Choosing A New Tree For The Front Yard: Our experience purchasing a new tree for the front yard and tips that will make the process quick and easy.
If you have ever been to a nursery you know that the options are literally endless. Each tree has its own pros and cons list and some trees work better in a particular environment than others and if you aren’t familiar with the process it can get downright confusing but don’t worry, we’re here to help.
As a homeowner, you have to choose which tree is best based on your needs and what you are willing to compromise on in order to get it. Because let’s face it, no tree is perfect but some can get really close.
Here is a peek of what our house looked like when we purchased it and the mature Bradford pear tree that really helped block a lot of the hot sun. We loved having the extra shade but that is where our love ended. If you are familiar with Bradford Pears you probably know why.
These trees have been over-planted which makes them susceptible to disease and not only that but they are an invasive species and are bad for the environment according to a lot of the articles I’ve read. Bradford pear trees also downright stink and are horrible on anyone with allergies. Due to several of these factors we had discussed replacing the tree several times over the years which we knew would be expensive but then as luck would have it, Mother Nature took care of it for us.
Two winters ago a terrible ice storm hit our area and it didn’t take long for that old Bradford pear tree to split right down the middle due to the weight of all of the ice. Talk about a mess!!
Removing An Old Tree
We ended up having to bring in an excavator to rip out the old stump and remove as much of the old root system as we could. All of this left our front yard a GIANT mess with ruts everywhere and a huge hole where the old tree used to be.
Even though we were able to remove most of the root system the first time around, over the next few months my husband and I dug up huge chunks of the old roots and killed off tiny tree shoots as they would sprout up hoping that each time that the roots would run out of energy.
We were not thrilled that the only tree on our property was a Bradford Pear tree due to their invasive properties, the super stinky smell each spring but aside from all of that the tree provided the front of our home with protection from the hot summer sun and without it, our home felt naked and exposed, because of that we knew we wanted to add a new one asap.
Our front yard is the size of an average subdivision yard so there really was no other option for placement besides using the same hole.
Take note because it is very important that you remove all of the old stump and root system if you plan on using the same hole.
Keep that in mind when deciding on placement because using the same hole may not be an option for you unless you are able to dig out all of the old stump and root system, hire someone to take care of it, or pay extra for the tree installer.
Also, keep in mind that there could be many roots that are not visible from the surface so be prepared to work your tail off digging them up. If you go with option 2 or 3 just remember that both options can be costly.
Not only can trees increase your home’s curb appeal but they can also increase the value of your home.
After a few months when all of the winter weather had gone I started researching trees in an attempt to find the best option for our area. We wanted something that would not only shade our home in the summer but also something beautiful that we could enjoy. So I sat down and wrote out a list of things that we needed in a tree and measured the front yard length and width. (this will come in handy later)
Our yard is 30 ft wide by about 20ft Long.
TREE MUST-HAVES
- Provide shade for the front of our home.
- Semi fast-growing.
- Minimal surface root issues.
- Tolerant to the hot Oklahoma summers and cold winters.
- Beautiful fall coloring.
- Must fit well in a subdivision.
Over the next few months, I read up on almost every tree imaginable, to the point that my head hurt…
Every time I would find one that I thought was “The One” I would read something else and end up checking it off the list because it didn’t meet the specifics above. The process was exhausting and to be honest I was in an indecisive rut with the whole thing for quite a while.
At one point I went driving around our city to other subdivisions looking at the homes and checking out the trees in random front yards. To say I was determined to pick the perfect tree would be an understatement.
There are a lot of trees that flat out would not work in Oklahoma due to our harsh weather but there are still plenty of options strong enough to handle all Oklahoma can throw at it and still thrive.
After looking for a while I began researching the Autumn Blaze Maple tree and although I absolutely love the way they turn red in the fall, after doing research I became concerned about the surface root problems that are common with these types of trees and although it likely wouldn’t happen for many years it was not something we wanted to deal with.
Maple trees are known for having issues with surface roots (some species more than others) after having these same issues with our Bradford pear tree that was something we really wanted to avoid so I began looking at other maple varieties.
The Caddo Maple Tree , a sugar maple variety, is a good option for Oklahoma because it was actually created in Caddo, Oklahoma. After giving it some thought, we decided that would be a good option for us. I even went as far as purchasing a Caddo maple and left the nursery happy that it was over.
But in true Ashley fashion, I spent the next several hours second-guessing myself, and usually, if I get a gut feeling about something I almost always follow that, and purchasing the Caddo maple only felt right for a few hours before I ended up calling the nursery to ask if I could change my mind and they were kind enough to allow me to choose something else since it would be several weeks before they could do the install.
So, back to the drawing board … ( I told you this was stressful didn’t I?)
FINDING THE ONE
For the next week, I read 5000 articles and just happened to stumble onto this one in Southern Living by
Finding a tree that had beautiful red fall color without the surface root problems that plague most maples was a huge win so I went back to the nursery and picked out a good-looking October Glory Maple for our front yard and left feeling great about the decision.
After a few weeks, Marcum’s Nursery came to install our tree and I was blown away by how quickly they had the tree in the ground, cleaned up the area, and were gone. They even swept the street! Since then it has been a little over one year and our tree has grown a ton and seems to be doing very well.
The leaves are the perfect shade of green and have the most beautiful red stems which have given us a glimpse of the gorgeous fall color that we can expect to see in the coming years.
During my research, I read that sometimes maples don’t turn red the first season after they are transplanted but I have a feeling this one may surprise us.
