Landscaping Ideas for Front Yard Trees

Fruit Trees

• Carefully selected fruit trees offer the same shade and foliage of other ornamental lawn trees, but they also produce edible fruit after a few years of growth. Fruit trees require more maintenance, in the form of pruning and fertilization, than other trees, says the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Choose fruit varieties that you will eat to prevent rotten fruit that attracts pests and animals. Most fruit trees have strict climate requirements. Citrus fruits need hot summers, while apples prefer cooler temperatures.

Unusual Trees

• Many yards across the country feature oaks, pines or holly trees. Adding unusual and rarely seen tree varieties to your front yard builds visual interest. The paperbark maple, or Acer griseum, features peeling pieces of bronze-colored bark all year, states the Virginia Cooperative Extension, and can handle both cold and hot weather. The bristlecone pine, or Pinus aristata, is one of the oldest living plants and grows at a slow pace in interesting spreading patterns.

Foliage and Flowers

• Trees that produce colored foliage or bright, showy flowers during different seasons are key to a decorative front yard. Colored foliage, like the deep red and purple leaves of the Acer palmatum or Japanese maple, appears in the spring or fall, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Flowering trees produce most of their blooms in early spring before leaves mature, or throughout the summer. Evergreen trees that feature dark, blue-tinged or yellow foliage are the best choice for winter color.

Proper Size

• A small yard becomes crowded quickly if too many large trees are planted, but large yards look empty with nothing but small trees. Balance the landscape of your front yard with a few large trees to frame the property and smaller choices to fill it in. Trees with upright shapes create vertical lines but could make a short house look squat. Aim to surround the house with trees of the same height. Taller trees can be planted around the edge or in the middle of the lawn for a strong impact.