What To Look For When You Choose A Tree From The Nursery

Choosing trees for your garden can be fun, but choosing the right tree is a critical step in the process. Few acts bring more satisfaction than planting a tree. It’s an optimistic wager on the future. Digging the planting hole, installing the young tree, and watering and tending it bring a great sense of happiness and fulfillment. Wondering how to choose a tree? We’ll give you lots of tips to help make the experience a total success.

Planting a tree sounds like such a simple project. But there are lots of different considerations that should be taken into account when choosing trees for your garden. These include size limitations, tree attributes, disease and pest aspects, and questions about invasiveness.

It is clear that not every tree will be an appropriate size for every space. If you have a small cottage garden, a coastal redwood or even a sugar maple will be way too large to squeeze in. Before considering tree species, get out a tape measure and determine how much room the tree will have in every direction. Be sure to look skyward as well to determine whether electric wires can limit the height.

Some trees grow best in a direct sun location, and most fruit trees require lots of sun to produce fruit. But trees that grow in the wild as understory trees will not be happy with too much sun, and prefer dappled sun or even partial shade. Evaluate the planting site with these thoughts in mind. While you’re out there, check out the soil too – is it sand, loam or clay? And consider the wind exposure. Selecting a tree that likes the conditions you can offer is half the battle.

If you have a large landscape, the debris a tree drops may not affect you. But if you are putting in one tree in a small, neat backyard, you’ll want to