Why indeed?

Established shade trees add value to a landscape, and, unlike extensive landscaping, do not scare off potential buyers that don’t know phlox from fig and are genuinely frightened by the thought of maintaining your botanical masterpiece. Trees give a sense of permanence…of place. And, unless they’re planted over the septic tank, tend to last far beyond the lifespan of a humble gardener.

Let’s face a morbid fact: Gardens rarely last. Once you’ve fallen off your perch, or sold the place to buy that sailboat; or indeed are dragged away kicking and screaming by ungrateful cube-dwelling kids, there will be changes.

Perennial beds will become lawns, prize shrub collections obliterated by wild grape and honeysuckle, deer fences removed to give the place ‘that open estate feel’ (this actually happened to our current home). The herb bed your grandmother helped you plant just outside the kitchen door will be paved over with a shiny stainless steel outside kitchen (because it’s not enough to have just one, completely unused gourmet kitchen these days).

In short, your garden will fade or be forced into the mists.

Deep breath everyone.

Yet through all of this horticultural Armageddon, your trees will no doubt remain to shade the next generation, and the next. And that is why you need to plant them. There is often a fine line between the altruist and the egotist.

What to choose?

Choosing a tree is a bit more complicated than deciding what groundcover will decorate the soil at its feet – particularly if you’ve got a smaller property.

First you must decide what you need from it. Shade is often at the top of this list, followed by privacy, spring bloom, fall color, structure, impact, fruit, etc. etc..

Write down what you want, why you want it, and how tall and wide you think it should be. Be truthful with yourself on that last point. A tree that has outgrown its position is awkward and rarely suits a home. It is also rarely removed due to cost considerations. And, as it is cheaper to trim than fell, the wrong tree in the wrong place is more likely to be butchered and disfigured in the attempts to live with a very poor choice.

Instead, envision that tree from many angles: from an upstairs bedroom, from the porch, from the back of the property, from the kitchen window. There are a huge amount of fabulous small trees for the home landscape, and they’re not all dogwoods. Styrax, yellowwood, redbud, Stewartia, fringe tree, crepe myrtle, etc…

If you’ve got more property, you can indulge in trees you’ve always wanted to grow, or grow some pretty good substitutes. Cedar of Lebanon aren’t super happy with our winters, but deodar and atlas cedars sure are, and this summer I found one of each on a 75% off sale along with a weeping copper beech and a coral bark Japanese maple.

Perhaps you’re wishing to start your own woodland? You’ll be looking at a mix of both canopy and understory trees. Looking for natives? You wouldn’t believe the fantastic choices we have from tupelo to tulip poplar.

How to plant?

With few exceptions, trees are often best planted in the fall (hence the timing of this article to get you thinking before the leaves start turning). Fall rains allow roots to take advantage of still-warm soils, and dwindling pest populations ensure you won’t lose all the foliage on your sugar maple before it decides to leave of its own accord.

If you are buying your trees from a nursery, tree planting is often included in the price of the tree. If you’re shopping sales like Yours Truly, you’ll need to provide a good hole (twice as wide as the pot with 4-6 inches of soft soil in which to nestle), and amend the native soil with a small amount of organic material such as leaf mold. Watering halfway through the planting process reduces air pockets in the backfill; and mulching well (please NO mulch volcanos) means roots are set for the winter.

How to care for?

Water. Period. Ensure a weekly dose of the stuff for the first year the tree is with you. After that, water during periods of drought. It’s always an excellent idea to lightly stake a tree with cross ties, and for those of us who share our space with deer, a low cage is vital unless you’d like an expensive bit of landscaping broken in half by a rutting buck.

Been there. Twice.

There are other planting considerations of course, and while many of these are important, don’t let them send you into analysis paralysis. The sooner you get those trees in the ground, the sooner they will be shading and beautifying your world.

For more resources and help with choosing, planting and caring for your trees Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.com