In this article, the focus is on identifying small tree species ideal for growing near buildings or homes.
Trees around your home are excellent as they improve their landscape. This article will show you what trees to consider and the reasons for their selection.
Small Trees to Plant near Houses
As a tree lover, you might wonder what type of trees to grow around your home.
Regarding the choice of trees, multiple factors will need to be considered. Such factors should assess the suitability of the area as well as the safety of your structure.
When Selecting Small Trees to Plant
In your quest to grow trees around your home, you need first to consider certain factors.
These include its function, longevity, hardiness, and how fast it grows. Other factors include vulnerability to pests, maintenance requirements, root development, and also if it’s messy.
i. Function
You need to figure out its function at the early stages of planting a small tree. In other words, identifying its position is a necessary decision you’ll have to make.
Speaking of function, such will include identifying what you want. Do you want it to provide shade? What type of shade do you need?
Other needs for growing small trees near your house may include screening purposes and whether a deciduous tree or evergreen is preferable.
ii. Longevity
In choosing small tree species to grow around your home, you may seek to know about their longevity.
In other words, knowing its typical lifespan allows you to decide whether it’s worth growing. Now longevity in itself is relative. You may want to find out if it meets your expectations.
iii. Hardiness
Hardiness zones are necessary as they help identify if your location and compare to the hardiness zones of preferred tree species.
In other words, you’ll have to look up your hardiness zone to see if it matches your tree’s. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to seek other alternatives.
iv. How Fast it Grows
Before growing a tree near your home, you should know how long it will take to mature. Here, you’re looking at getting the desired effect it will have in adulthood.
Speaking of growth, it’s best to avoid growing tall tree species near your home.
v. Vulnerability to Pests
Pest vulnerability is one key area to consider when choosing a tree to grow in your yard.
While most trees have varying degrees of pest vulnerability, it’s best to go for species with the slightest vulnerability. Some tree species, like the Ginkgo, are believed to be pest-free.
vi. Maintenance Requirement
In choosing small trees to grow near your home, the maintenance requirement should form an essential aspect of your selection.
Speaking of tree maintenance, this would include its irrigation, fertilization, and pruning needs, among others. A tree with moderate maintenance requirements should be preferred.
vii. Root Development
Root development and formation in trees are essential aspects to look out for.
Certain trees are known to have invasive root systems that can become a problem when these trees are planted near your home.
Research trees with non-invasive root systems and make your pick from them.
viii. How Messy they are
Certain tree species are known to be messy.
This is one of the first considerations you should make before choosing. Some of the worst messy trees to avoid include North Catalpa, Southern Magnolia, Oak, Pecan, and Sweet Gum.
The cleanest or least messy tree species you can pick from include Fruitless Olive Trees, Flowering Dogwood Trees, Sweetbay Magnolia, Red Maple, American Hornbeam, Japanese Zelkova, Raywood Ash, and Fruitless Mulberry Trees.
4 Best Trees to Grow Near the House
When it comes to trees that can be grown near the house, most homeowners look for shade, color, and shape, among other considerations.
Tons of great tree species possess all of these features and more. This section includes basic details and information on them.
Some great tree species include flowering dogwood, Japanese maple, American holly, crabapple, and the eastern redbud trees.
More species include American hornbeam, loquat, pawpaw, crepe myrtle, Rose of Sharon, dwarf fruit trees, serviceberry, and kousa dogwood.
There are still more tree varieties ideal for growing near houses.
They include fringe trees, saucer magnolia, golden chain trees, Carolina silverbells, mountain stewartia, pagoda dogwood, Japanese tree lilac, chaste tree, and powder puff, among others.
With these many trees, you have a large pool of options to pick from. While making your pick, you’ll have to figure out the hardiness zone of the tree, amongst other considerations.
Let’s briefly discuss some of these small tree species to offer you more details on what they’re about.
i. Flowering Dogwood Tree
The flowering dogwood tree is deciduous and ideal for growing zones 2 to 9.
This tree grows by about a foot each year and reaches an average size of 10 to 25 ft. tall at maturity and a diameter of around 6 to 12 inches.
Its white flowers make the tree visually appealing, thus adding to the beauty of your surroundings.
ii. Japanese Maple Tree
The Japanese maple tree is another small tree ideal for planting near your home. It’s deciduous and grows about 1 to 2 ft. each year.
This tree is ideal for growing zones 5 through 8. At maturity, the tree reaches an average height of around 8 to 30 ft.
iii. American Holly Tree
This evergreen tree is excellent as a screening plant around homes.
Each year, the tree achieves a growth rate of around 1 to 2 ft. It’s best for growing zones 5 through 9 and reaches an average size of 25 to 60 ft. tall at maturity.
iv. Crabapple Tree
The spring blooms of the crabapple tree make it highly appealing.
This deciduous tree has a growth rate of around 1 to 2 ft. per year and is best for growing zones 4 through 8. Crabapple trees reach an average size of 15 to 20 ft. at maturity.
These are some small trees you can plant near your house. We’ve seen the factors involved in picking your preferred trees and the different trees themselves.
Only a few out of many have been included.