October 21, 2019 With the many different tree types, it can be hard to choose which ones to implement into your yard. If you’re shopping for trees for a new landscape or to enhance your current one, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of options available to you. One of the best ways to narrow your choices is to decide the purpose of the trees in your landscape design, so you can pick the ones that fit the description. Shade Trees This is the number one function that homeowners want from their trees in their yard. Get the shady canopy in your backyard that you’ve always dreamed of and, if planted in the right spot, lower your air conditioning bills. Shade tree types are normally tall with room to walk underneath the branches and dense with large leaves so that when air passes through the tree, it’s cooled by the leaves. Deciduous trees (those that shed their leaves annually) have bare branches in the winter, allowing sunlight to heat your home. Popular Types of Shade Trees: Ash Beech Elm Forest Eucalyptus Maple Honey Locust Willow Oak Ornamental Trees Ornamental trees are planted individually to add beauty and color to a yard. They are perfect for small spaces that need a little height and open yards that don’t have much dimension. These trees are beneficial for pollinators and birds and often have beautiful blooms at different times in the year. Just keep in mind that since these trees are meant to be focal points, there shouldn’t be too many of them. Types of Ornamental Trees: Crabapple Callery Pear Dogwood Flowering Cherry Japanese Maple Magnolia Redbud Willow Street Trees Trees that are used to line streets, walkways or driveways must be tough enough to withstand the stresses of traffic, pavement, heat and poor soil. They also need to stay short enough to fit under power lines and be able to grow in a narrow strip of earth. It is important that they don’t drop fruit, nuts or branches as that can interfere with car or foot traffic. Common Types of Street Trees: Crape Myrtle Elm Fringe tree Golden rain tree Holly Ironwood Oak Thornless honey locust Barrier Trees Barrier trees, also known as screening trees, do the job of providing a barrier from winds, noise and nearby neighbors. They are often dense and tall, to provide the most amount of shielding. These trees are useful in creating microclimates in your yard by providing extra shelter from frost and harsh weather. Screening trees are also an attractive, economical way to provide privacy and buffer out noise. The best barrier trees are columnar in shape, with branches that start near the ground. Best Barrier Trees: Spruce Pine Arborvitae Fir Holly Leyland Cypress Fruit trees Fruit trees are one of the more popular tree types with many homeowners because of the beauty of the trees in the springtime and the reward of seasonal fruits to enjoy. They usually need more pruning, pest control, and attention than other types of trees in order to produce healthy fruits. But the benefits of fruit trees outweigh the extra effort as they provide fruit annually and can increase the value of your home. Popular Fruit Trees: Apple Cherry Fig Lemon Orange Peach Plum Pear Many trees last for decades and grow more beautiful generation after generation. Make sure you select a tree that offers the best combination of qualities you will enjoy for years to come. Front Range Arborists can help you determine which types of trees would be best for your yard and provide consistent care to ensure that your yard looks stunning. Get a free quote today to get started on creating a beautiful yard accented with the perfect trees.
