Evergreen trees, either broad leaved or coniferous, maintain attraction throughout the entire year. They are especially appreciated in colder climates during the drab winter months when there is very little color in the garden. These specimens are excellent as shelter or windbreaker trees.
Most of us select our trees for their foliage, flowers, for the forms they take or to provide us with a windbreak. Since we have to live with the trees for many years it is important to choose the right tree for the right purpose and place.
If we are seeking shelter for our gardens we need to plant trees that grow wide, spread or weep, such as the maple, birch or willow. These are beautiful trees to place our
outdoor furniture for relaxing with family or friends, or just to read a book. We can also listen to and observe our fine feathered friends as they perch on the branches above our furniture. For a boundary, the solid tall shape of a cypress tree or an oak, or even the shape of a fir will give the feeling of privacy by obscuring the view of the homes beyond.
The different shapes and sizes of the various leaves can also be chosen for specific effects. The fernlike leaves of honey locusts produce attractive patterns, and the small leaves of birches and many Japanese maples have interesting shapes.
The gardens of today are generally small, and nearly all the maintenance is carried out by the homeowner. The amount of work necessary can be greatly reduced by adopting, informal layouts for the ornamental part of the garden. Once planted, trees and shrubs require little attention. They make an ideal setting for perennial and annual flowers and can often be used to provide the partial shade and shelter that some of these plants require.
If we want to plant a single specimen tree, for instance on a lawn or at the back of a wide border, we need to carefully consider the merits and disadvantages of our choice. If we are choosing a tree for its shape, such as spreading, columnar or weeping, only the soil, position of the tree and eventual size need be evaluated. If we choose a seasonal characteristic, such as flowers or autumn colors we need to know how the tree will look at other times of the year. We live in Southern California and in our backyard we have a Jacaranda tree, its leaves are very tiny and they lose them in late winter and early spring. In the spring and early summer it produces purple flowers which are dropping all the time. Generally speaking we are sweeping our deck or blowing away leaves or flowers during late spring and early summer. But it is all worth it in the long run because it is one of the most beautiful
trees and provides good shade.
