PrintTrees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubs are the living architecture that anchor your landscape. They provide functional structure and visual interest, turning exposed areas into sheltered retreats, creating natural privacy screens that block wind and noise, and casting cooling shade that lowers energy costs. They offer a connection to the rhythm of the seasons with their year-round beauty, and their long lives can span generations. As the lungs of the landscape, they filter the air and sequester carbon, and they provide critical habitat for birds and pollinators.
It is important to plant with purpose. While canopy shade is a major asset, it inevitably alters what can grow beneath it. The key is intent: position larger trees where cooling is essential—such as shielding the home or covering a patio—and utilize small ornamental trees or large shrubs elsewhere. This balanced approach preserves sunny pockets for high-light features like vegetable beds or vibrant xeric gardens.
Quick tips for planting trees and shrubs!
- Tree canopies affect what can grow on the ground by changing the light conditions. Position larger trees where cooling shade is the priority, such as where they will shield a sun-blasted wall of the house or cover a patio. Use small ornamental trees and shrubs elsewhere. This approach will preserve areas in your landscape for features that require plenty of sun, like vegetable beds or xeric gardens.
- When figuring out the placement of trees and shrubs, plan for their mature size– not the size they are when you plant them.
- All trees need regular moisture. Consider drip irrigation to keep them healthy, especially if the rest of your landscape is xeric.