Front Yard Tree Placement: How to Pick, Plant Showpiece Trees

Your front yard tree is one of the first things visitors see. But how do homeowners pick and plant a new showpiece tree that makes a statement?

Why Should I Plant a Tree in My Front Yard?

There’s something welcoming about the mature canopy of a tree in the front yard. It greets you and your guests, guides you to the front door, and provides shade and comfort during the warm months. And planting trees serves a larger purpose: One full-grown tree absorbs as much as 48 pounds of carbon pollution every year.

The tree you choose for front yard landscaping makes a statement about you and provides curb appeal for your home. But the benefits don’t end there. Well placed, healthy trees can also increase your property value: 

• On average, mature, healthy trees can add 10 percent to a property’s value, according to the USDA Forest Service. 
• A mature tree can have an appraised value between $1,000 and $10,000, reports the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.

How do you choose the right tree for your front yard, and prepare it for a lifetime of good health on your property?

It all begins with careful planning, says Dave Leonard, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist and owner of Dave Leonard Tree Specialists. “There’s a lot more to planting a tree than the average citizen knows.”

Choosing and planting a tree in your front yard involves research of local ordinances, tree placement, growth and behavior of different types of trees, and how the tree will affect your property and the land around it.

If you want to learn more about how to evaluate your trees’ health, check out our article “How to Give Your Tree a Checkup.”

What Types of Trees to Consider

Consider these eight questions as you select the species best for your front yard showpiece tree.

8 Tree Selection Questions

1. What is the ultimate tree size — how wide or tall will the tree grow?
2. What tree shape do you desire — round or oblong, tall or short?
3. Should I plant a deciduous tree or evergreen tree?
4. How fast does it grow?
5. How long does this type of tree typically live?
6. What does it need in terms of sun, soil, or moisture?
7. Will it bear fruit, or require maintenance that I just don’t want to provide?
8. Will it grow in my USDA hardiness zone?

Best Trees to Plant in Your Front Yard

The best front-yard tree options include:

Slow-Growing Trees

• Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica): Slow to medium growth. Fall leaves can change to many different shades of red, yellow, purple, or orange — more than one color may appear on the same branch. Zones 4 to 9.
• Crabapple (Malus): Slow growth. The variety of crabapple called the “Sargent” is one of the slowest growing crabapples. It is easily pruned to a desired height. It’s a flowering tree that bears tiny red fruit in the fall. Zones 3 to 9.
• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum): Slow growth. Many varieties of Japanese maples have burgundy leaves that turn crimson in the fall. Zones 5 to 8.
• Snow Fountains Weeping Cherry (Prunus x ‘Snofozam’) Slow growth. Hanging or “weeping” branches have white flowers in the spring. Zones 4 to 8.

Medium-Growing Trees

• American Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Medium growth. Pink flowers in April. Zones 4 to 9.
• Eskimo Sunset Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Esk Sunset’): Medium growth. New leaves are pinkish-orange and mature to color-splashed green with purple on the abaxial side of the leaf. Zones 5 to 8.
• Fox Valley Dwarf River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Little King’): Medium growth. Small tree with pretty, exfoliating bark. Zones 4 to 10.
• Ivory Halo Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’): Medium growth. Creamy green and white variegated leaves. Zones 3 to 7.
• Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria). Medium growth. This small tree has tiny seed clusters that turn smoky pink or grey through the summer. Zones 5 to 8.
• Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud) Medium growth. Burgundy to purple foliage, and pink blooms in the spring, turning to edible red fruits. Zones 4 to 9.

Medium-Fast Growing Trees

• Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Medium to fast growth. New leaves are red-trimmed and turn green, then to dark red or yellow in the fall. Zones 5 to 9.
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’): Medium to fast growth, but this evergreen is only 4′ to 5′ tall at maturity. Zones 2 to 6.

Fast-Growing Trees

• Cleveland Select Flowering Pear Tree (Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland Select’): Fast growth. Bluish fruit that ripens in the early fall. Leaves change to many colors, from bright yellow to deep red, in the fall. Zones 4 to 9.
• Pin Oak (Quercus palustris): Fast growth. Leaves turn russet in the fall. Zones 4 to 8.
• Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) Fast growth. Aromatic stems and yellowish flowers. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. Zones 4 to 9.

