10 Good Reasons to Plant a Tree

A tree provides shade for hot summers.

Whether in a garden or on a terrace, the tree provides a beneficial and natural shade, far more pleasant than that of a parasol, pergola, or awning. Indeed, the shade of a tree is cool and light, an undeniable asset in these times when summers are getting hotter year by year. And what could be more enjoyable than having lunch, reading, or napping under a tree?

However, when choosing the variety to plant for its shade, careful consideration must be given to its location. Indeed, the shade of a tree can be very pleasant in summer, but block light in winter. Similarly, it is imperative to think about the strength of the root system, which can lift the paving of a terrace, damage pipes, or weaken foundations…

That’s why, before selecting a tree for its shade, one must research its adult size, which influences its shade, the development of its root system, and its spreading or weeping habit. Choosing a tree with deciduous foliage can be a solution if you want shade in summer and light in winter.

Our selection of a few trees to plant for shade:

• The Catalpa (beautiful summer flowering, large deciduous leaves, pod-shaped fruits) is a tree with dense shade, very hardy.
• The Paulownia tomentosa (purple spring flowering, lush foliage, dry fruits in winter, deciduous foliage) benefits from rapid growth.
• The Plane Tree (Platanus hispanica) with its majestic habit offers great robustness.
• The Mediterranean Hackberry (Celtis australis) is best reserved for the south due to its lower hardiness.
• The Walnut (Juglans regia) provides very dense shade and a rustic atmosphere.
• The Lime Tree (Tilia) is valued for its highly fragrant and melliferous flowering.
• The Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) (cut foliage, magnificent flowering, evolving foliage through the seasons) enjoys great longevity.

More ideas in Jean-Christophe’s articles:

• 10 shade trees, the best varieties for large gardens and parks
• 10 trees to shade a small garden

A tree structures a garden.

By its deep anchorage in the soil and its habit turned towards the sky, a tree undeniably brings verticality to a garden. It also adds volume and relief. Moreover, trees can have totally different habits, silhouettes, and foliage that create various atmospheres and perspectives. Regardless of its size, shape, or colour, a tree will inevitably structure a space.

The way they are planted will also affect the perspective. If it is planted in isolation at the centre of a lawn, it attracts all eyes and becomes the focal point of a garden. If they are planted in clumps, they provide a natural touch and allow your garden to blend into the surrounding countryside. If they form a line, they delineate or highlight a perspective.

A tree can also create a particular atmosphere depending on its species. For instance, an olive tree or a cypress (Cupressus) evoke a Mediterranean garden, while a Japanese maple (Acer) finds its place in a zen or Japanese-style garden.

All our articles for structuring your garden with trees:

• Trees and bushes: different habits
• 7 trees and bushes with a nival zone habit
• 9 trees and bushes with a rounded habit
• 10 columnar trees
• Weeping trees
• Twisted trees and bushes
• Creating a woodland garden

A tree offers interest all year round.

As the seasons change, a tree evolves. At the bud burst period, its tiny emerging leaves add a touch of delicacy to the garden and herald the arrival of spring. The flowering, with its shapes, colours, and fragrances, is always attractive. What could be more beautiful than a Magnolia in bloom? Or an Albizia? Or even a Judæa tree (Cercis canadensis)? This flowering can give rise to fruits, berries, and drupes, all adorned with multiple colours.

A tree is attractive throughout the 4 seasons

Foliage can display a variety of colours, ranging from different shades of green to purple, yellow, blue, and red… In autumn, it dons new colours. And it may fall (or not) in winter, sometimes revealing twisted branches or persistent berries. Thus, the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is renowned for its dazzling foliage, just like Japanese maples or the Ginkgo.

A tree such as the birch (Betula) can also showcase its originality through its colourful and ornamental bark.

A tree provides habitat and food for wildlife.

In a garden, a tree is always a guarantee of biodiversity. It is indeed a natural shelter for birds or pollinating or beneficial insects that can even find vital resources and a source of food there. To attract birds, feel free to hang feeders and nesting boxes from the branches of these trees.

