Gardening with Trees in Mind

Think you’d like to do some landscaping to beautify your lawn? Many people believe that removing all of the trees from their yard will give them a “clean slate” to begin planting. However, the trees currently in your yard may actually be beneficial for your new plants. Below are some pros and cons to keep in mind when deciding which trees to keep and which to remove.

Cons:

• Shade trees such as the Black Walnut emit toxins (called Allelochemicals) that are harmful to surrounding plants and vegetation. Other common trees that emit this chemical are: sugar maples, tree-of-heaven, hackberries, southern waxmyrtles, American sycamores, cottonwoods, black cherries, red oaks, black locusts, sassafrass, and American elms.
• Leaves on live oak trees release chemicals called tannins that can inhibit new plant growth.
• Unless you are planning a shade garden (see below), excess shade can prevent plants from growing effectively.
• “Tree Litter” (i.e. sweet gum balls, acorns, etc.) is not harmful to gardens or new landscaping projects, but it is a hassle to be constantly picking them out of growing beds.
• Poplar trees take in all the nutrients and water that is nearby. Planting flowers or shrubbery close to these trees is not recommended.

Pros:

• Shade Gardens are largely ornamental and can provide amazing bursts of color throughout your yard (think of the deep burgundy of a Japanese maple mixed with the bright greens of Hostas and you have a beautiful combination).
• All gardeners dream of weed-free beds. Planting trees, or utilizing trees that are already in your yard, can help keep you off of your knees weeding. Root growth helps inhibit weed growth in many cases.
• Fruit bearing trees are beautiful year-round. Of course there is the added benefit of plucking an apple off your own tree for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. When choosing to plant these trees, keep in mind that it usually takes several years for them to bear fruit.
• Flowering trees, like cherry blossoms or dog woods, are stunning in full bloom during the spring. They are sure to add that pop of color that every garden needs.
• Tree canopies prevent the loss of heat to plants in the night. Temperatures below the trees won’t vary nearly as much as the plants that are in open ground.
• Trees attract pollinators to yards, while also harvesting rainwater and removing dust from the air. Falling leaves also add to soil levels. Talk about multitasking!

Things to keep in mind for landscaping with trees:

• If you have an abundance of shade but don’t want to lose the tree entirely, you can always call a tree service to come in and prune the tree. Much of an arborist’s job entails strategically choosing which branches to prune back so as not to damage the tree, while also keeping it lush.
• If you do decide to remove a tree, use a professional tree service that also does stump grinding. Ask the company if you can keep the wood chips from your shredded tree. You can use the chips as mulch for the rest of your garden.

Happy Planting!