Young trees have a way of making our minds wander. One minute you’re looking at a slender stalk with bare twigs, and the next you’re imagining the tall beauty it will soon be.
And that’s a good thing! You want to envision just how big your soon-to-be tree will get and what that means for your home before you plant.
When you choose the right tree, you save yourself the future headache of roots damaging your home’s foundation or fallen leaves constantly at your front door. Make the stress-free choice by learning about the best and worst trees to plant near a house below.
Choosing the right tree to plant near your house is an important decision that requires careful thought. The perfect tree can provide beauty, shade, and privacy, while the wrong tree can cause foundational damage or leave you with constant cleanup. When selecting a tree for close proximity to your home, there are several factors to consider. In this article, we will explore what makes a good tree to plant near a house and provide 12 excellent options for your yard.
Key Factors When Selecting a Tree for Your Home
Mature Size
Pay close attention to how tall and wide the tree is expected to grow Avoid planting trees that will overhang your roof or bump up against the side of your house at maturity For most homes, small to medium sized trees that top out under 30 feet are best.
Root System
Invasive roots that spread horizontally can damage your foundation, pipes, and other underground structures. Look for trees with a deep central taproot and avoid those with aggressive surface roots like willows, poplars, and silver maples.
Cleanup
Choose trees that won’t create excessive debris in your gutters and downspouts. Trees like linden or mulberry can also attract nuisance bugs. Opt for tidy varieties that won’t litter your yard with sticks or fruit.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous
Evergreens maintain their foliage year-round while deciduous trees drop their leaves seasonally. Evergreens offer constant privacy and shade while deciduous trees allow winter sunlight to reach your home
Growth Rate
Rapidly growing trees will quickly become unmanageable if planted too close. Select slow growing varieties that can be maintained at a smaller size through pruning
Climate Match
Make sure to choose a tree suited for your hardiness zone that will thrive in your regional climate conditions. Planting a tree that is not cold hardy or heat tolerant will lead to failure.
12 Great Trees to Plant Near Your Home
Based on the above criteria, here are 12 excellent trees to consider for planting close to your house:
1. Japanese Maple
A gracefully shaped deciduous tree perfect for accent planting near patios and entries. Provides brilliant fall color. Grows 15-25 feet tall.
2. Eastern Redbud
A flowering understory tree with a rounded shape. Beautiful pink spring blooms. Grows up to 30 feet tall.
3. Dogwood
Features showy spring flowers and fall color. Naturally develops an attractive tiered branching form. Grows up to 30 feet tall.
4. Serviceberry
Produces white spring flowers and purple summer berries. Multi-season interest with great fall color. Grows 15-25 feet tall.
5. Amur Maple
A hardy small maple with graceful shape and brilliant red fall foliage. Max height around 20 feet.
6. Flowering Cherry
Clusters of pink or white flowers in spring. Leafs out purple-red in fall. Max height around 30 feet.
7. Crape Myrtle
Summer blooming tree with colorful exfoliating bark. Many dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars available.
8. Magnolia
Beautiful, fragrant white blooms. Evergreen and deciduous varieties. Dwarfs grow 10-15 feet, full sizes 30 feet.
9. Japanese Snowbell
Understated spring blooms and tiered branching. Interesting curled seed pods. Grows 20-30 feet tall.
10. Hawthorn
Clusters of white flowers in spring followed by red berries. Max height around 25 feet.
11. Lilac
Fragrant purple spring blooms. Responds well to pruning to contain size. Grows 15-20 feet tall.
12. Fruit Trees
Dwarf apple, citrus, peach and more for small harvest. Max height varies by cultivar.
Consider Consulting an Arborist
Choosing the perfect small tree for your yard can be tricky. For expert advice tailored to your specific site conditions and needs, consider hiring a certified arborist. They can provide planting, pruning and long term care to help your tree thrive in your landscape for years to come.
The right tree in the right place can provide beauty, shade and sanctuary for decades. By carefully considering mature size, root habits, cleanup and climate, you can find a wonderful tree to enhance your home landscape. Try one of the 12 great options listed above to add seasonal interest and natural charm to your yard. With a well-chosen specimen, you’ll be able to enjoy the tree’s graceful presence for years to come.
Crepe myrtle (Image credit: Peter Spiro/Getty Images)
USDA zone: 7-10Height: 3-50 feetBotanical name: Lagerstroemia
Their showy panicles of flowers with crinkly petals in mainly pink or white, as well as lavender and red, from summer right through to fall make these trees a popular choice, especially as they are so easy to grow too.
Also known as crape myrtle and summer lilac, they are one of the best trees for small gardens as well as for growing in pots if you want to include them as a feature close to the house.
Crepe myrtle is a multi-stem flowery tree with a beautiful multi-color bark, says Jonathan Fargion. The inflorescence can be either white, magenta, or orange. They feature a beautiful fall color too.
Crepe myrtles can be trained to grow into a single trunk tree form, or left to develop into a natural multi-stemmed style. Find out how to prune crepe myrtle to let your tree develop in the shape you want to suit the space near your house.
Sweetbay magnolia (Image credit: Wojciech Grabowski/Alamy Stock Photo)
USDA growing zone: 5-9Height: 15-25 feetBotanical name: Magnolia virginiana
When it comes to choosing a pretty flowering tree to grow in your yard the sweetbay magnolia is right up there. Its one of the top picks on our list of the best types of magnolia to add to your landscaping ideas.
Sweetbay magnolia is a multi-stem tree with semi-evergreen leaves that feature a silvery underside, says Jonathan Fargion. Its inflorescence is creamy white and exudes a sweet lemon zest fragrance.
The leaves form a lovely shimmering canopy. This is a deciduous variety but if your winters are mild it will retain its leaves. This is why its often referred to as a semi-evergreen. Unlike other magnolias this variety likes wet, clay soils, and for this reason is also known as swamp magnolia.
This type of magnolia is more tolerant of cold and will retain some of its semi-evergreen foliage more successfully in northern climates. Its a good option if youre looking for ideas on the best fast-growing trees to create a focal point in your yard.
5 Trees I Highly Recommend! // Garden Answer
FAQ
What is the best tree to plant close to a house?
- Japanese Maple. Japanese maple is known for its deeply lobed leaves, which come in numerous vibrant colours. …
- American Holly. …
- Pawpaw Plant. …
- Crabapple. …
- Eastern Redbud Plant. …
- Loquat. …
- American Hornbeam. …
- Flowering Dogwoods.
What trees are safe to plant next to foundation?
Cupressus, Sorbus, and Prunus are good choices for trees based on the limited damage they are known to cause to concrete and plumbing. The evergreen of the Cupressus looks nice all year round. Evergreens can also provide more privacy and wind protection than deciduous trees because they retain foliage all year round.
What tree has the least invasive roots?
- Japanese Maple.
- Crape Myrtle.
- Eastern Redbud.
- Cornus Mas.
- Serviceberry.
- Kousa Dogwood.
- Japanese Tree Lilac.
- Dwarf Korean Lilac.
What is best to plant next to a house?
- Hosta.
- Ornamental Onion.
- Globe Arborvitae.
- Juniper.
- Panicle Hydrangea.
- Switch Grass.
- False Cypress.
- Rose of Sharon.