Trees aren’t just for parks or very large backyards. Even urban gardens can have trees that work in smaller spaces and make for beautiful flowers, foliage, and shade for your yard. Here are three types of trees to consider:
Amelanchier
Amelanchier trees offer star-shaped, flat to saucer shaped flowers that are white with some pink blushing. Their leaves turn yellow-orange in fall and are accompanied by fruit that ripens in summer and can be edible in some species. However, birds will eat the berries if they aren’t picked soon after they ripen.
Amelanchier trees should be grown in acidic, moist soil in sun to part shade. The species needs minimal pruning but should be pruned in the fall to avoid excessive sap loss.
Canadian Redbud
This species features clusters of tiny magenta buds that swell into rosy pink flowers in early spring before the leaves appear. The flowers will bloom for about two to three weeks. The buds appear to pop out right from the bark of twigs and branches and even on parts of the trunk, giving the entire tree miniature clusters of flowers.
The trunk of the redbud often divides close to the ground, which makes for a multi-trunk shape with arched branches and a rounded crown.
Heart-shaped leaves come out in a reddish color, turning dark green in summer and then a bright canary yellow in fall. The flowers also give way to clusters of beanlike pods that remain on the tree into winter.
The redbud thrives in most types of soil and levels of sun exposure. It grows best in a moist, well-drained location. Because they don’t grow to be huge, redbuds look great when planted in groupings.
Crape Myrtle
This tree can grow to 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, quickly growing up to three feet per year. There are also smaller dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties ranging from six to 18 feet tall and shrub varieties two to five feet tall, so you can pick the best size for your landscaping. They need full sun for a minimum of six hours per day.
Crape Myrtle trees bloom from July to September, with some varieties blooming until first frost. Their flower colors can come in varieties of white, and multiple shades of red, purple, and pink. Crape myrtles can be grown as single-trunk or multi-trunk trees. There are also varieties that grow as shrubs, miniatures, and bonsais.
Looking for some trees to beautify your yard? Let us help you get started. Call us today at 201-869-5680.
