Why Plant a Tree?

May 16, 2017

Today is National Love a Tree Day, the one day officially set aside to celebrate trees and all the reasons they benefit you, your neighborhood and the environment!

You probably already know that trees can add value to your home (as much as 20 percent!) and help cool your house, property and neighborhood. They can also break cold winds, create a noise buffer, provide privacy, produce fruit for you and wildlife and plenty of pollinating opportunities to perpetuate the cycle of life!

Time to Plant!

Whether you’re thinking about shade trees, flowering trees or evergreens, now is the best time to plant! Fall can be too late because trees won’t be able to survive the freezing temperatures that can damage roots and prevent moisture from reaching the tree roots.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the best time of day to plant trees is by the light of the moon supporting the age-old belief that phases of the moon affect plant growth. (Check out Region 3 of the Farmer’s Almanac, for lists of the best times to plant ANYTHING – dates and times.)

Big, Beautiful Trees

The fastest growing trees are the kind that have been growing in a nursery or tree farm for seven or eight years! Of course, you’ll pay extra for that height and circumference so you’ll have to decide how much cash you want to put down to put down roots. 

Take for example the Autumn Blaze Maple, one of the hottest-selling shade trees at the Tree Farm in Longmont and Tagawa Gardens in Centennial. Tagawa gardener Brink English, says the maples come in a variety of sizes and prices. The smallest sell for $99.99 and stands between 5 and 6 feet tall and the largest is the 12 to 15-foot stunner that sells for $499.99.

Fast-Growing Flowering Trees

One of the fastest growing fruit trees is the peach tree which can grow to a height of 15 feet within a year and provides delicious peaches that fast, too. Other fast-growing fruit trees include pear trees and cherry trees.

Besides size and cost you need to consider the tree’s weight. A 5-foot deciduous tree (shade, flowering, fruit) will have a root ball weighing about 130 pounds. A 5-foot evergreen tree’s root ball will weigh more like 225 pounds!

And all the experts agree the most important consideration is finding a species that will “fit” the space you designate – when it’s grown.

Some of more popular flowering trees are the crab apple which produces beautiful flowers like the Profusion’s pinkish red flowers and berry-sized fruit – very little of which drops to the ground (and your sidewalk!). If you don’t want any fruit littering your yard or sidewalk, the Spring Snow crab apple tree is a great choice with its pretty white flowers.

Chanticleer pear trees are narrow and perfect for planting near a patio or deck. Magnolias are a great tree for the north or east side of a house because they love the afternoon shade and have full white or pink flowers.

Fast-Growing Hedges

Shrubs are the unsung heroes of landscaping. They anchor and frame colorful flower beds and borders, even in the winter. Shrubs will give you valuable structure to build around.

Here’s a rundown of nine shrubs that are landscaper favorites for longevity, sturdiness and year-round beauty.

Free Trees!

If you become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, you can get 10 free trees that will thrive where you live, or you can choose to send the trees to someone you love.

Tree-Lined Streets of Southshore

The tree-lined streets in the master-planned community of Southshore are as varied as the beautiful new homes available here from Colorado’s top home builders! Stop by and explore the brand new Delaney model from Richmond American Homes and Century Communities latest home designs at The Hills in Southshore! The brand-new ranch and two-story homes are priced from the upper $300s to the $700s.