Landscaping With Trees – Enhancing Curb Appeal
Enhancing curb appeal with a well-kept lawn, properly trimmed trees, and fresh garden beds doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. However, it does require planning and ongoing care to achieve the best results.
Tallahassee sits 20 miles inland from the Gulf coast’s pristine beaches, but the city still experiences tropical storm winds and hurricane-force gusts during hurricane season. Planting the right wind-resistant trees in your yard can protect your home from falling branches and other damage.
1. Plant Trees at the Entrance
Trees are often considered the backbone of a well-designed landscape. From shade to privacy, they provide numerous benefits. Planting trees at the entrance of a home helps to make it welcoming and sets the tone for the rest of the yard. Specimen trees with interesting bark, leaves or berries are useful accents that draw attention and focus on the entrance.
When selecting a new tree, consider its size at maturity and how it fits into the existing landscape. Avoid crowded plantings that can lead to excessive shading, pruning requirements or root problems. It’s also important to plant the right tree for the site, ensuring that it can thrive in urban conditions, which include air pollution, compacted soil and salt from road salting. Website.
2. Plant Trees in the Backyard
Trees make a great addition to any backyard. They add beauty, value to your home and help reduce energy costs by creating shade in the summer.
Before planting a tree on your property, check to see if there are any restrictions in place based on your neighborhood association or zoning ordinances. Having a clear understanding of the restrictions will save you from frustration, disappointment and money.
For example, pine trees shed their lower branches as they mature and may block sunlight from your yard or patio area. Planting some smaller-growing native trees, such as a redbud or sweetbay magnolia, close by can solve this issue while adding curb appeal to your landscape.
Also, make sure you choose plants that can tolerate the climate of Tallahassee. The best native plants are salt-tolerant, have resistance to local insects and diseases, and can survive the flooding caused by hurricanes churning in from the Gulf of Mexico. For these reasons, many residents choose to use Florida native species like sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboretum), darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii), and high bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).
3. Plant Trees in the Sideyard
Trees add dimension to the landscape and create a sense of maturity and character for your property. In addition, trees help to reduce air pollution by absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis. They also help to prevent lawns from washing out during heavy rains by soaking in the excess water that cannot be absorbed by the soil.
Throughout the year, you can find many different types of shade and ornamental trees at Tallahassee nurseries/garden centers. One of the most popular shade trees in this area is the southern live oak, which has impressive limbs covered with Spanish moss. It also thrives in Tallahassee’s plant hardiness zone 6.
The City of Tallahassee, in partnership with Leon County, offers the Adopt a Tree program for residents. Eligible homeowners receive up to two trees in their front yards at no cost. The trees planted through this program help to increase and maintain the City’s urban forest canopy, which is already at 55 percent.
4. Plant Trees in the Front Yard
A mature tree greets you and your guests as you enter your home, provides shade in the summer, and can add considerable value to your property. Trees also provide many environmental benefits. One full-grown tree absorbs 48 pounds of carbon pollution each year and enhances the quality of air for humans to breathe.
Tallahassee is fortunate to be just a short drive from sugary white beaches, but our location makes us vulnerable to hurricanes. Planting trees can help a yard stay safe during storms by creating shade, adding height to a landscape, and offering wind resistance.
For example, a black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) is a fast-growing tree that withstands drought and heat. Its fall foliage turns shades of yellow, orange and red, and late winter to early spring brings a mass of single pink flowers. It can be planted on a hillside or along a road and is tolerant of wet sites. This is a good choice for lining long driveways or planting in groups to define an entrance.