Ornamental & Flowering Trees

A good way to add interest to your yard or garden is to plant an ornamental tree, typically smaller than regular trees and boasting annual flowers or colorful leaves that provide an instant focal point.There are seven basic tree shapes and some are better for adding shade while others provide a scale relationship with the house and surroundings.

Most ornamental trees grow only to about 25 feet so they provide little shade. Their main purpose is to add color and accent. There are lots of beautiful ornamental trees that are hardy: flowering crabapple, flowering dogwood, tri-colored beeches and Canadian red cherry, flowering plum, flowering pear, hawthorne and magnolias to name a few.

When planning and planting a spring garden, incorporate ornamental trees from nurseries. These have been raised in pots. If you are transplanting a tree, be sure to do it before it blooms. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can plant trees, but be careful not to plant an ornamental tree in an area that it can outgrow. Depending on the variety, you can plant some trees between five and twelve feet from a building.

You need to give them a good, deep drink once or twice a week to give the roots a good soaking. This helps establish a deep root system. Occasional pruning will help it keep a nice shape, but most trees do not need any special treatment over the winter months if it is hardy for your area. If isn’t, it will need protection from the wind and cold temperatures.

Trees are a big investment. They can range in price from $175 to $1200. Taking good care of your investment can ensure healthy trees and a beautiful yard for years to come.