What Size Tree is Best for Your Front Yard?

Large Trees: “Large deciduous trees benefit properties the most, but it depends on several factors,” says Leonard. A front yard tree should be appealing from the view of the street, but should not overwhelm the house itself. 

A large shade tree can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent annually, by cooling the home in summer and providing a windbreak in winter months.

Small and Dwarf Trees: Compared to the larger trees, small trees and dwarf varieties may not cost as much, and their shorter mature height will prevent damage from overhanging branches. They also may have colorful flowers or interesting branch patterns that add to the beauty of the landscape design.

One Tree Vs. Grouping Several

One beautiful specimen tree can become the star of your yard. Group tree plantings can be a focal point, frame a landscape, or define a space. 

Leonard suggests combining fast-growing and slow-growing plants to stagger tree life spans. “Fast-growing trees are more commonly weaker and lose limbs that slower-growing trees don’t.”

The rate of growth usually means how tall a tree will grow, not how wide it grows. The rate can vary from tree to tree depending on soil health, drainage, light, and other factors. Faster growing trees may need more trimming.

Slow growth means the tree grows 12 inches or less annually, medium growth is 13-24 inches per year, and fast growth is 25 inches of growth or more annually, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

Considerations for Planting Trees in the Front Yard

So you know what kind of tree you want, and the rate at which you can expect it to grow. A few final checks and you’ll be ready to plant your tree.

Check Utilities, Permits, and Restrictions

Call your local zoning departments to find out if there are planting or tree variety restrictions. You may have to call gas, water, or other utility companies to locate underground utility lines, pipes, or cables, or to consult about power lines. 

Know where your property lines are, and make sure the mature tree will not grow into your neighbor’s land. Obtain permits if necessary.

Mature Size and Site Considerations

“Planting area size is of huge importance for the life span of the tree…,” advises Leonard. “This is extremely important. Also consider…site moisture, clearance requirements, undesirable fruit, such as large acorns, messy fruit, and slope.” 

What Bugs Trees in Your Area?

“Know your insect and disease issues in the area,” warns Leonard. “Emerald ash borer has decimated our eastern urban forests and is moving west and south and there are many other issues. 

You should always consider the tree species population in a city as we don’t want too many of one species. The loss of the ash trees has seriously impacted the health of many people where cities lost large percentages of them.” 

Plant With Sun in Mind

What direction does your front yard face? Will the tree block the winter sun, or will it cool the house with welcome shade in the summer? Will the large trees block full sun for the flower beds or vegetable garden? 

Answering these questions will impact your placement of trees. “In the northern hemisphere it is good to plant deciduous trees on the southwest side of the house,” says Leonard. “If it’s really windy you can use evergreens for a windbreak or a screen.”

Step Away from the Foundation

When you plant trees, make sure to choose an area that is at least 15-20 feet from the house, to prevent problems with roots or with overhanging branches. 

Research the mature size of the tree or trees you have in mind: A tree with a spreading root system may need to be located farther away from the house. Or you may decide to choose a different tree that is less invasive or has a smaller canopy. 

Soil Type and Wildlife

Soil health should be taken into consideration as well. Heavy clay soil can cause more roots to grow near the surface of the soil, which could become a problem. Adding mulch will improve your soil.

Last but certainly not least, the tree you choose might become a home for birds and other creatures, and its flowers and pollen will help the local pollinator population. Anyone can have a bee-friendly lawn. One well-chosen tree can make a big difference!

FAQ About Planting Trees

Hire a Professional

Trees can be a beast all their own. Choosing, planting, and maintaining trees can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, taking time away from what’s important to you.

Thankfully, local, experienced, highly rated professionals are nearby to help with the load. A free and easy quote from a local arborist is just a call or click away. Whether you’re looking for information or to hire a professional today, we’ve got you covered.

Main image credit: manneyd / Pixabay