Trees to plant in yard
Best Trees to Plant - 15 Options for the Backyard
Put Down Some Roots
1/17
Trees add much-needed shade, privacy, color, and value to your backyard. Check out this list of longstanding favorites that you can easily incorporate into your lawn design for stunning results.
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Dogwood
2/17
A dogwood tree brings beauty and interest to your backyard all year long. It flowers during spring in a profusion of white, pink, and red blossoms, and then features a lush and compact canopy of foliage in the summer. Most varieties display red foliage in the fall before dropping leaves to show off attractive branching in the winter. There’s a variety for most any zone in the United States, making it no surprise that dogwood is one of the most popular flowering trees in America.
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Saucer Magnolia
3/17
Emblazoned with pinkish-purple, saucer-shaped flowers in the early spring, saucer magnolia is a backyard showstopper.
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Sugar Maple
4/17
If you’re looking to add fall interest and color to your backyard, sugar maple is a great selection. Growing 60 to 75 feet tall, the sugar maple boasts a spreading canopy that puts on a vibrant show in autumn. Considered both a shade and an ornamental tree, it’s no wonder this is an American favorite for the yard.
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Silver Maple
5/17
In as little as five years, the silver maple tree will transform your backyard into a shady retreat. The silver undersides of its leaves not only give the silver maple its name, but also lend the tree a shimmering silver appearance in the breeze. It has a vast root system and large trunk, so be mindful to plant it away from sewer lines and walkways.
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'Green Giant' Arborvitae
6/17
Backyard privacy is important in so many places, but it's especially crucial between houses and yards in housing subdivisions.
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Weeping Cherry
7/17
Few trees are as romantic and elegant as the weeping cherry. With cascading branches festooned with white or pink blossoms in spring, this graceful tree will quickly become the highlight of any backyard. Growing 20 to 30 feet tall, with a 20- to 25-foot spread, it’s small enough to fit almost anywhere.
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Red Oak
8/17
The red oak gets its name from the brilliant leaf color it shows off in the fall. Popular for both its hardiness and beauty, it’s also a fast grower—reaching up to 75 feet tall in maturity—with a rounded canopy. For larger backyards requiring shade, red oak is an excellent choice.
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American Holly
9/17
Whether you’re looking to provide evergreen privacy for your yard or enhance your property with a singular ornamental stunner, American holly delivers. Small, white springtime blooms give way to red berries (actually drupes) in the fall, which remain throughout winter. Holly offers both visual interest and food for wildlife, attracting birds and other small creatures to your yard.
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Eastern Redbud
10/17
One of the first signs of spring is the brilliant purplish-pink flowering of the eastern redbud, but its branching pattern makes this tree just as beautiful in winter as it is the rest of the year. Growing 20 to 30 feet high, with a 30-foot spread, the eastern redbud will make a dramatic display in any backyard.
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Tulip Tree
11/17
The tulip tree, liriodendron tulipifera, does double duty as a shade tree and an ornamental.
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Paper Birch
12/17
If you are looking for a tree that will quickly make an impression, consider the paper birch. The tall and lean tree is a fast grower that can reach up to 60-feet tall. Its green leaves turn golden yellow in the fall, which creates a contrast with its white peeling bark. Native to northern North America, the paper birch can be grown in zones 2 through 7.
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Crabapple
13/17
You can enjoy the colors of a crabapple tree practically year round. In spring, flowers bloom in shades of white, pink, or red depending on the variety.
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Fringe Tree
14/17
Suitable in hardiness zones 3 through 9, the fringe tree can grow in most of the United States. It makes a showy appearance in early spring with its feathery white flowers, hence its name. While delicate looking, the fringe tree is tolerant to pollution which makes it a great pick if you live in a city or high-traffic area. You can expect the tree to grow 12 to 20 feet tall and wide.
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Washington Hawthorn
15/17
If you want to attract birds and butterflies to your yard, consider planting a Washington hawthorn. This smaller deciduous tree—it grows no taller or wider than 30 feet—has fragrant flowers in the spring and small red fruit from summer through winter that draw in the wildlife.
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Serviceberry
16/17
Serviceberry, or shadbush, is a small native tree that looks great in a landscape for every season. Tolerant to most conditions, this can be grown in zones 2 through 9. This will be one of the first trees in your yard to flower in early spring, and then fruit berries in summer. In the fall you'll get to enjoy bright red and orange leaves.
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A Tree Grows Indoors
17/17
Love the look of these stunning trees? While they’re obviously too large to bring inside, there are plenty of trees that are small and easy to grow in your house.
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Best trees for front yards: 10 varieties to suit all gardens
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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.
1. Magnolia
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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)
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'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.
3. Paper Bark Birch (Betula papyrifera)
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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’)
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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)
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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.
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)
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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)
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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.
10. Bay tree in planter
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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.
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.
