Tips to choose the right tree for your yard

Planting new trees? Chose ones that fit the area, says Lucy Hershberger, owner of Coralville-based landscaping company Forever Green.

Right size, right place

Typically, flowering trees are smaller, anywhere from 10 to 30 feet tall and wide. These work well in smaller yards, where a larger tree might overwhelm the space. Larger shade trees can grow to more than 50 feet. Plant large trees on the south or west side of the house to benefit most from shade.

Speed or strength

Want a mature tree quickly? Here are some fast-growing trees:

- Autumn blaze maple: Cross between silver maple and red maple, seedless, red fall color.

- Hybrid elms, such as cathedral or triumph: Resistant to Dutch elm disease, spreading canopy.

- River birch: Native to Iowa, peeling bark for winter interest.

Generally, the faster a tree grows, the softer its wood, and the more likely it is to shed twigs and branches in a storm. Slower-growing trees will better withstand strong winds.

These trees will have stronger branches:

- Northern red oak: Native tree, red fall color.

- Thornless honeylocust: Small leaves provide filtered shade.

- Red sunset maple: Red fall color, moderate size.

A forest of options

Need more choices? Hershberger recommends:

- Swamp white oak

- Ironwood or hornbeam

- Ginkgos: Interesting leaves, yellow fall color.

- Sugar maples: Slower-growing, orange to yellow fall color.

About: Forever Green

125 Forevergreen Road, Coralville; (319) 626-6770; Forevergreengrows.com

Forever Green's trained, certified and experienced staff creates landscapes that suit your needs, reflect your lifestyle and blend with the environment. Visit the garden center for plants, supplies and advice for DIY projects.