Sun Or Shade? The Right Tree For Your Garden
The benefits of planting trees in your garden are plenty – in urban areas, they help to reduce ozone. They absorb CO2, helping to lower the greenhouse effect – in fact, one mature tree absorbs around 48 lbs of CO2 a year. That is the equivalent of a car driving 26,000 miles. In your garden, you need to find the right kind of tree for the conditions that you have. So what sort of tree would be right for your space?
Garden Design, as a landscape designer in Los Angeles, can help you to make a decision.
Shady gardens
Japanese acers are perfect if you have shady conditions, as they don’t like being in full sunlight – it can really damage the leaves. Acers like very sheltered conditions to protect them from frosts, and they don’t fair well in windy weather. They are very slow growing, and ideal in small spaces – you can even keep them in pots on balconies or on terraces. They have beautiful and unique foliage and are grown for their distinct fall colors. Acers have fibrous root systems, so just make sure that they are not crowded in with too many other plants, and they will thrive.
Sun traps
If your garden is in full sun, a Ginkgo Biloba, otherwise known as the Maidenhair Tree would be a perfect choice. It is a deciduous tree that originates from China and has very striking, conical leaves. The Ginkgo loves to be in full sunlight and is extremely hardy. It also tolerates air pollution, so is a good specimen if your garden is in the middle of a city. The leaves turn to a wonderful yellow color in the fall. The tree requires very little pruning and prefers well-drained soil, however it doesn’t matter what PH the soil is. It is an unusual tree that will make a statement in your garden.
Windy and exposed spaces
Having a windy garden shouldn’t put you off from planting trees, but you will need to put in varieties that are hardy. The Sycamore tree (Acer Pseudoplantaus) is an ideal choice in exposed areas – this incredible tree will even live happily where there are salty sea winds. The Sycamore looks beautiful in the fall when the normally green foliage turns to various shades of brown, orange and yellow. Planting a row of them will also provide your garden with an adequate windbreak.
No matter what your garden conditions, there is always the perfect tree. Even better, you will be planting something for the future, that can be admired for generations to come.