One of the surest signs that spring has arrived each year is the blooming of the Bradford pear trees. Widely planted as a street tree, in the parking lots of malls and offices, and in home landscapes, they’re impossible to miss: oval-canopied trees with a mantle of white flowers so thick that it almost resembles snow.
Usually, it’s evergreen trees that come to mind when thinking about privacy, screening, color, and texture for enjoyment in the landscape during the winter months. While evergreens are a perfectly acceptable option for achieving this feel in your yard, columnar oak trees are a seriously underrated option.
Winter is hard on trees. Wind, ice, and cold temperatures can harm trees through sunscald, branch-breaking ice loads, or winter burn on evergreens. Taking preventative measures in the fall can help minimize winter injury to trees in the landscape.
I posted a picture to Facebook once with the comment “…I think I might have too many bird feeders…” There were six – not counting the suet feeder – in my small back yard. I have so many, simply because I love birds, but I wonder if there wasn’t something happening subliminally in my awareness.
Fall and flowering trees are like peanut butter and jelly. They just go together. Plant a flowering tree in the fall and reap the benefits of their beautiful flowers in the spring!
The mighty oak. They don’t call this tree mighty for nothing. The oak is known for being strong and living long. A healthy oak can even withstand strong weather. Its solid wood has been used to make furniture, boats, and even homes.
Oak trees help create healthier communities. Trees clean our air by removing air pollution, purify our drinking water and keep us cooler in the summer. Our oak trees can help reduce water pollution, reduce asthma, and improve our overall health.
October was officially proclaimed Oak Awareness Month in Illinois by Governor Bruce Rauner in 2015 through the amazing advocacy efforts of The Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners. The purpose of Oak Awareness Month is to raise awareness of the decline in the Oak tree canopy in Illinois and the importance of their role in our very fragile ecosystem.
When you plant privacy trees what you’re doing is planting an extension of your home, if you will. So don’t hesitate to sit down and take a few minutes to draw up a design, one that you know you will love and enjoy for many years to come.
Trees and shrubs are valuable elements in both public and private landscapes, and the wise investment of time and careful selection will only increase their value.
