Shopping For The Perfect Tree

Tree planting is about visualising an end result and then having the energy and patience to make it a reality. It’s also about thinking before you plant.

The benefits of trees are well-known. They clean the air, which allows us to breathe, they prevent soil erosion with their strong roots, protect against wind, and shade us against the sun. Trees are equally important to wildlife as they are a source of food and a place of shelter.

The emotional value of trees is important too. Mature trees play an anchoring and peaceful role in a world that often scares us! Generously treed neighbourhoods make us feel safer, and are also quieter. Trees’ economical value is also acknowledged, and trend forecasters claim that well-chosen and cared for trees add value to properties, and that consumers tend to spend more money on consumables traded in treed streets.

Before you buy

Trees are important design elements in any garden and supply the framework around which you plant your garden. But if you choose the wrong tree they can cause damage, and great heartache if they have to be removed after years of nurturing. Planting a tree for its mature beauty should carry equal weight to the immediate purpose. Consider the following points:

If you already have trees in your garden that please you, it is much easier to choose new trees to plant. Keep to the species that are happy in your garden and climate, and rather keep to a limited variety of favourites. 

Remember the concept of ‘borrowed landscape’. If your neighbour has lovely evergreen trees that can be seen in the background, you might need to only plant smaller, flowering trees, or those with an interesting but controlled growth habit.

Obtain a copy of your property’s site plan to enable you to see exactly where underground cables and water pipes are, as these can be damaged by tree roots.