Question: I have tried to save the tree on my front lawn after it split but have not been successful. I would like to replace it with a medium to small shade tree, with some interesting characteristics. Would you recommend a few?
Answer: Choosing a tree for today’s small suburban yards is an important decision. Your tree will be the center point of your landscape and will enhance your yard for many years to come. Planting the wrong tree may detract from your landscape and present problems not only for you but for your neighbors as well. Many new medium to smaller sized trees are more readily available and offer a greater variety for specific conditions .
A correctly planted tree should invite your guests to come have a closer look while directing them to your front door. When choosing a tree and its planting site consider the architectural style of your home, is it a one story or two story, and what are the views from inside your home? Consider all the attributes of the tree such as berries, flowering, bark, fall color, and structural shape for appeal that lasts more than one season. The following selection of trees will give you some idea of what is hardy to our area, as well as aesthetically pleasing.
The Little Leaf Linden, Tilia cordata is an ideal suburban tree. It has a pyramidal-rounded shape and dense foliage. The leaves are dark green and glossy, turning yellow in the fall. As an added bonus, in the spring the little leaf linden blooms with small fragrant flowers. It grows well in sun or partial shade and in a wide variety of soil conditions.
Another wonderful selection is the Franklinia or Franklin tree. This historic tree was discovered in 1770 by William Bartram during his travels through Georgia and named in honor of his friend Benjamin Franklin. Even though discovered in the South this tree seems to prefer to grow in the North. It is a summer bloomer with fragrant three inch camellia-like white flowers and foliage that turns a beautiful scarlet red in the fall. The shape is pyramidal and grows to a maximum of 30 feet.
Lastly, the paperbark maple is a beautiful specimen tree with peeling cinnamon-colored bark. This tree is considered a slow grower, approximately a foot a year, but definitely worth the wait. The fall foliage may vary depending on the year but can vary in color with reds and red-oranges. In the winter, when all other trees look bare, the paperbark maple is spectacular against the snow.
Trees are the most permanent and dominant plant in your landscape. With careful selection and placement you can enhance your home’s curb appeal and create a warm and inviting landscape.