Which trees for the landscape? If you’re like most people, you love a beautiful tree. But did you know that trees can do much more than look good?
A well placed tree can deliver some significant benefits to your indoor and outdoor living spaces. The benefits of trees go beyond shade. You can select trees to screen unwanted light, intercept glare, divert sound, create privacy, reduce erosion and guide and deflect the wind.
A Japanese maple adds beauty to this house.
Choosing a tree requires thought and planning. Here’s how to get started on selecting trees for your landscape:
• Take some time to notice the trees in your neighbors’ landscapes. Which ones do you like most? Which ones seem out of place? • What problems do you have in your landscape that a tree might solve? • If you like a particular tree, do you have enough space for it when it reaches maturity? If not, you’ll want to select a smaller tree. • Do you want a tree that grows fast or can you wait years for it to reach maturity? Slow growers tend to have deeper roots and stronger branches and need less watering than fast growers. Of course, you have to wait longer to see them in their full glory. • Visit places with hundreds of beautiful, labeled trees. Examples include historic Green Lawn Cemetery on the south side of Columbus and The Dawes Arboretum in Licking County. You’ll get plenty of ideas and learn which varieties thrive in central Ohio.
Over time, this tree will add shade.
“It’s a good idea to take your time when selecting trees for your landscape,” says Daryl Hennessy, president of Hennessy Landscaping. "Not every tree is right for every landscape, and making a mistake can be expensive, or at least inconvenient."
The extra time to research trees is worth the effort.
"A well selected tree, planted in the right place, can bring enormous satisfaction for years to come.”
For more information, check out these tips from Ohio State University Extension on selecting and planting trees in the central Ohio landscape.
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