Step 2: Analyze Your Space
– Eliminate Choices!
Use Property Characters To
Refine & Narrow Down Your Choices!
You’ve done some research using website descriptions
and observations of trees that grow in the area and you have a list.
Let’s work an example:
Initial Tree List:
Chinese Pistache
Chinquapin Oak
Chisos Red Oak
Cottonwood
Fruitless Mulberry
Shantung Maple
Texas Red Oak
Texas Redwood
Weeping Willow
Can’t Plant Them All - We Need To Narrow This List Down?
Let’s analyze our space starting with: How big is my planting
area?
You need to measure it.
Let’s say your front yard faces East and you want shade on
your windows to cool down the house in the mornings! Measure the distance from
house to sidewalk or street.
You then measure 30 feet to street and 30’ wide to property
lines.
What trees from your list will fit this space?
Mature tree canopy size tells you to eliminate
the Cottonwood, Mulberry, Weeping Willow, and
Chinquapin Oak.
Wait a minute you’re thinking the Cottonwood will get 40’ –
50’ tall and wide.
That would be perfect to shade my 30’ lot and the
branches would go over my house keeping it cool in the summer. Not a bad idea
right?
Couple Problems Here:
Cottonwoods (also willows, ash trees, mulberries) have weak branches that can break in the wind and fall
on the home or other structures potentially causing damage.
What about roots?
If the tree canopy is 40’ – 50’ wide
then the root system is probably at least 40’ – 50’ in all directions. This
means the roots will be under your home, nearby walls, the street, and even
your neighbor’s home. Cottonwoods have aggressive
surface roots and if planted too close can cause structural damage to
walls, foundations, heave up streets and driveways. Cottonwoods are too big for
a 30’ space.
Based on your property size and your initial list only five
trees will fit your space:
Chinese Pistache
Chisos Red Oak
Shantung Maple
Texas Red Oak
Texas Redwood
You’ve Analyzed Your Space
And Eliminated Some Choices!
We Still Have 5 Choices – We Only
Have Space For A Single Tree?
You can re-analyze your space for
other characters like:
Overhead Wires
Underground Utilities
Leach Field
Proximity To Garden Space (Don’t
want shade)
Etc.
We Still Need To Refine
& Narrow Down Our 5 Tree Choices!
Check Back With Us For:
How To Choose The Best Shade
Tree For Your Space: Step 3!
Photos & Narrative
By:
Stephen Sain
Staff Plant
Physiologist
Trees That Please Nursery
Unique Amongst Retail and Wholesale
Nurseries
Serving Albuquerque, Santa
Fe, Los Lunas, and Belen
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