Best Trees To Plant In Your Front Yard

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when deciding which trees to landscape your front yard with, such as saving energy, aesthetic, comfort and practicality. Along with factoring in your personal preferences, which tree you choose will ultimately depend on the climate where you live, the existing landscaping of your property and the street at large. That being said, here are some excellent options with which to weigh your decision-making:

Dogwood Trees

The dogwood is a versatile tree that transforms your yard during each season. In the spring, it blooms with shades of pink, white and yellow and carries a rich, sweet fragrance. During the summer months, the tree acts as an umbrella and provides a plethora of shade for the homeowners to enjoy. Its leaves take on vibrant colors in the fall, and in winter it keeps it berries, which attracts an array of birds and squirrels to the food source. Aside from its aesthetic value, the dogwood is a low maintenance tree, only requiring pruning every five to 10 years. Dogwoods thrive in temperate climates and can do well in direct sunlight or more shady spots. Some of the dogwood’s 45 varieties can also thrive outside of a temperate climate, so even if you live in a slightly warmer or cooler area, you might still be able to plant and grow a healthy dogwood in your yard.

Red Oak Trees

The red oak is a towering tree that can grow to be up to 80 feet tall, with an umbrella of branches spanning up to 45 feet. That means this tree provides a whole lot of shade, so if your house is exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, this tree can provide shade that might save you a lot of energy expenditure during the summer — not to mention offer a cool place to relax outdoors. Red oaks are also known for their broad, sturdy branches and their bright red coloring in the fall. They produce acorns that attract wildlife such as squirrels, deer, birds and, if your area has them, even black bears. This adaptable tree thrives in temperate zones, but can also do well in cooler areas as well.

Red Cedar Trees

If you have a front yard that is exposed to direct sunlight, the red cedar will do well. It is resistant to both hot and cold temperatures, though it does prefer a bit of dryness. Its foliage is dense, which can be great as a windbreaker for your front yard. That denseness, as well as its berries, make for an excellent bird shelter , so expect birds to hang around your yard if you have one of these trees. Red cedars are part of the evergreen family and are often used as Christmas trees. But make sure you have plenty of space for them — these trees can grow to as large as 50 feet high and 20 feet wide.

Magnolia Trees

The magnolia tree is famous for its beauty in the spring, and although it only flowers for a short period, many choose to plant it simply for those few weeks of beauty. It can blossom in a variety of colors such as white, red, pink, purple or yellow. This tree can reach heights of 25 feet and widths of nearly the same. The magnolia tree is definitely not known for being low-maintenance and can have a ton of problems if not cared for correctly. You need to make sure the tree is planted in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, requires regular pruning and fertilization and protection from early spring frosts which can destroy its delicate flowers. Still, if a showy and gorgeous tree is what you’re after, this could be an ideal option.

Sugar Maple Trees

With it’s big maple leaves and tolerance of an extensive range of temperatures and soils, this hardy tree is a popular choice for its beauty and low-maintenance.. In the fall, the sugar maple turns bright colors and provides a brilliant splash of color to your yard. It can grow as tall as 100 feet and as wide as 50 feet, which makes it an excellent source of shade if your yard is large enough to handle it. The tree sap can even be used to make your own maple syrup. Also, with the abundance of seeds it produces, it attracts lots of wildlife.

Birch Trees

Because of its naturally decorative branching patterns and unique colors in its bark(white or ash contrasted in layers by darker colors underneath), the birch tree’s time to shine is in the winter. Though its unique bark stands out and catches your eye when all other trees around it are dormant, but it’s a beautiful tree year-round. In summer, this tree provides soft shade, which is ideal if you have plants underneath that need the sunlight to grow and flourish. The birch tree is also able to withstand harsh summer and winters, making it an easy tree to maintain year-round.

Ginkgo Biloba Trees

Also known as the “maidenhair” tree, the Ginkgo biloba originated in China and is one of the oldest living species of tree. It is a great front yard tree because of the shade it can provide, its tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and its resistance to pest issues. Its leaves have an interesting fan shape, and in the fall they typically turn yellow, providing a beautiful accent before winter comes. Ginkgo biloba trees can grow upwards of 80 feet high and reach a width of 40 feet.

Apple Trees

For those looking for a fruit tree to decorate their yard, the apple tree is a good option. The apple tree is adaptable, though it grows the best with a lot of sunlight and well-draining soil. It blossoms in the spring with beautiful pink and red flowers and grows its fruit during the autumn, which attracts a lot of wildlife. Apple trees grow to be only about 25 feet tall, so the apples can be easily picked from their branches and baked into a delicious pie.