Trees are an essential part of any garden. Thanks to them we can enjoy its beautiful flowers in spring, protect ourselves from the sun in summer, taste -in many cases- its fruits in autumn, and marvel at the elegance of its trunk and branches in winter.
But in addition, they play a very important role, since their roots prevent the earth from eroding, and that is not to mention that microclimates can be created that will allow us to cultivate and plant that, if we did not have them, we could not. That's why we are going to show you the best trees for front gardens, so you can admire them as soon as you get home.
Selection of trees for front gardens
Trees of feeble leaves
cornus florida
Image - Wikimedia / Line1
Normally, this is a plant that is more like a large shrub than a tree, but it can reach a height of 10 meters and provide pleasant shade; so we had to include it in this list. It is known as bloodsucker or flowering dogwood, and produces simple, oval green leaves, turning purple in autumn before falling. In spring it produces a large quantity of clustered whitish flowers. It resists frosts down to -12ºC.
Koelreuteria paniculata
I admit that I did not know this tree until it was recommended to me back in 2016. In reality, the same thing always happens with plants: it is impossible to know them all: there are millions! But from china soap dish, which is how this species is known, it is very easy to fall in love. It barely grows about 7 meters, and develops a wide crown composed of pinnate green leaves, although they turn yellow-reddish in autumn before falling. During spring, numerous yellow flowers appear grouped in terminal panicles.. The best? It resists frosts down to -12ºC.
Prunus cerasifera var. pissardii
Image - Wikimedia / Arturo Reina
It is known as purple leaf plum or ornamental plum, and although it fits within the group of arboriform plants, as it tolerates pruning well, it is very easy to have it as a tree, since you only have to remove the branches that sprout from below, thus leaving the trunk bare to the height you want. From my own experience, it is a very grateful plant, which grows between 6 and 15 meters, with a crown that is not very wide but is enough to provide some shade. Its leaves are purple and deciduous, and in spring it becomes a spectacle when it sprouts its white flowers. Resists up to -12ºC.
Evergreen trees
Callistemon viminalis
Image - Wikimedia / Chris English
Known as weeping tube cleaner or real tube cleaner, it is an exceptional plant. It only grows a maximum of 7 meters, with flexible and hanging branches from which lanceolate green, aromatic leaves sprout. Produces red flowers grouped in fairly dense spikes that resemble pipe cleaners. It resists frosts down to -7ºC.
Citrus × aurantium
Known as bitter orangeWell, although it looks a lot like the sweet orange tree, its fruits, well, they are not very edible to say 🙂. However, it reaches a height of between 7 and 8 meters, with a wide crown, glossy dark green leaves and a few lovely white flowers that give off a very pleasant smell. In addition, it resists up to -7ºC.
Ligustrum Lucidum
Image - Flickr / Mauricio Mercadante
El arboreal privet It is a tree up to 15 meters high that will give you a lot of satisfaction, for sure. It has a straight trunk, and a rounded crown whose size you can control, as it tolerates pruning very well. Its white and fragrant flowers appear from late spring to early summer. Resists up to -12ºC.
Things to keep in mind when choosing a tree for your front garden
When we think of trees for front gardens we must take into account several things so that problems do not arise now or later:
What function will we give the tree?
There are trees that are merely ornamental, but there are others that also produce edible fruits. It is very important to decide the species well based on its characteristics, otherwise we could be disappointed. Therefore, do not hesitate to buy specimens that are beautiful all year round if you want your garden to stand out, or to opt for fruit trees if you would like to consume their fruits.
How far to plant it from the house?
Image - Wikimedia / Acabashi
Tree roots can be deep, or on the contrary grow horizontally, a few centimeters below the soil surface. The ones we have shown you here are not going to cause you problems, since their root system is not invasive, but still You have to know what adult size the species you are interested in will have, and plant it a little away from the wall of the house. For example, if as an adult you will have a 6 meter diameter crown, the ideal would be to plant it about 7 meters from the house, but not because of its roots but to ensure that it can develop well.
Can it be adapted to our climate?
It is a mistake to buy a tree without knowing if it will live well in our area. As much as we like it, believe me if I tell you that it is not worth spending money that you could use to buy another more resistant plant. Because, yes, you will have it beautiful for a few months, but it is likely that with the arrival of winter it will die. But don't worry, there are many species that resist cold and frost (click here to see them), and many others that are more appropriate for tropical climates (click here).
Will you like the soil we have?
Last but not least, we have to talk about the soil. There are many Types of soil, each with its own characteristics. Some are clayey, others silty, others loamy. Some have a very high pH and others have it lower. For all this, the most advisable thing is to analyze it (here we explain how), since this way you will be able to choose much better the trees that will grow in your front garden.
We hope you can enjoy your trees 🙂.