The Ten Best Ornamental Trees to Plant in New York

Planting trees around your home makes it more appealing and adds value to the home. Finding the right tree to plant in New York might be tedious and hard. Some trees need a lot of care, others can’t stand the extreme seasons, and most don’t grow fast. This article explores the best trees to plant in New York, why you should plant them, and planting methods.

1. Oak

They are the oldest trees that are spread all over the world. Oak trees play a crucial role in human lives. They are used as a raw material source to build the best furniture, floors, and homes.

Oak trees live up to 1000 years, producing over 10 million acorns. They have four popular varieties; bur, northern, English, and white.

A fun fact about them is that they symbolize strength, endurance, and wisdom because of their height and ability to stay long and endure most seasons.

These are reasons you should grow oak trees in New York:

● Oak trees in New York grow way faster than other trees. Planting an oak tree in your backyard or front yard will take a few years to provide shade. The tree grows up to 80 feet tall within a short period.

● New York has extreme seasons; very chilly winters and very hot summers. The oak tree is a low-maintenance tree that grows and survives under extreme weather conditions. Additionally, they grow in any soil and don’t die due to pollution.

● The tree is beautiful during summer and fall. It will add a fall vibe to your home with its orange, red, and brown shade during fall.

2. Maple

It is one of the most popular trees, especially in the northern hemisphere. There are over 128 maple tree varieties making it an adverse tree. Their leaves, sap, and bark are of many benefits, including making medicine to heal diabetes and reducing inflammation.

The common species of maple trees are silver, sugar, Norway, red and sycamore. People grow in New York because of the following reasons;

● Maple trees will offer you shade during the hot seasons. It grows fast and has long branches that are responsible for providing shade. The good thing about it is that it can be planted anywhere around the house without worrying about ruining the foundation of the house.

● It provides the best colors throughout the year and is known for its beautiful shades. Green in the summer. Red, brown, orange, and yellow in the fall. And it blooms flowers in spring. It will provide your home with beautiful colors almost throughout the year.

● Maple trees endure every season and every weather condition. They have very firm roots that can survive more than 100 years. Also, not many pests and diseases can ruin the tree. When the maple trees are grown, they cannot be destroyed by pests.

3. Japanese Lilac

It is an attractive tree, round in shape, and grows upright. They have a moderate growth rate. The commonly known types are ivory silk, signature, ivory pillar, and golden eclipse.

Planting it in New York can be the best choice one can make because of the following reasons;

● It is easy to maintain and prone, thus controlling its spread. The tree is good for people with small spaces because it grows upright.

● The Japanese lilac stands out among many trees in your backyard. It is like the full package. It can be bush, shrubs, or flowers; it is just how you see it.

● Also, it requires low maintenance because it doesn’t require too much water, is not prone to diseases and pets, and doesn’t produce suckers.

● It is easy to find the tree, and it’s affordable. You don’t have to worry about spending a fortune to plant this tree; you can easily find it and not spend much.

4. Crabapple

Its commonly known species are sugar thyme, hornet, snow drift, and harvest gold. Here are a few reasons why you should consider growing crabapple trees in New York:

● It is a good cross-pollinator. Growing near a pear or cherry tree increases fruit growth by attracting pollinators.

● It easily grows anywhere. It doesn’t have a specific type of soil to grow on. It can grow in a large or small space. It can grow during summer or winter, or any other season.

● It will make your yard look like heaven in the spring; sometimes, it can extend to the fall. The tree has a pink, white and red bloom during spring, and it is one of the longest blooms that can even go on in fall.

5. Fir

There are over fifty-six known types of fir trees, but the most popular ones are the Korean, Fraser, white, and Nordmann. Why Fir tree?

● New York is an urban area; there is a need to protect your home from noise and find some privacy. Fir trees, when grown together, add privacy to your home and protect it from noise pollution from the city.

● The tree requires less attention. The tree requires very little water and endures almost all seasons.

● If you like waking up to the lovely crisping birds, plant a fir tree in your home. It attracts birds that build nests, squirrels, and rabbits.

● Different varieties can serve you depending on your space. Fir trees grow way up to 50 feet tall, and some grow 3 feet tall. Some grow wide, and some grow upright, thus serving different consumers.

6. Hickory

It is an attractive high-branching tree that offers excellent shade. It is an easy-to-care tree and grows up to 60 to 80 feet tall. In Asia, the trees symbolize patience and flexibility. Their wood makes bows, tools, and furniture because they are very strong yet flexible.

There are a variety of species, but the most known varieties of the hickory tree are Shagbark, Pecan, Bitternut, and Shellbark.

You should pick these trees if you are in New York for the following reasons:

● It is a quick solution if you need shade in your yard. The tree grows fast and can grow up to fifty feet tall.

● They produce their young ones. Hickory trees produce nuts that can be used to produce the young one of the trees. Also, one of the nuts is edible.

7. Elm

Elm trees are round with serrated leaves and circular seeds (samaras). They are one of the oldest trees in North America. The trees are beautiful, native, and perfect for both gardeners and homeowners.

There are varieties of the elm tree, but the most common ones are Chinese American Ulmus minor, and Siberian.

New Yorkers should plant these trees because:

● They can grow in almost any area in New York. The trees love heat for them to thrive, which they can find in almost all areas of New York.

● They are easy to maintain for busy New Yorkers. They adapt to most climates and soils, they require less pruning, and they resist damages that might be caused by winds.

● The tree provides shade because it grows wide. They can grow up to 50 feet tall, making them perfect for shape.

8. Chestnut

They are huge thick trees with grey bark. The commonly known species of the chestnut trees are Chinese, American, European, and Japanese.

It is a good tree to grow in New York because:

● They produce nuts. If you want to plant a tree that can produce over 100 pounds of nuts, then consider a chestnut tree.

● They thrive in a hot and humid area, a perfect New York tree. They grow tall to provide shade for your backyard needs.

9. Dogwood

It is a flowering tree that blooms with pink, white, or red flowers in early spring. A fun fact about the tree is that it has both male and female reproductive organs. It pollinates and can produce seeds on its own.

Dogwood thieves in full sun and partial shade. They are easy to take care of trees that grow very fast. There is a variety, but here are the most common; Common, white, cornelian and pagoda.

Why plant a dogwood tree in New York:

● It is small enough to fit any space. The trees attract animals in the yard, which is a good thing.

● Because they are self-pollinators and cross-pollinators, they attract pollinators, which can help gardeners.

● The tree blooms during spring. It will give your home a nice feel during spring. It is the best because it requires no pruning.

10. Japanese Maple

It is a beautiful small tree with large shrubs that tend to spread. The trees resemble the flowering dogwood tree because they have layered branches. They grow up to 15 to 25 feet tall.

The tree is over-prized because it services all the season and maintains its colorful foliage. Although it thrives throughout the year, the Japanese maple does well when there is full sun and some shade. The known varieties are Palmatum and Dissesctumn.

The following are the reason you should grow the Japanese maple in New York:

● It is the best ornament tree. It has red, purple, green, and brown leaves depending on the season.

● The tree does well in small spaces. It is great for people living in the city and the suburbs because they often have small yards.