Landscaping with Trees
Landscape gardening is not a precise science, rather, it is more of an art form. The landscape gardener designs a garden which, ultimately, emulates nature, while enhancing those most beautiful elements to create a garden suitable for a variety of purposes but most pleasing to the eye. Trees are crucial in garden design, the correct placement, choosing the most suitable species for both the ground and the location, and several other factors help make the choice of tree easier. However, with so many different trees to choose from how do you decide which is best?
Evergreen Trees
There are two main types of trees, those which are evergreen (obviously remaining green and keeping their leaves all year round) and those which are deciduous (those which lose their leaves during the cooler months). The differences between the two types go beyond whether they keep their leaves or not and each group has their advantages and disadvantages.
Evergreens are usually conifers such as the popular Leyland Cypress, and it’s slower growing cousin the Golden Leyland Cypress. They usually grow in a distinctively conical shape with densely set leaves or fronds, your typical Christmas tree is an evergreen tree. Evergreens are usually fast growing and are commonly used to create screens, using evergreen trees for privacy purposes is extremely common.
While evergreens are more usually used to form hedging they can also act as superb specimens or as a centerpiece in a large lawn. The Monkey-puzzle (Araucaria araucana) tree is a popular choice and it is extremely hardy, well able to withstand windy coastal areas surprisingly well. Monkey-puzzles are very popular ornamental trees with distinctive, almost prehistoric-like, branches which produce unusual cones.
Evergreens are also widely available in dwarf form, these slow growing miniature trees and shrubs look excellent in a smaller garden. Dwarf varieties are widely used in rock gardens creating the effect of the natural world in miniature. In milder areas some landscaping architects choose to incorporate Bonsai amongst the dwarf conifers to enhance the illusion.
Deciduous Trees
As stated earlier deciduous trees lose their leaves for part of the year producing a drastic change in their appearance which. Throughout the horticultural year a deciduous tree continually changes its character bringing new dimensions to your garden. In spring many burst out in sweet smelling and highly decorative blossom, the flowering cherry tree is a truly spectacular sight and subject of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held annually in Washington DC.
Throughout the summer they are covered in lush leaves of varying hues of greens with some displaying leaves of other colors such as bronze. Come fall the color of these leaves slowly changes as they die and fall to the ground, this process can contribute to your garden’s color when all other landscaping plants are colorless or even dead/dormant.
One tree species which is highly popular for it’s distinctive leaf is the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). As the name suggests the tree is native to Japan, South Korea and China but has been introduced to most countries of the world. The Japanese Maple is a deciduous shrub that remains rather small (maximum height of about 16 m but more likely only 10 m) making it ideal for placement in the home garden where the wonderfully colorful leaves can be fully appreciated.
Suitability
When choosing trees for landscaping it is important that you take into consideration some of the points mentioned above. However it is extremely important that you also consider the fact that some trees are considered poisonous to humans. The Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) is one such tree, it produces a profusion of highly attractive yellow flowers which develop into seeds. Unfortunately these poisonous seeds, which can actually be lethal, are often eaten by children. It is therefore extremely important that you find out as much information as possible about the trees and plants you are about to use in your garden before planting.
Billy Harris was a professional landscape gardener for many years but since retirement he spends most of his time tinkering in his own garden. During the winter months he writes articles for a small number of gardening sites.
Landscaping can be done with trees such as ever green and deciduous. Special design garden tool are used to perform this art of gardening. This type of landscaping involves riding lawn mowers and directing wood cutters towards the right angle in accordance with the landscaping. For beginners although easier gardening tools and a husqvarna are also available at various garden tools trade markets. Landscaping lands is form of an art that one with a creative and innovative mind must learn to master.
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