Although our experience choosing a tree for the front yard was stressful in the beginning, that was mostly due to our lack of knowledge about this type of thing, just like everything else we do here, learning new things is something that is important to us and helps us to make our own informed decision, the one that works best for us. Below, I’ve added the pros and cons list for the October Glory Red Maple, check it out and see if it may be a good fit for you.
Pros of October Glory Maple
The October glory maple is one of the most beautiful of the red maple variety. It does well in the south/midwest and is more heat tolerant than others. The guaranteed fall color makes this tree very popular for those looking to add a tree for fall color.
The October Glory Maple does not like drought-like conditions and will be among the first trees to scorch, defoliate, and die back if it doesn’t get enough water in summer. The tree holds its green color until usually early November which makes it the perfect tree for fall color. The height and width are perfect for urban areas and these make great street trees without the surface root problems of the autumn blaze maple.
The October glory has larger leaves than the Autumn blaze maple making it look lusher and creating a tighter canopy to hide from the sun, although the growth rate will be slightly slower than Autumn Blaze Maple. It also has a more rounded crown, so you get a wider canopy for shade and a smaller height. It also looks better as a specimen plant (grown by itself vs in a grouping)
Cons of October Glory Maple trees
One con that can be important to remember when it comes to some varieties of maple trees is the fact that some produce fruit (well sort of) in the form of samaras which are the winged seeds of the maple and a few other trees.
The helicopter-looking things that you’ve likely seen on the ground at some point or another in your life, are samaras. They tend to drop them in early spring, most maples produce samaras but red, silver, and Norway maples often produce the largest quantities. There are also a few seedless varieties as well like the Autumn Fantasy Maple or the Celebration Maple.
PURCHASING A TREE
Most local nurseries will carry this variety in ball and burlap. We purchased a 2.5″ diameter tree from Marcums Nursery and if you are local to Oklahoma City they were absolutely amazing to us. The entire process was very easy and they handled the changes I threw at them with ease. The price was a little shocking but only because I have never purchased a tree before. Now that I have and have had some time to look at other options they are on par for the market. These trees grow extremely fast so if you wanted to purchase something cheaper you could go with a smaller October glory maple which will also make installing it yourself a breeze. Home Depot carries an October Glory Maple as a single or as a two-pack
Most Trees Produce Fruit
If you aren’t crazy about the idea of helicopters littering your yard once a year then a maple may not be the one for you. If you can see this being an issue for you, I would recommend digging into research about any tree you are considering because many trees produce their own fruit when it comes to reproduction and this may end up being something you would have to deal with no matter which tree you choose.
These trees along with any other maple variety should be planted at least 15 feet of distance between the trunk of the tree and any building/ home.
As with any new young tree, they can be susceptible to bark damage from things like weedeaters or animals so it is important to wrap the trunk to protect it until the bark starts developing ridges. Happy Tree hunting, I would love to hear which tree you end up choosing for your yard.
You will also want to make sure that the newly planted tree is getting enough water and extra attention for the first two years after planting. This is the most crucial time for a newly planted tree and there are several steps that you will need to take to ensure the tree’s survival.
WATERING, HOW MUCH, AND HOW OFTEN?
During the hot summer months, it is very important that you ensure your October Glory Maple or whichever tree you choose is getting watered regularly. A formula that is commonly used suggests that a newly planted tree needs 10 gallons of water per week for every 1 inch of tree caliper. When watering, you will want to make sure to go slow and steady, this allows the water to get down deep to the roots and encourages the tree to form a deeper roots system which in turn will help combat any surface root issues as the roots aren’t having to grow upward in search of water.
One thing that really helped us is this tree bag (tree gator) it holds 20 gallons of water and when filled the water is released slowly over a 4-6 hour period which cuts down on evaporation and ensures that the water will reach deep into the soil.
Our tree is 2.5″ in diameter so this is perfect for our tree size, we just fill it up in the evening after the hot sun has started to go down and leave it there until the next morning. So far it has worked perfectly and when compared to our neighbor’s tree that was replaced around the same time ours is doing amazing and I attribute that to the water bag! If your state is experiencing a drought the amount of water applied will remain the same but the frequency should be doubled to twice a week.
Trunk Protection
Our tree was delivered with paper wrapping around the trunk. It was springtime when they installed the tree and we left the paper on through the winter and took it off this spring. Although I am not sure that we should have taken it off because as soon as we did our mowers nicked the tree with the weed eater…
Young tree trunks can be sensitive and believe it or not things like weedeaters can be fatal to young trees so protecting the trunk is a must and you can easily do that with paper tree wrap. You simply wrap the trunk with the paper until you reach the first branch and tuck it or tape it off. It is recommended that this be done at least until the trunk gets ridged.
Oklahoma Proven Trees
If you happen to be in the Oklahoma area, south or midwest, here are some tree varieties that are compatible with the weather and have proven to do well in this area. Keep in mind that trees don’t always reach maximum height when planted in an urban area so try not to be too afraid of the height, but on the same note take head when a tree is known for surface roots or invasive roots that could cause issues with things like sidewalks or plumbing. You can combat a lot of that by simply planting as far away from the house as possible.
Chinese Pistache
Caddo Maple
Prairiefire Crabapple
Amur Maple
Autumn Blaze Maple
Bald Cypress
Crepe Myrtle
Desert Willow
Lacebark Elm
Oklahoma Redbud
Rising Sun Redbud
Shantung Maple
Shumard Oak
As always thank you for stopping by! Let me know what tree you end up choosing and don’t forget to show love by pinning the image below, if there is something tree-related that you have questions about I will do my very best to answer or point you in the right direction.
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