Birds can nest there, insects can find refuge, and squirrels can hide. The flowers of a tree can provide nectar useful to foragers who will take advantage of it to pollinate the vegetables in the garden, while the fruits or berries can help certain birds survive in winter.

A tree also allows some animals to escape their predators.

In short, a tree is the best way to attract wildlife, which is very beneficial for the garden and vegetable patch in controlling pests, while also delighting us with their songs, buzzing, and the beauty of their flight and colours.

A tree is essential for the environment.

Whether planted in the city or the countryside, a tree is an essential element for the preservation of the environment. Indeed, through photosynthesis, a tree absorbs carbon dioxide, stores carbon, and releases oxygen. In short, a tree purifies the surrounding air, helps us breathe better, and ultimately is especially in highly urbanised areas. We all know the importance of the Amazon rainforest on a global scale, but a single tree planted in a square also has an impact on our lives.

Beyond this essential role that generates life, the tree helps to combat soil erosion thanks to its root system and the organic matter it provides. It also affects water quality and helps to attenuate temperature changes. Including in a garden!

A tree can be nourishing.

You can also choose to plant a tree for the fruits it offers. Indeed, a tree can be nourishing and provide access to seasonal, healthy fruits with an incomparable taste quality and grown without the shadow of any pesticide, weedkiller, or fungicidal…

Whether grown in isolation or within an orchard, or trained or in a pot, a fruit tree is always a delight for the taste buds, as well as the eyes. Indeed, fruit trees always have magnificent flowerings.

Depending on the region where you live, it is essential to select fruit trees suited to the climate to ensure interesting fruiting, as well as to the soil.

Similarly, do not hesitate to plant original fruit trees such as Asimina, the persimmon…

Feel free to browse all our articles on fruit trees to find out which species to plant!

A tree provides privacy.

If you wish to shield yourself from prying eyes, isolate yourself from the sometimes overly present neighbourhood, or simply hide from passers-by on a street or road, trees are the best way to provide the privacy you seek.

In this case, you should choose trees with dense, abundant evergreen foliage, such as bamboos, which also benefit from rapid growth. If you do not want to install a rhizome barrier or see your bamboos invade your neighbour’s land, opt for non-running varieties like Fargesias.

To avoid being seen, it is ideal to plant trees that are tall enough at maturity in a free-standing privacy hedge, such as the Ironwood (Parrotia persica), the Lantern Tree (Crinodendron hoolerianum), a Smoke Tree (Cotinus), or even a willow (Salix) or a hazel (Corylus).

A tree hides an unsightly view.

Your garden is a space you care for, organising each area, choosing every colour and variety. In short, your garden is a haven of serenity and harmony where every plant has been selected with the utmost care.

However, an unsightly neighbouring building, whether vacant or completely dilapidated, disrupts this beautiful harmony! And you can no longer bear this sight…

Planting trees will help you mitigate this unsightly view, either in the form of a hedge or by choosing ball-shaped trees.

And if you really can’t stand it any longer, opt for trees that grow quickly. Marion advises you on 5 fast-growing evergreen trees.

A tree isolates from noise and wind.

Some trees can also be planted as screens against noise pollution, for example along roads or streets. Obviously, it will be necessary to choose trees with very dense and thick foliage, which can at least attenuate the noise (without eliminating it, of course, or reducing the decibels!). But don’t expect a miracle; the noise will always be present, the trees will just change the perception of it.

Thus, willows have undeniable acoustic properties, as do bamboos, yews, and cypresses.

The tree, a gift for future generations

By planting a tree, you are committing to the long term and looking towards the future. Some trees can easily live for over 100 years, or even longer. In any case, you plant a tree for yourself, but also for future generations, those of your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all the generations that will follow them.

As for us, we will need to be patient and let the years pass before we see our tree reach its ripeness. But watching it grow, strengthen, and expand its branches year after year is also a way to gain a different perspective on life. Each season will be a renewal, and each flowering or fruiting will mark a new stage in life.