If youre planning your garden, youre probably poring over nursery catalogues and websites and deciding which plants, flowers or vegetables you want to include. While youre deciding, why not stop and take a look at a few popular tree specimens to bring in? Trees make a wonderful addition to a garden because they provide much-needed shade, in addition to a home for birds and wildlife. Here are a few basics to help you get started with your selections.

Choosing a Tree

Before you start shopping, it helps to do a bit of planning to identify the type of tree you want. Do you want trees that bear fruit or flowers or all-season evergreens? Do you want large-sized trees or dramatic miniatures?

In addition, youll need to make sure that your tree choices will thrive in your soil and climate. Find out exactly what their finished height and spread will be and whether or not these dimensions may be too large for your yard. Also, educate yourself about their root systems because you dont want to plant trees with extensive roots that will damage your foundation.

Trees: Popular Choices

Here are a few trees that are popular with gardeners and homeowners:

• Jacarandas: These popular trees thrive in most yards and come into bloom with lovely lavender flowers tinged with blue.
• Magnolia: You can choose either evergreen or deciduous varieties. Magnolias produce a large number of ivory-hued or coloured flowers that give off a spectacular scent.
• Citrus: These trees come in approximately 20 varieties and produce delicious fruits, as well as beautiful shiny leaves and colourful flowers.
• Maples: Maples are available in a variety of sizes, and they take on a showy, spectacular colour during the autumn.
• Ashes: Ash trees are tall, so plan accordingly. They offer lovely autumn colour and thrive in cooler temperatures.
• Fruit trees: Typical garden fruit trees include plum, pear, apricot, peach and apple. If you dont want a fruit-bearing tree, you can choose an ornamental variety instead.
• Crab Apples: Crab apple trees produce striking white and pink flowers during springtime and bear tiny, edible, apple-like fruits.
• Crepe Myrtle: These have dark, forest green leaves and a pretty pattern of bark and produce abundant flowers in the summer months.
• Bottlebrushes: Lovely and versatile, bottlebrushes are native to Australia. These durable trees are exceptionally easy to cultivate and are beloved by amateur gardeners.
• Wattles: These evergreens come in hundreds of varieties and produce flowers every spring.
• Eucalypts: Native to Australia, Eucalypts are available in different varieties, shapes and sizes.
• Silver Birch: Silver Birch trees have a distinctive trunk and beautiful foliage that sweeps toward the ground. They colour beautifully in the autumn.

By doing a little homework and talking to a specialist at your local nursery, youll be able to find stately, beautiful trees that will enhance your landscape for generations to come.