How to choose the right tree
Consider height, soil conditions plus wind and salt exposure
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Many readers have asked how to select an appropriate tree for their space. I suggest:
1. Consider the tree’s ultimate height. If you have a lot of room, consider a full-sized shade tree like a red oak or sugar maple. More often in an urban setting, height is limited by hydro wires and competition for sunlight from buildings or other trees. Many trees grow narrowly (called “fastigiate”), like a columnar maple and pyramid English oak. Others mature at seven or eight metres and don’t get very broad, like an ivory silk lilac and flowering pear.
2. Flowers or no flowers? Fruit or no fruit? Flowers attract pollinating bees: that can be good for the environment and bad for people with a bee sting allergy. Fruiting trees can produce an edible crop, like an apple or pear, or be strictly ornamental, like most crab apples or the downy serviceberry
3. Soil conditions. A heavy clay soil is a tough place for many trees but not so much for mountain ash, birch or Canadian larch. Make sure water moves away from your newly planted tree.
4. Wind and salt. Many trees are not well-adapted to the n environment. Most evergreens do not like road salt while some deciduous trees are quite wind- and salt-tolerant. They include serviceberry, Norway maple (yes, I know they’ve been deemed noxious weeds but I believe they have a place in the urban landscape, away from native stands of trees), mountain ash, honey locust, some of the new introductions of sugar maple.
5. Finally, consider whether you want an evergreen (coniferous) or a leaf-producer (deciduous). An evergreen provides year-round cover, make seed-producing cones that attract birds and other wildlife, are a favourite nesting place for robins and divert the cold winter wind from your house.
A deciduous tree or large-growing shrub will grow quickly, often produces attractive flowers, creates a canopy of shade to cool down your yard and house on a hot summer day.
For more details on how to select the right tree, for your yard go to www.yourleaf.org.
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