The Trees for Front Yard and Hedge

Evergreens for Front Yards

• When planning your front yard's landscape, consider trees' mature height and width, providing plenty of space for overhead power lines and roof overhangs. Slow-growing species require less maintenance. Evergreen choices include the bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata), a slow-growing conifer that reaches heights of 8 to 20 feet. Bristlecone pines thrive in sunny sites and tolerate a variety of soil conditions, including poor, dry and rocky sites. This pine has dark, blue-green needles and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. The University of Missouri Extension recommends growing an umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) in the front yard. A 20- to 30-foot-tall conifer, this pine has lustrous, dark needles that radiate outward. A Japanese native, the umbrella pine is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 and prefers rich, moist soil.

Deciduous Trees for Front Yards

• Choose deciduous trees that produces showy flowers or fruits to add interest to the front yard. The amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense) bears long-lasting black berries that add color to the winter landscape. This slow-growing tree reaches heights of 45 feet and has lustrous, dark foliage that turns yellow in fall. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7 and thrives in clay, compacted soil, drought and even polluted sites. For spring flowers, plant a white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). This North American native grows to 20 feet tall and wide and blooms with aromatic, showy flowers, followed by dark-blue fruits. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, the fringetree grows well in moist, well-draining soil.

Evergreens for Hedges

• The Sawara, or Japanese, falsecypress creates a year-round screen with its silvery-green foliage. This evergreen grows slowly to 70 feet with a 20-foot spread, and comes in several cultivars of different sizes and colors, such as the 20-foot-tall, blue-green "Boulevard." Plant the Sawara falsecypress in sunny, moist sites in USDA zones 4 through 8. The yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) also makes a good hedge, according to Better Homes and Gardens. This North American native grows to 20 feet tall and has dark, glossy leaves, offset by long-lasting, red-orange berries. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9 and grows well in sunny or partially shaded sites.

Deciduous Trees for Hedges

• For brillant fall color, create a living hedge from amur maples (Acer ginnala). These deciduous trees grow slowly to 20 feet and have bright-green, lobed foliage that puts on a red show in fall. Amur maples are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and tolerate a range of conditions, including light shade, drought and wind. The plum leaf viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) grows to 15 feet tall with a 12-foot spread. This deciduous tree attracts pollinating birds with its white flowers and yellow fruits that mature to black-blue. Its leaves turn deep red and burgundy in fall. Plum leaf viburnums are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 and grow well in moist or dry sites.