| Choosing a landscape tree is without a doubt the | | | | Shape |
| most fateful decision as far as the garden is | | | | Before thinking of your favorite species, see in |
| concerned. The right decision can make the | | | | your mind's eye the shape of the mature tree. |
| garden, while an unwise choice is liable to turn the | | | | Whether you like it or not, its shape will visually |
| garden into a liability. Landscape professionals and | | | | affect the garden more significantly than anything |
| garden designers follow a systematic procedure | | | | other than its size. Should the tree be tall and slim |
| by which they arrive at the species of their | | | | like a Cypress, rounded, conical in shape, weeping |
| choice. By understanding this process, you can at | | | | like a Willow, or umbrella-like? |
| the very least, avoid some of the worst | | | | Deciduous or Evergreen? |
| mistakes. | | | | This is another strategic decision that precedes |
| The criteria for choosing a garden tree can be | | | | the actual choosing of the species. A well-balanced |
| grouped into three separate but related | | | | garden will contain evergreens for stability and |
| categories. The first involves the basic cultural | | | | screening, and deciduous trees for dynamic |
| requirements of the tree and takes into account | | | | change through the seasons. Deciduous species |
| such factors as temperature, shade and sun, and | | | | are generally preferred as shade trees, because |
| soil conditions. To choose a stunningly beautiful | | | | they screen the sun in the summer, while letting |
| tree that is unsuited to the climate or aspect of | | | | in its rays when out of leaf during the winter. |
| your garden is clearly a basic error. | | | | Leaf Texture and Bark |
| The second category concerns certain | | | | The foliage texture is determined by the leaf size, |
| characteristics of the tree that make it | | | | shape, and shade of green. The larger the leaves, |
| undesirable for a particular plot, like aggressive | | | | and the darker they are, the courser the leaf |
| roots, excessive litter, poisonous berries, or | | | | texture, while small, delicately shaped leaves of |
| disagreeable smell. Male specimens of the Carob | | | | brighter color, create a fine texture. It may be |
| are a good example of this last point. | | | | counter-intuitive, but the leaves' color should take |
| The designer turns to the third aspect, after the | | | | priority over that of the flowers! Similarly, the |
| first two categories have been examined and the | | | | color and texture of the bark, is more significant |
| tree's credentials deemed satisfactory. This | | | | over the 12 months of the year, than the |
| involves the suitability of the species from a | | | | ephemeral display of the tree's blooms. |
| design angle. The designer examines a number of | | | | Flowers and Decorative Fruit |
| criteria in strict order of priority. If a certain tree | | | | The starting point for the naïve and |
| "fails" in one, the designer removes it from the | | | | inexperienced, is the last port of call for the |
| shortlist. It's as simple as that. Here is an outline of | | | | professional designer. It is not that flower color is |
| the procedure that you too can follow. | | | | unimportant; on the contrary, it could be the icing |
| Size | | | | on the cake, or the little dash of basil and oregano |
| The potential tree has to have dimensions | | | | that makes all the difference to the pasta sauce. |
| appropriate to the size and scale of the plot. The | | | | It is simply, the last aspect to consider in the |
| cardinal error is to plant a species that will prove | | | | process of choosing a tree for the garden. Don't |
| too large in years to come, while believing that it | | | | forget that some of the most satisfying |
| can "always" be pruned back if necessary. Do not | | | | landscape trees, such as Oaks and Ashes, are |
| make the mistake of trying to fit the tree to the | | | | entirely lacking in showy, colorful flowers. |
| space. | | | | |