From weeping cherry trees to hickory trees, to fiddle leaf fig trees, if you’re looking for how to take care of trees and bushes, then you’ve come to the right place! Try reading our articles on trimming arborvitae or trimming boxwood. Or learn about the beauty of Jacaranda trees.
Bushes and trees aren’t necessarily always the showstopper of a property, but they are necessary to provide a grounding element to allow for other plants to really pop out.
We all know what a tree looks like – A thick, woody trunk with many smaller branches that stem out of it. As plants with tall heights and long lifespans, they are essential to adding a vertical element to your yard. Because of the bark that surrounds them as a protective layer and thick roots that anchor it strongly into the ground, they can stand up to the elements that provide a constancy that many other plants cannot provide. Many trees also have flowers that can add a pop of color to your property.
Bushes and shrubs, on the other hand, help provide structure to your yard. Like trees, they also are woody-stemmed plants, but they are different because of their multiple stems and also shorter heights. There is no formal definition to differentiate a shrub versus a tree, but typically they are shorter than about 15 feet.
Using both trees and bushes on a property is important for good design. Keep browsing below to see our different guides about taking care of and maintaining them. Also make sure to check out the rest of our articles.
Plant arborvitae in late winter or early spring to construct a privacy screen, living fence, or windbreak. Choose a well-draining spot where they get full sun or partial shade and have plenty of room to grow. Space plants according to their anticipated mature size, not how big they are when planting.
Growing curry leaf plants, or kadi patta, can be fun and rewarding. Come learn how to grow and care for them.
Caring for an indoor fiddle leaf fig is a little more involved than other houseplants, but worth the effort. Give the plant 8 to 12 hours of bright, filtered light every day and rotate the container frequently. Water thoroughly when the potting soil starts to feel dry. It’s also good to clean the leaves regularly to remove dust that blocks openings on the leaves.
Almonds are not only healthy, they’re delicious. Try your hand at growing an almond tree, which can be fun and rewarding
This guide will show you how to properly take care of your Christmas tree
Arborvitae are easy to grow, but they are often trimmed incorrectly. Make sure to remove overgrowth in the spring and fine tune in the summer. Prune heavily before plants break dormancy, and never remove more than one-third of the plant’s foliage. Avoid cutting into old wood and constantly step back to observe your work.
Black Locust Trees are the sturdiest tree in America. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and is very hardy and easy to grow. With our guide, you will have a sturdy and beautiful tree.
Espalier shaping is an ancient agricultural process that allowed trees to grow against a wall. This practice of raising the tree makes for an aesthetically pleasing fruit tree that can also yield good harvests.
Sugar maple trees are known for their sugary sap and the hardwood that they can be used for. But more importantly, they are absolutely beautiful when grown properly on a property.
Weeping Cherries are a graceful trees with cascading branches that fill with pastel colors of pink and white. This is a wonderful addition to any property and can be maintained with the proper care. Come learn more!
The saucer magnolia, also called the Chinese magnolia, has elegant and delicate pink flowers that make it a beautiful tree. It is not tough to maintain with a proper care guide. Come here to learn more!
The Black Walnut Tree is a magnificent tree that will grow for years and years in your yard. The large, dark green leaves and the unforgettable black walnuts make this tree a unique specimen for any landscape.
This beautiful species of oak is known for its dark reddish gray brown, which has deep ridges.
Its leaves are are initially pinkish-red in the spring, but turn to lustrous dark green in summer and then to russet-red to bright red in autumn. It is a fast grower and makes a great addition to home landscapes.
A truly majestic and useful tree, the beech is known for its steel-gray bark that contrasts against its reddish-brown wood. These slow-growing trees can live 400 years and grow upwards of 120 feet tall. Their dense canopies make them a great shade tree, and paper thin leaves allows dappled sunlight to filter through them.
Found in many temperate regions around the globe, and in almost all 50 states in the US, the mulberry tree is a fast-growing deciduous tree. The three most common species are the white, common, and silkworm mulberry. These prized shade trees bear dark purple to black fruits and their wood is used to smoke meats.
Recognized for its open crown of graceful, ground-sweeping branches, the weeping willow is surrounded by symbolism and mystery. Trees are short lived but put on an impressive 48-inches of growth every year and have a hearty root system. Thin, flat leaves appear early in the year and grow to be as long as a dollar bill, turning yellow in the fall.
Hickory trees are a majestic, easy to care for shade tree. With shock-resistant wood and one of the most calorie-dense nuts, these trees have ridged, flakey gray bark and leaves with serrated edges. Trees grow 60 to 80-feet tall with a 40-foot spread. Of the 18 different species, 12 are native to the United States.
With over 120 species, pine trees are known for their scale-like bark, resinous sap, cones, and needles ranging from deep green to a light bluish-green. Branches grow out from the tree trunk in a tight spiral and keep their color year-round. Species are grouped into two subgenus, based upon characteristics such as needle numbers and cones.
Dogwood trees are known for their beauty, with the flowering dogwood thought to be the prettiest flowering tree in America. The popular varieties of this deciduous tree are grown in USDA zones 2 to 9, with each type displaying unique, magnificent blooms. They thrive in acidic soils and have high water requirements.
One of the longest living types of trees, oaks can survive upwards of a millennium. With over 600 different species, all varieties have enormous trunks, branches, showy bark, and acorns with cup-like caps. Since they mature into large trees with extremely wide canopies they are best suited for homes with large yards.