How to Place Trees Properly In Your Landscape
Landscaping and landscape design goes beyond just creating beautiful design on paper. To design a landscape well you must also be able to envision your design as a mature landscape several years down the road.
While most elements mature in a year or so and will remain what they are for years to come, the one thing that most do it yourselfers and some professionals overlook is the space that tiny little sprouts will occupy when they become mature shrubs and trees.
Trees serve a number of obvious purposes in the landscape. Creating shade, providing wind blocks, reducing noise, creating boundaries, and focal points are just a few. Once you have established where you’ll need trees for these purposes in a design, you will have several other considerations before you can decide on their permanent home.
Planting without considering the space that the mature full grown shrubs and trees will occupy can become more than just an inconvenience. It can be costly.
Here are some things to consider.
Around Play Areas
Though a shaded play area, (sand boxes, etc.) may be desired for shade from afternoon sun, you also need to consider what birds and other critters will drop right into it if the canopy extends over it.
The solution to this is to place large shade trees a distance from the area in line with the travel of the sun. If you know the trees you plant and how far the mature canopy will extend, you can still plant for shade without exposing your kids to unsanitary conditions.
Around Pools
When it comes to a pool keeping it clean is hard enough without a mess of leaves and branches. While sunny location is mostly desired for the pool area, it is sometimes desirable to have a space near the pool where one can escape the sun.
Unlike play areas though, you don’t want to shade the entire pool landscape from the afternoon sun. Therefore you should design in such a way as to create a shady area on one side or the other. This is a spot where you don’t want to use top rooting trees close to the concrete. Therefore evergreen types are usually your best bet for around pools.
Roots and Concrete Footings and Foundations
Infrequent deep watering will help deter top rooting trees some trees are still determined to seek out other sources of water. The seeking roots of large trees are a powerful force that can break sidewalks, foundations, and even lift walls out of place. This is definitely the biggest and most costly mistake people make. Know your landscaping trees before you plant them next to your home.
Parking Areas
Here’s another opportunity for roots to make havoc with your concrete or asphalt. It’s also a place where birds and critters can make a mess of things. If possible, plant in accordance with the travel of the sun but once again, know the mature canopy of your trees.
View and Perspective
Here you need to consider the view from the street and other areas and consider the purpose of your trees. If you only wish to frame or accent your home, you’ll again need to consider the mature size and placement of your plantings. Another reason for you to keep in mind the mature size of trees is to keep them in proportion to the size of your home. Large trees can dwarf a small home and small trees can look like shrubs placed around a very large home. Know the mature size of trees and keep them in perspective.
Utilities and Underground Sewers, and Septic Tanks
Know what’s overhead. Besides the roots being able to break pipes and lines, you don’t want to have to move or destroy a mature tree to fix a leak. Locate lines and plant away from them. Some trees can spread out much further underground than they do up top. Know what’s underground.
Property Lines and Easements
This one can make enemies out of neighbors.
If you’re going to make an investment in trees for your yard, look for ways to make it work for you. Properly placed large trees can shade your home and reduce your cooling costs and vise versa. You can intentionally create shade for your shady garden, screen and divide areas, reduce noise, and a world of other applications if you just give it some thought.
Continually developing “ideas for outdoor living”
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