How to plant a tree in the yard? Ekaterina Tamulionis answers readers' questions
Photo: Kirill Zhuravok
Residents of the district often turn to the newspaper and ask them to tell them how to plant a tree or an ornamental bush in their yard, on their native street, in the square near their house. Here is a letter that came from the Prospekt Vernadsky district.
“I want to make the lawn under the window beautiful by decorating it with lilac bushes,” a resident of st. Lobachevsky Elena Irteneva, - I heard that it is necessary to coordinate all plantings with the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow.
Ekaterina Tamulenis , Leading Engineer of the Improvement Department of the State Budgetary Institution “Housing of the Vernadsky Prospekt District”, answers questions from readers .
- All green spaces growing in the adjacent territory are inventoried by the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow (hereinafter referred to as the Department) and entered in the territory passport. Each tree and bush has its own serial number and characteristics (diameter, height, age and condition). The Department annually updates these plants in the special program "Register of Green Spaces". When new trees or shrubs are planted, they are added to the passport indicating the program according to which the planting was carried out. And trees are removed from the passport indicating the reason, for example, cutting down an emergency tree on a logging ticket.
How to take part in gardening?
Residents must submit applications and requests regarding planting trees, shrubs in the yard or on the street to the improvement department of their district state budgetary institution "Zhilischnik". The specialists of this organization go to the place where landscaping is planned, communicate with local residents, being interested in what kind of trees and shrubs they want to see next to the house, draw a diagram of future plantings and send it to the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow. Then the scheme is sent for approval to the city department of underground structures, whose employees compare the places of the proposed landings on the plan with the geo-base, on which the existing underground communications are plotted at the specified landscaping address.
About safety and quality
It is impossible to plant trees and shrubs on communications, firstly, it is dangerous, for example, in the Vernadsky Prospekt area, gas pipes pass underground, and secondly, it is not rational - during excavations, when repair work on the tracks, these plantings are removed.
Planting trees and shrubs according to city programs is carried out only by the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow. Its specialists offer for planting species of trees and shrubs that will grow well in our climate, the age of the plants is 3-5 years, they take root easily and quickly grow. In addition, dendrologists take into account the norms of the distance at which trees and shrubs can be planted so that in the future they do not interfere with each other's growth. The proposals of the residents, of course, are accepted, considered, the question of the breed composition is discussed with them.
But the most important thing is that trees and shrubs for landscaping the streets and courtyards of the city are brought only from trusted nurseries, a phytosanitary passport is issued for each plant, which indicates that the plant is of high quality - healthy. Some landscaping enthusiasts dig up trees and shrubs from the forest, bring them from country cottages and plant them in their backyard.
Trends of the time
- Ekaterina Viktorovna, how many trees and shrubs are there in the Vernadsky Prospekt area today, what species do the residents prefer and what is planned to be planted this year?
- In the territory under the jurisdiction of the State Budgetary Institution "Housing of the Prospekt Vernadsky District", grow: 30,300 trees and 41,039 shrubs. Under the Million Trees program, this autumn we plan to plant: lindens, mountain ash, pines, Norway maples - a total of 18 trees and 1080 shrubs - spirea, lilac, cotoneaster bird cherry and thuja.
Top popularity
- Residents of the Prospect Vernadsky district are very fond of maple, birch, mountain ash, willow, and we plant these trees at their request. Of the shrubs are popular: hawthorn, vesicle, barberry, dog rose, spirea, mock orange. We try to diversify our green fund, if a shrub grows, for example, with white inflorescences, then we add bright colors and plant rocks with red flowers. Planting of annual flowering plants will soon begin along the central roads of the region, in particular on Leninsky Prospekt, Vernadsky Prospekt and Udaltsova Street. Spring tulips have been planted in flower beds since autumn, after they bloom, a multi-colored carpet of petunia, begonia, salvia, tagetis will appear on the flower beds.
- How often are green areas watered in summer?
After the winter, we sprinkled trees and shrubs, washed the dirt off the branches and trunks. Usually the trees have enough natural watering, but if the summer is hot, then we additionally water the trees. We regularly water the shrubs and constantly water the flower beds.
-- Rita Dolmatova
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Which trees can be planted 🏡 on the plot near the house, and which ones cannot
It is difficult to imagine a private house without a single tree on the plot. It is plants that create a sense of harmony in any space where people are going to live or already live. Usually, seedlings are selected and planted at the stage of building a house - this is done by a landscape designer, and sometimes by the owner of suburban housing.
For many years, green plantings delight the owners of the house with flowering, aroma and even delicious fruits.
Which tree species are best planted near the house and why?
The first thing you should pay attention to before planting seedlings is the climatic conditions in which you place the plant. They determine which tree is best planted in the garden. In the northern regions, it is rare to see fruit varieties that simply die in inappropriate conditions. In the south, acacias, yews, lindens and firs are common.
