Planting trees is one of the easiest yet effective means of giving your garden or your yard a face-lift. Trees can provide shade in summer and protect you from harsh, chilly winds in the winter. Aside from these, they can also add to the privacy of your home while boosting real estate values. There are plenty of choices if you're planning to plant a tree. These depend on the size, shape, growth habits and care needed, so choose carefully, because the tree you pick will have long-lasting consequences.

When selecting a tree, the first step is to decide what kind of tree is suitable for your property and your needs. Climate and soil are important factors to consider. A date palm might have a tough time surviving a Minneapolis winter. And a water-hungry willow would starve in the desert sands. Make sure that the tree species you are considering should be able to flourish in your local climate and soil conditions (designated hardiness zone).

Another important factor in selecting a tree is matching it to the surrounding locality. What is the size of the site on which your new tree or trees will be situated? Will that spindly sapling you just bought still be able to fit after 20 or 30 years? Conversely, a willow or an oak tree, both of which grow very large when mature, may be not the best tree to plant in a small front lawn in the city. A crucial factor to consider is proximity to buildings, sidewalks, driveways, streets, utility lines, overhead and buried, and septic systems. If a tree is not planted in an appropriate area, the overhanging branches and extensive root growth may cause damage to nearby adjacent properties and utility lines, and incur you sizeable expenses in the bargain.

Another issue to keep in mind is the drainage. Good quality, well-drained loam soil is best for planting young trees. Poorly-drained planting sites will give you problems, since many tree species, including firs, beeches, yellowwoods, oaks and yews will not be able to handle ?wet feet?. Avoid areas where stagnant water pools around roots, since this can lead to ?root rot? caused by lack of oxygen. You can do a general test for soil drainage by digging a hole in the planting area and filling it with water. After a couple of hours, the water should have drained away. If not, you may have problems with drainage. In areas where drainage is a particular problem, planting in raised beds of 12 to 18 inches of well-drained quality topsoil may be a solution.

Soil quality in new subdivisions often presents tree-planting problems. The PH level of the soil, and therefore its fertility, is often affected by construction materials and the resulting rubble. The chemical and petroleum spills which often occur during building construction also present additional worries. If the soil contamination is quite severe, the only solution may be to scrape away the contaminated soil and replace it with good quality topsoil.

One of the critical factors to consider, of course, is your personal taste. Think of how different kinds of new trees can enhance the attractiveness of your property. Make a list of the kinds of trees you admire, and think about how they would look in your yard or garden. Consider how your selection will fill in to the planting area over time. Make a few sketches, or if you don't have confidence in your artistic skills, consult available landscape design software, or a landscape designer.