How To Choose Trees And Shrubs

Choosing the right tree or shrub is important since you're likely to live with your decision for years, or even decades, so don't just go to the garden center and buy whatever is pretty at the moment, tempting though it is. Instead, do some thinking about what you want.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing a tree or shrub:

What growing conditions does the tree or shrub need?

Some plants need full sun (at least 6 hours of unfiltered light) while others need at least light shade (4 to 6 hours of filtered or other shade a day). What sort of moisture does it need? What type of soil?

Do I want an evergreen plant or a plant that sheds its leaves once a year—a deciduous plant?

Evergreen trees offer more privacy and look great all year long. Deciduous trees offer ever-varying leaves, most of which change shape and/or color through the year.

How tall and/or wide will it get?

Know the plant's ultimate size and the length of time it will take to reach maturity. After all, it’s a shame to prune a tall, stately tree severely because you didn’t take telephone or power lines into account at planting time. Pruning a tree or shrub severely to reduce or drastically control size is never a good idea. Not only is heavy pruning working against nature and labor-intensive, but it's also difficult, if not impossible, to maintain a tree's lovely overall shape.

Does it have spring flowers or interest? Does it have fall color or interest, such as berries?

If the plant is a tree or large shrub, what sort of litter does it produce?

Does it drop fruits, the way some crabapples do, which can produce a hazard on sidewalks and patios and create a mess otherwise?Or does it have lots of broken little branches, the way some weeping willows do? The amount of litter a plant produces (including dropped autumn leaves) is especially important in areas around swimming pools.

What insects or diseases is it susceptible to?

If the insects or diseases are severe in your region of the country, you may want to reconsider. Check with garden center staff to be sure.

Is it a plant that wildlife will enjoy? Does it produce berries or flowers that attract birds or butterflies? Does it encourage nesting for songbirds?

How attractive is the plant to deer and rabbits?

If these animals are a problem in your area and you can provide protection for the plants, fine. If not, you should reconsider. There are a number of lists of plants that are not attractive to deer and rabbits available online. Just go to your search engine and type in "deer-resistant plants" or "rabbit-resistant plants." The most useful lists are local and usually put out by your state's cooperative extension service.