Making The Best Tree Selection For Planting

(HIT) – Selection of the right tree for your property is one of the most important investment decisions that a home owner makes when landscaping a new home or replacing a tree lost to damage or disease. Because most trees have the potential to outlive the people who planted them, the impact of this decision is long-term.

Before deciding what to plant, consider the following questions:

1. Why is the tree being planted

• Do you want the tree to provide shade, fruit or seasonal color, or act as a windbreak or screen? Maybe serve more than one function?

2. What is the size and location of the planting site?

• Does the space lend itself to a large, medium or small tree?
  
• Are there overhead or below ground wires or utilities in the vicinity?
  
• Do you need to consider clearance for sidewalks, patios, or driveways?
  
• Are there other trees in the area?

3. What conditions exist?

• Is the soil deep, fertile, and well drained, or is it shallow, compacted, and infertile?
  
• How much sunlight is available?

The best time to plant trees is during the dormant season, in the fall after leaf drop or early spring before bud-break. Weather conditions are cool and allow plants to establish roots in the new location before spring rains and summer heat stimulate new top growth.

4. What type of maintanance are you willing to provide?

• Do you have time to water, fertilize, and prune the newly planted tree until it is established, or will you be relying on your garden or tree service for assistance?

Photo Courtesy of Autumn Tree Care Experts.

Homeowners who are having difficulty answering any of these questions should contact an ISA Certified Arborist in their local area for assistance. The arborist will help you to plant the "right tree in the right place" which will allow for healthy, longer-living trees that can provide maximum benefits.

For more information on tree selection or to find a Certified Arborist visit www.treesaregood.org.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill., is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around the world. To promote the importance of aboriculture, ISA manages the consumer education website, www.treesaregood.org. Also, as part of ISA’s dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the industry. For more information on ISA and Certified Arborist, visit www.isa-arbor.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center