When choosing a garden plant, owners usually rely on its appearance. However, do not forget about the features of the root system and the structure of the trunk - they allow you to understand whether the plant is suitable for a residential area.
Based on the characteristics of the climate, it is better to choose a plant for your garden from the following unpretentious representatives.
- Birch. This well-known tree can be planted in a variety of soils, but it should be remembered that it hardly tolerates transplants. Birch is an easy-to-care plant that easily tolerates even severe frosts. Planting is best done in early spring, and if your garden is small, choose low species, such as Karelian birch. Many consider this plant to be typically Russian, but this is not entirely true. Birches are common in Europe and in some regions of the United States. In "one-story America" they often decorate the gardens of numerous private houses.
- Spruce. The evergreen coniferous tree is often used for hedges. It perfectly protects from the wind and creates a beautiful green barrier between the private area and the street. In addition, this plant has beneficial properties: the phytonicide contained in its aroma stimulates the work of the heart, nervous system and respiratory organs.According to the sign, the tree protects the inhabitants of the dwelling from quarrels and helps to control raging emotions. Only in one case it is better to refuse spruce - it is highly flammable and poses a danger to wooden houses.
- Linden. This plant is often used to create alleys, however, a lonely linden tree looks beautiful. In the 10th year of life, it begins to bloom. Linden flowers, like its bark, leaves and buds, are widely used in folk medicine. This tree can be cut and molded at any time in its life. Linden makes excellent hedges, balls, pyramids and other shapes. The plant is shade-tolerant and can improve the condition of the soil in which it grows: linden leaves contain many useful substances that fertilize the soil.
- Rowan. Among the ancient Slavs, this plant was considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity. Rowan looks very impressive even in the cold season due to bright red fruits. It is better to plant a tree where there is more sun, and make sure that the soil is not too wet.Rowan berries contain a lot of vitamin C, which makes them indispensable for folk recipes for colds and flu. Official medicine also uses the healing properties of mountain ash - mainly to create multivitamin products.
- Willow. The biggest advantage of willow is how easy it is to plant. Chopped shoots are simply stuck into the loosened earth, then they take root just as easily. Often this tree is planted next to a pond or garden path. Willow branches are also used to create arches. From several willows, you can make a beautiful alley that will protect you from the scorching rays of the sun in summer, and in winter it will become an excellent basis for a garland.
- Cherry. This profusely flowering plant in spring is surprisingly unpretentious. Cherry does not require special care, and the pleasure of contemplating it will bring many pleasant minutes to the inhabitants of the house. On the side of the cherry and folk signs - the tree is considered to bring prosperity and prosperity.At the same time, the belief says that a fire built under it increases the chances of the owners for wealth. Therefore, cherries should be planted where it is planned to organize a place for barbecue.
- In addition to trees, you can often see acacia and viburnum near houses. These are shrubs with a spreading crown, which perfectly protect the windows from the sun's rays. Acacia is unpretentious, blooms beautifully and exudes a wonderful aroma. Kalina grows very quickly, and its fruits contain many medicinal substances.
We have sorted out suitable plants, but which trees should not be planted near the house? There are not so many of them, and the reasons for the negative impact have different grounds.
Tree species not best planted outside the house
- Poplar. This plant rightfully occupies the top of the anti-rating. Poplar is extremely undesirable in a small private garden: its trunk is hollow and fragile, so a strong gust of wind can easily break it.This is fraught with consequences for the house and its inhabitants, as well as for the car, gazebo and other objects in the garden. In addition, many people are allergic to poplar fluff.
- Oak. Esotericists and pragmatists converge here. On the one hand, the belief says that the oak is a danger to the head of the family - if he is not too strong in body and spirit, the plant will take away his vital energy. On the other hand, this tree cannot be planted near the house: its powerful roots can violate the integrity of the foundation.
- Walnut. This plant also has a powerful root system, which poses a danger to the foundation of the house. Nuts falling from a tree can damage the roof of the house and garden buildings. The average height of a walnut is 18 meters, its crown creates a shadow under which little can grow.
- Willows and aspens are trees that esotericists and Old Believers do not recommend planting. It is believed that these plants feed on living energy and are able to "survive" from people's homes.Believe it or not - it's up to you, because there are no objective reasons to dislike willow and aspen.
So, you have decided which tree to plant in your garden. In addition to your personal preferences and natural features of plants, there are a number of rules that determine their location. The distance between plantings and their distance from the neighboring allotment are indicated in special SNiP.
Green space requirements
SNiP 30-03-97 - a regulatory document containing the rules for the development of land plots. It is in it that the distance between plantings and their remoteness from construction sites and neighboring properties are indicated. The rules also take into account the distance between the plant and underground utilities.
- According to SNiP, it is recommended to plant trees at a distance of 1.5 m from the garden path. The distance from the main building should be at least 5 m, from communications - at least 2 m.
