Should I Plant a Tree in Front of My House?

When you drive past houses in your neighborhood, the ones that stick out usually have beautiful front yards. If you don’t feel this way about your own home, you may be looking at those yards and wondering what they have that you don’t. Some of the most beautiful front yards have amazing natural elements to them, usually including trees and other natural greens. Planting a tree in your front yard may be the answer to getting the yard of your dreams. After all, the front yard is the first thing you see when approaching your property so you want it to be beautiful.

Planting a tree in front of your house can be a great way to make your yard stand out during all seasons. It’s a timeless addition that can also aid in lowering your heating costs over time, as well as contributing to the overall value of your home should you ever decide to move. But it’s not as simple as just putting seeds in the ground. After 30 years in the tree service industry, at Mr. Tree, we know how important a decision this is. You have to decide on a tree that’s right for your aesthetic but also right for your property. Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about planting a tree in front of your house.

Why the front?

If you’re considering planting a tree in your front yard, one of the first things you’ll want to take into consideration is why you want to do so. This may seem like an obvious question, but the answer can help you determine what kind of tree to plant and where to plant it. Front yards usually have limited space, so you want to choose wisely when adding something that will significantly change the space.

Figure out if your tree is just going to decorate your lawn or if you want it to serve a greater purpose, such as creating shade to lower your energy bill. You wouldn’t want to get a fruit-bearing tree for your front yard if you’re put off by the mess they create or the creatures they attract. That might be a better tree to place in your backyard. You also don’t want to plant a tree for shade that doesn’t grow large enough to help with that. Knowing why you’re considering planting a tree in front of your house can be a huge help when the time comes to pick and plant one.

Distance

The next thing you should consider when thinking about planting a tree in front of your house is the size of your yard. When planting a tree around your home, you need to make sure it’s a safe distance away from the house and that your yard can accommodate the size tree you’re interested in. If you have a small front yard, you may want to consider looking at trees that don’t grow very tall or wide.

Smaller trees, like the redbud, are great ornamental trees to place in the front yard if it’s on the smaller side. Small trees only have to be planted 8 to 10 feet away from your home, so they’re great options if you want something planted close to your house.

If you’re thinking about planting a large tree, you’ll want to make sure your front lawn can accommodate it properly. Though it may seem like you have enough space initially, larger trees have bigger roots to account for. Those roots can spread past the farthest branches on your tree, and if planted too close to your house, have the potential to cause problems with your foundation. It’s suggested that larger trees that grow up to 70 feet tall should be planted at least 20 feet away from your home. But just because your front yard may seem big enough to accommodate for that 20-foot gap between the house doesn’t mean a large tree should be planted. You should be mindful of how close it will be to sidewalks and driveways as well.

Maintenance

Your responsibility to your tree doesn’t end when the seedling or seeds are planted. For it to grow and become healthy, some upkeep is involved, such as making sure it’s getting enough water or providing it with the proper mulch or fertilizer. Keeping up with your tree maintenance is important since it will be on display in your front yard.

If the only thing holding you back from planting a tree in front of your house is that you don’t think you can handle some of the maintenance aspects, we’ve got good news for you. A tree service company like Mr. Tree can take care of some of the upkeep for you. Your tree will need pruning services, which is the removal of parts of the tree, such as the branches, to ensure the overall health of the tree. This will come in handy if you have branches that are breaking off and becoming dangerous for your property. A professional can cut down what shouldn’t be there and do so in a way that doesn’t harm the tree.

Another service you may need is tree trimming. Just because the tree is planted doesn’t mean it’ll look the way you want it to as it grows. If you want your tree to look uniform with others around it or just sharply trimmed, a tree service company will come in handy. A professional can trim the tree down to your desired size or shape in order to better complement your property.

Property Value

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to plant a tree in front of your house, this may help you decide. One of the many upsides to planting a tree in the front is its ability to increase your property value. The USDA Forest Service estimates that healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. That’s a pretty good deal if you’re already thinking about planting a tree in your front yard.

If you’ve just moved into a home that you know your family won’t be in forever, it might be a good idea to look into planting a larger or more expansive tree in the front yard. It will be well on its way to maturity by the time you choose to sell and will also make a good first impression on potential buyers. By the time you’re ready to move, your property value could increase significantly because of the tree you planted. According to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, a mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Take these things into consideration, and it will make deciding on a tree for the front of your house a lot easier. Planting a tree in front of your home does require a bit of preplanning, but when you pick the right tree and location, it can be a major asset to your property.