You Can’t Kill It: Trees

You need them for shade and even perhaps privacy. They add a certain aesthetic to your home, and a little bit of personality… but you just haven’t been able to keep one alive long enough to enjoy these benefits. We’re talking about trees of course. So which ones can you plant that won’t require a ton of TLC? Here are a few to start with.

American Hornbeam

This low-maintenance tree thrives in the shade of other trees, so if your yard backs up to other trees or greenery, it’s a fabulous choice to lend some shade to your yard. The American Hornbeam has thin bark with a muscled appearance and maintains a beautiful look in the winter months. In the fall, leaf colors will turn to beautiful shads of yellow, red and orange. It will grow to about 20 feet tall by 40 feet wide.

Bur Oak

A classic tree in the Northeast, the Bur Oak requires little maintenance. Acorns grow from this tall tree (80 feet!) and can be as large as 2 inches long. Perfect for large yards, if growing out in the open where roots can spread, the Bur Oak can grow as wide as it is tall.

Hackberry

A relative of the elm tree, the Hackberry takes similar form. They don’t require much attention, and soon grow and spread, providing excellent shade in your yard. They do also yield berry-like fruit in the late summer months, which welcome birds of many kinds. This tree will grow between 40 and 60 feet high by 40 to 50 feet wide.

Snowdance Japanese Tree Lilac

Growing as tall as 18 feet and 20 feet wide, the Snowdance Japanese Lilac Tree boasts a massive canopy that grows wider than it does in height. You’ll notice a lovely fragrance in the early summer months, which then fades, while still providing shade through lush green leaves. 

Photo Cred: pixgood.com

Northern Catalpa

If you’re looking for a taller tree that blooms, the Northern Catalpa is the tree for you. It’s flowering blooms show in the early summer months, which then turn into cigar-like pods. It is because of these pods that the tree has inherited the name “cigar tree.” The tree grows well in urban settings, and can grow as tall as 60 feet (and 40 feet wide). Just don’t plant it near water features or pools in your yard, as the pods do shed a bit.

Low maintenance plants

Even if there’s still snow on the ground, it’s still technically spring, so we are getting in the gardening mood here at Faber Homes! Whether you’re a new family with us, current resident, or thinking about building a new Faber Home, landscaping is probably on your checklist. Curb appeal is not only nice for passerbys, but everyone wants an attractive home on the (inside and) outside. You certainly don’t want to be “that house” with the overgrown, weed-infested lawn.

Don’t have time for a full blown landscaping job this year? No worries. Here are some plants to start you out that are low maintenance and beautiful.  

Photo Cred: homecurbappeal.com

Trees

Velvet Cloak Smoke Tree. Best planted in full sun in the spring or early fall, this small tree has deep purple leaves and can grow to 10-15 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide.

Winter King Hawthorn. If you’re looking to add some shade to your yard, this small flowering tree is perfect. This deciduous tree can grow to a height of 15-20 feet and span a width of 18-20 feet, and its beautiful white cluster flowers bloom in May and then give way to red fruits in the late fall.

Shrubbery

Japanese Barberry. If you’re looking for a quick-growing shrub, the Barberry is perfect. Be sure to watch the plant’s growth, as it can take an area over very quickly (and trim those spent flower stalks as it grows to prevent seedlings). Best planted in the spring in full sun, this plant can grow to 3-4 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide, making it a very suitable solution for quick landscaping.

Elijah Blue. This evergreen ornamental grass has a blue-gray foliage and sprouts blue-green flowers if planted in the spring. Each gathering can grow 8-12 inches high and the same in width. These grasses are beautiful and can even be used to cover less than attractive yard requirements such as power boxes and other utilities.

Flowering Plants

Peony. Known for its large fragrant flowers, the peony should be planted in full sun to light afternoon shade. These plants can grow up to 30+ inches tall and can span 25-35 inches wide. They’re best planted in the spring, so grab some seeds soon!

Endless Summer Hydrangea. This flowering plan is as beautiful as it sounds. Endless Summer Hydrangea begins its season with lime green flowers which then change to pink during the summer. Each grouping will grow to 8-10 feet high and the same in width, so be sure you’re planting this beauty in an area that can accommodate such growth, as it will happen quickly.