You're from the Chicagoland area, and you've been spending more time in your yard than ever before. Taking note of the beauty that you want to create at that place you call home. You sit back, wondering, "How do I make it beautiful all of the time?"
These tips are sure to transform your house into a home, and if you're looking to sell down the road, it will for sure up your property value game. From fragrant flowering trees, beautifully branched privacy & screening options to outstanding fall color and evergreen trees— we've got what you'll need to achieve year-round interest in your landscape.
how to get started
- Make a note of your wants & needs → think about color, texture, shape, and how you'd like the trees to function in your yard. Do you need to add trees for privacy, shade, or help with reducing energy costs?
- Walk around your yard, take a look from the inside out → look out your windows to your yard. What would you like to see? Take a walk outside, just down the street from your home, and observe your landscape. The goal is that from every angle, you, your neighbors, and any passerby will have a welcoming view. If it's only privacy that you're after, there'll be no view at all for those pesky neighbors or people passing by your home.
how to decide on placement
Trees offer structure, form, and organization to the landscape. Instead of randomly selecting and placing trees throughout your landscape, reference the points below:
- Frame out your landscape → this may seem repetitive, and we can't emphasize this tip enough. Framing your landscape means you select trees to go all-around your home so that wherever you'll be spending time outside or viewing the outside from the inside, you'll find beauty, privacy, and shade.
- Anchor your landscape beds → plant a small ornamental tree in the outside corners of landscape beds to accentuate the front and back entrances and landscape beds near garages.
- Layer your plantings → this design element will help create a native feel.
- Group plantings in odd numbers → see the picture above? The spruce was thoughtfully planted in a group of three in a berm for seasonal interest and privacy.
- Show off with a specimen tree → plant a standout tree in your front yard, near a patio or deck for a conversation piece. Be sure to add a spotlight to this feature in your yard to set it over the top.
consider each season
spring
Take advantage of the fragrant flowers and bright colors ushered in by springtime.
- Plant a three-season accent tree → spring blossoms soften branches, unique unfurling leaves emerge in spring, and come fall, homeowners can expect a bright fall color display. Popular choices are serviceberry trees, crabapple trees, dogwood trees, or hawthorn trees.
summer
Summertime is when we spend the most time in our yard. Relaxing, doing yard work, gardening, playing with the kids, grandkids, and our pets. It becomes an outdoor oasis. Hot summer days have us longing for large shade trees, beauty, and privacy wherever it's lacking.
- Go all-in with "multi-tasking" trees → plant a tree that will give you more bang for your buck. Think about birch trees, serviceberry, or redbud trees for shade, privacy, and interest.
- Plant a shade tree → plant large shade trees such as maple, oak, or an elm wherever there is an unfilled opening in your yard, near patios, and anywhere immediate shade is needed.
- Choose a tree with unique leaves or bark → after flowers have faded and long before fall colors are on display, your yard can draw attention through features such as uniquely shaped leaves or peeling bark.
autumn
Choose from a full palette of colors!
- Plant a shade tree → repetitive, I know. However, this is why we emphasize choosing trees that do double-duty. The same tree you planted for summer shade will also double as a standout feature in your yard come fall. Many shade trees show off with a fall color display. Choose from golden hues as seen in ancient Ginkgo trees, fiery oranges, wine reds, and of course, a customer favorite, brilliant bright reds seen in Autumn Blaze Maple and Autumn Fantasy® Maple.
- Plant an unlikely tree → ornamental trees that will complement shade and evergreen trees may also put on a fall show. Great options for this are American Hornbeam, Golden Raindrops® Crabapple, and Royal Raindrops® Crabapple, to name a few.
winter
While our trees and plants are resting, they are still working to protect our homes against strong winter winds, and they provide privacy and beauty in the landscape.
- Plant an evergreen tree → evergreens are known for protecting homes from harsh winter winds. They lower energy costs and add interest through their fragrant evergreen needles.
- Consider a columnar oak tree → some varieties of columnar oak trees hold their leaves throughout much of winter and are an excellent option for year-round privacy and screening.
- Add a splash of color with winterberries → some ornamental trees have persistent bright red berries that last throughout winter.
Unsure where to begin? iTrees.com will assist you with selecting the perfect trees, determining placement, and designing tree layouts. Whatever your needs might be, feel free to send us an email or give us a call. We will personally work with you to help make these important decisions.
815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com
Check out our Design Center for more great tips on getting started.
