How to properly care for trees in the garden

In order for your trees in the garden to please you with their pleasant aroma, beautiful flowering, juicy fruits and coolness in the hot season, you need to properly care for them throughout the year.

Divide the tree care period into four seasons:

Spring . We free the trees from snow, cover up all the damage, it is necessary to carefully process and close it with a protective film. With the temperature rising above 0, we proceed to pruning trees. When the snow has melted, we harrow the soil, fertilize the trees and plant new ones. On ornamental and exotic trees and shrubs, we form a crown, structure by cutting branches. We remove protective and warming material from decorative trees and young ones. Trees can be grafted during this period. In May, we spray the buds from pests.

Summer. We spray our garden against insects and diseases. We loosen the soil, feed and fill the plants well with water. We remove weeds, in August we spray pesticides again. We harvest from fruit and berry trees.

Autumn . We collect the remaining fruits from fruit and berry trees, proceed to planting seedlings. Decorative and young trees are prepared for winter, covered with protective and insulating material.

Winter . Loose snow first needs to spud ornamental trees and shrubs.

Arrangement of trees in the garden

Depending on the size of the garden, type of soil, climate zone, trees can be planted either singly or in groups. In the event that trees are planned to be planted in a group, then it should be ensured that they form a single composition:


Brightly colored exotic and ornamental trees and shrubs can be placed in the center of the site to look beautiful from any position. It is advisable to use varieties of shrubs and trees that grow in the area. For example, with coniferous plants, tapeworms are planted in a picturesque order.

And finally, we offer you to watch the video:

Use the above recommendations, create your own fruit or exotic garden, amazing landscape design in your backyard. Good luck!


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Shady trees for your site - WikiStroy

Shady trees for your yard A site with no trees at all will look bare and the landscaping will look unfinished. There are many benefits from trees, but it is important to choose what exactly is best to plant. The RMNT website will tell you which trees provide the most shade, grow fast enough, and are great for planting. https://www.wikistroi.ru/story/landscapedesign/tienistyie-dierievia-dlia-vashiegho-uchastka https://www.wikistroi.ru/story/landscapedesign/tienistyie-dierievia-dlia-vashiegho-uchastka/@@download/image/tsjKOzas.jpg

An area with no trees at all will look bare and the landscaping will look unfinished. There are many benefits from trees, but it is important to choose what exactly is best to plant. The RMNT website will tell you which trees provide the most shade, grow fast enough, and are great for planting.


Shady, shady trees are a popular choice. Their crown is spreading, looks like a cloud and casts a shadow over a large area. Such trees have both aesthetic and practical purposes. They are beautiful in themselves, you can put a table and a bench under the crown to relax in the shade, the microclimate in the area is improving, there is more oxygen. But shady trees can take up quite a lot of space. And according to standards , from a tall tree to buildings should be at least 4 meters, from a medium-sized tree - at least 2 meters. This point must be taken into account.

If there were no trees on the site initially or you failed to save them during construction and landscaping, you can go in two ways:

  1. Buy large-sized, for questions about which portal Rmnt.ru replied . Get a ready-made adult tree that immediately gives shade. This, of course, is more expensive, but you don’t have to wait until the seedling grows.
  2. Buy a young tree, a seedling at the age of a year or two, about a meter high. We'll have to wait, in this case, the growth rate is of great importance. There are fairly fast-growing breeds and varieties that will give shade in three to four years.

If you want to get a triple benefit - and shade, and beauty, and harvest - plant fruit trees. Residents of the southern regions, of course, have much more choice. They can plant quince, apricot, cherry, tall cherries. All these trees bloom beautifully in spring, bear fruit, give shade. Mulberries with a spreading crown are unpopular among southern gardeners - there is too much debris from falling berries. Apples and pears can be planted in many Russian regions, you only need to choose varieties that are best suited for the local climate.

Important! An excellent thick shadow gives a walnut. But, firstly, because of the powerful root system, it must be planted away from any buildings, and secondly, even the ubiquitous weeds . Therefore, you will get a fairly large vacant plot of land.

In addition to fruit trees, for the sake of shade, beauty and aesthetics, you can plant on the site: