Ornamental Trees: Beautify Your Landscape All Year Round
Ornamental trees are grown for their beauty and the joy they bring to gardens. They can have stunning flowers, interesting shapes, colorful bark, or eye-catching fall foliage. Most gardens have room for at least one ornamental tree, and some can accommodate two or three. They add structure to the landscape and provide shade, making them perfect for creating focal points and enhancing the overall aesthetic of your outdoor space.
Choosing the Perfect Ornamental Tree
When selecting an ornamental tree, consider the following factors:
- Size: Make sure the tree is the right size for your landscape. You don’t want it to overwhelm the space or look out of place.
- Bloom season and duration: If you’re choosing a tree for its flowers, consider how long they will bloom. You want them to provide color and interest for as much of the year as possible.
- Location requirements: Make sure your soil is suitable for the tree and that you can provide the right amount of sun or shade.
- Surface roots: Some trees have roots that can rise above the soil and damage sidewalks or make lawn maintenance difficult.
- Litter: Some trees tend to drop a lot of leaves, fruit, or other debris. This can be a nuisance, especially if you have to clean it up regularly.
Popular Ornamental Trees
Here are a few popular ornamental trees that you might want to consider for your landscape:
- Flowering pears: These trees bloom in early spring with fragrant, white blossoms. They grow to be 30-40 feet tall.
- Crabapple: Crabapple trees are known for their colorful flowers and fruit. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one that’s perfect for your space.
- Eastern redbud: This tree has beautiful purplish-pink flower clusters in spring, yellow fall foliage, and dark brown pods in fall and winter.
- Crepe myrtle: Crepe myrtles are known for their showy blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. They are a popular choice for southern gardens.
- Weeping cherry: Weeping cherry trees have graceful branches that cascade downward. They produce delicate pink flowers in early spring.
- Flowering dogwood: This tree has lovely white or pink flower bracts that appear before the leaves emerge. Many varieties also have good fall color and glossy red fruit.
Planting and Caring for Ornamental Trees
Once you’ve chosen your ornamental tree, it’s important to plant and care for it properly. Here are a few tips:
- Planting: Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball of the tree and just as deep. Place the tree in the hole and backfill with soil, tamping down gently to remove any air pockets. Water the tree deeply after planting.
- Watering: Water your ornamental tree regularly, especially during the first year after planting. Once established, most trees can tolerate some drought, but they will perform best if they receive regular watering.
- Fertilizing: Fertilize your ornamental tree in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
- Pruning: Prune your ornamental tree as needed to remove dead or diseased branches and to shape the tree.
Ornamental Trees for Different Seasons
Ornamental trees can provide interest and beauty to your landscape all year round. Here are a few suggestions for trees that offer seasonal appeal:
- Spring: Flowering pears, crabapple, eastern redbud, weeping cherry, flowering dogwood
- Summer: Crepe myrtle, rose of Sharon, bottlebrush
- Fall: Dogwood, maple, oak, birch
- Winter: Holly, pine, fir, spruce
Tips for Small Spaces
If you have a small garden, don’t worry! There are plenty of ornamental trees that are suitable for smaller spaces. Here are a few suggestions:
- Japanese maple: These trees are known for their beautiful foliage, which comes in a variety of colors, including red, purple, and orange. They grow to be 15-25 feet tall.
- Crape myrtle: Crape myrtles are another good choice for small spaces. They grow to be 10-20 feet tall and produce showy flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white.
- Dogwood: Dogwood trees are relatively small, growing to be 15-25 feet tall. They have beautiful white or pink flowers in spring and attractive red fruit in fall.
Conclusion
Ornamental trees are a beautiful and versatile addition to any landscape. They can provide year-round interest, add structure and shade, and create focal points. By following the tips in this article, you can choose and care for the perfect ornamental trees for your garden.
