There’s nothing like a majestic tree to enhance both the garden and the house… Still, need to choose which type of tree to choose? There are indeed all kinds: evergreen hedges, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, fragrant species, conifers, tropical plants, and much more. Difficult to choose! However, it is important to take into account a few essential criteria to determine which trees to plant near your house. The de banjaard grass gardener expert will guide you to choose the right trees.
Criteria for choosing the right trees
Several criteria come into play when it comes to choosing the trees to plant near your house. Indeed, you must make your selection according to your tastes and your desires (fragrant trees, flowering trees, evergreen trees, conifers, ornamental trees, etc.), but also according to the location, the nature of the soil in your garden, the climate of your region and the amount of sunshine on your plot.
The location: small or large gardens, immediate proximity or not to the property line, presence of overhead electrical cables or underground pipes, it is important to take these elements into account in order to choose the most suitable tree.
The nature of the soil: sand, clay, limestone, etc., the nature of the soil will also determine the spaces to be planted in your garden. Mediterranean plants, for example, like stony soils, while conifers prefer heather soil. Do not hesitate to ask your nurseryman for advice before selecting your varieties.
The climate: the climate also plays an important role in the good growth of your tree. Very decorative tropical plants, for example, will adapt more easily to a mild climate of the Mediterranean or oceanic type, just like cypress, pine, or Judas tree. In the mountains, prefer to plant lime trees, fir trees, beeches, birches, or spruces.
Sunshine: some trees will prefer to be planted facing south to receive maximum sun, while others prefer shade. The olive tree, the palm tree, and the eucalyptus, for example, need exposure to the sun, unlike the Japanese maple, the hydrangea, or the camellia, which prefer shade.
When you go to buy your tree, plant, or shrub, do not hesitate to give all this information to the nurseryman so that he can help you make the best choice. He will also give you gardening tips to help you take care of your trees. He can also advise you on watering the tree. Indeed, the quantity of water and the way of proceeding is important. Prefer slow and deep watering. For the amount of water, a well-established tree generally needs 38 liters of water for 2.5 cm in diameter. The frequency will depend on the different varieties of plants.
Which tree for which function?
Your choice should also depend on the function you are going to give to your tree. It can be a hedge that will delimit your property, a shrub that will give you edible fruits, or even a tree that will bring you lingonberry the shade you need for your summer lunches. Judiciously planted, the tree can conceal unsightly If the visual discomfort is located high up, then favor tall trees with a spreading habit, to create a really natural screen.
To isolate yourself on your terrace, opt for California privet, dogwood, or variegated common boxwood, in pots or in the ground. Their abundant foliage is ideal to prevent prying eyes. If you have installed a wooden pergola, climbing plants such as wisteria, jasmine or Virginia creeper will also be ideal for hiding you from the vis-à-vis and providing shade.
To clearly delimit your garden from that of the neighbors, install a vegetable hedge. Cedars, laurels, spindles, or even bamboos, these persistent species will protect you from prying eyes throughout the year. To hide from the vis-à-vis, remember to choose evergreen trees, plants, and shrubs, that is to say, that do not lose their foliage in autumn or winter. You thus preserve your intimacy in all seasons.
If it’s the shade you’re looking for, then the ball catalpa is the ideal tree. Medium in size, its rounded port allows it to become a real natural parasol. The ball maple, the soap tree, the Japanese cherry tree with its pink flowers, or even the Judas tree are also aesthetic alternatives for decorating and bringing shade to the garden.
Which trees for a small space in a garden?
Depending on its species, the tree will need more or less space to grow. If your garden is small, you should opt for a specimen suitable for small spaces, easy to prune, with a narrow habit, and whose roots do not extend too far or too deep. A tree with a rounded port, for example, fits more easily into your garden than a tree with a spreading port.
The olive tree is thus one of the trees to be favored on a small plot. It prunes easily and can live for several hundred years if you take care to keep its feet dry. For this, you can plant it on a layer of pebbles, and protect it with a geotextile when winter comes.
The European is also ideal for small rather shady spaces, as is the ball maple. Medium in size, its growth is slow, and its root development is quite weak. It can also be planted in a pot, to develop serenely for several years, before being replanted in the garden.
If you prefer to opt for a tree with majestic flowering, magnolias with their white starry flowers, or the Judas tree and its bright pink foliage are options to be preferred. Finally, if you live in the city center, and you only have a small piece of land, a terrace or a balcony, then potted fruit trees such as orange trees, and lemon trees.