5: How to Choose the Right Tree for Your Garden

Fall is an ideal time to consider adding trees to your garden. It also happens to be one of the best planting windows, giving roots a head start before summer heat kicks in.

I can’t tell you the perfect tree for every site, but I can offer the kinds of questions and considerations that lead to better decisions, both aesthetically and horticulturally.

In this episode, I walk through the criteria I use to select and place trees in a design, and I encourage you to look beyond the usual suspects.

We’ll explore how to assess your site, lean on design principles, and think through four-season performance so that your tree supports the bigger picture of your garden for years to come.

If you’re feeling unsure about where to begin, this episode will give you a solid starting place.

What You'll Learn

• Why fall is a great time to purchase and plant trees
• How to evaluate site conditions like sun, soil, and space before making a selection
• Common tree-picking mistakes and how to avoid them
• Why we keep seeing the same trees everywhere and how to choose something better
• Using line, repetition, and texture to support your garden's design
• How to borrow from the larger landscape to create a sense of place
• Questions to ask about what you want your tree to do and how the right tree can simplify your maintenance load

Trees and plants mentioned:

• Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
• Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)
• Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas)
• Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata)

Helpful links:

• Raintree Nursery
• Great Plant Picks
• OSU Department of Horticulture Plant Finder
• Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

Connect with Us

• Relish Gardens Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on YouTube

If this episode helped you think differently about how to choose a tree, share it with someone who’s planning their next garden move. Until next time, I hope you find something in your garden to truly relish.