15 Best Trees You Can Plant Near Your House

Written by: Melissa WeberPosted in: Home Savvy
Small Trees

Are you planning to spruce up your landscape by planting trees near your house but are unsure where to start? Studies show planting the right tree provides various environmental benefits.

This article will guide you in choosing the most suitable trees for your vicinity, considering factors like soil type, root system, growth rate, and much more. Discover a list of the best trees that charm your home and ensure its long-term stability.

How to Pick the Right Tree to Plant Near House

Selecting the right tree to plant near your house involves considering factors such as soil type, available space, tree size and growth rate, root system traits, and maintenance requirements.

Soil Type

Different trees like different types of soil. Some grow best in clay, but that can be tough for many trees. If the soil is sandy, it drains fast, so you might need to water more often.

Loamy soil, a mix of sand and clay, is excellent for most trees. Be careful with acidic soil, though! It can stop some trees from getting the food they need from the ground. So before planting a tree near your house, check what kind of soil you have.

Space Availability

You need to check how much space you have before planting a tree near your home. Some trees grow wide and tall. They need lots of room to spread their roots and branches. They might not grow well if they are too close to your house or other trees.

Also, if a tree is big, its roots can harm the walls of your house. A good tip is to plant small trees if your yard is tiny. Look at the full size of a tree before planting it near your home!

Tree size and Growth Rate

Think about the size of a tree and how fast it grows before planting. Some trees grow quickly and get very big. The Willow tree is one kind. It becomes large too soon, so it’s not right for small areas near houses.

The Silver Maple is another quick-growing tree with invasive roots that can hurt sidewalks or house bases. Roots from this type of tree might also ruin driveways. Not all trees are like this, though! There are slow-growing trees like Japanese Maple that fit well in small spaces near homes because they won’t outgrow their spot too fast.

Tree’s Root System

Tree roots are a big deal. They like wet soil and grow away from your house because it’s usually dry near the base. But be careful! Some trees have strong roots that can harm your home’s base or the whole building if planted too close.

Silver maple is one of those trees with fast-growing roots that can cause problems for nearby structures. Also, don’t forget – a tree won’t grow well if it’s too close to things like walls and fences, which could make it weak and unsafe.

Tree Maintenance

Taking care of trees is not hard. You need to water them when they are new. Check for pests and diseases that can hurt the tree as they grow. Trees also need trimming from time to time.

This helps them grow in the right way and stay healthy. Do not cut too many branches at once, as it can harm the tree. Ensuring your trees get what they need will help them live long lives.

Taking good care of your trees also protects your house from damage by sick or weak trees.

Best Trees to Plant Near Your House

1. Flowering Dogwood

Considered one of the most beautiful ornamental trees, the Flowering Dogwood is a great addition to your house. With its stunning white or pink flowers in spring and red leaves in fall, it’s perfect for homeowners who want a tree that provides beauty throughout the year.

It grows moderately and reaches a height between 20 to 30 feet – ideal for residential landscapes. Its non-invasive root system makes it safe to plant closer to buildings without risk of foundation damage.

Plus, it thrives well in various soil types with adequate sunlight while offering shade during hot summer. Not only does this tree enhance aesthetic appeal, but it also increases property value due to its attractive features.

Features & Benefits

The Flowering Dogwood tree adds beauty all year round. It blooms in the spring and has bright leaves in the fall. In winter, it grows berries. This tree grows fast, so you can see results quickly.

You don’t need to work hard to keep this tree looking good. Birds and wildlife love dogwoods, too. They are small trees that won’t harm your house if they grow near it.

2. Paper Birch

The Paper Birch, or Betula papyrifera, is an incredible tree that adds beauty to your home with its unique peeling white bark and golden leaves in autumn. Ready to discover more about this magnificent tree? Keep reading!

Features & Benefits

The paper birch tree has a white bark that peels. This look can make your yard stand out. The tree does well in wet soil and gives cool shade in hot summer. This shade can help reduce air conditioning costs by keeping the house cooler.

Many birds and wild animals like this tree, too, add life to your garden area!

3. Colorado Blue Spruce

This robust and beautiful evergreen, the Colorado Blue Spruce, makes an excellent addition near your home with its distinctive blue-green needles and cone-shaped form that provide natural shade all year round.

Features & Benefits

The Colorado Blue Spruce is a top pick for near houses. Its cool blue leaves stay green all year. This tree gives your yard beauty, even in winter! It can grow up to 75 feet tall and makes lots of shade.

The tree’s shape is like a pyramid with lots of leaves. Your home will have more privacy with this tree around! It can live in different dirt, like clay or alkaline soils.

4. Magnolia

This stunning tree, the Magnolia (Magnolia dodecapetala), offers broad evergreen leaves and large, fragrant flowers. You’ll love its fast growth rate and low maintenance needs, making it an excellent choice for planting near your house.

The magnolia thrives in most soil types and creates a fantastic visual appeal with its beautiful white blooms attracting birds and butterflies to your garden.

Features & Benefits

Magnolia trees are a great choice for your yard. They have big, white flowers that bloom in spring. These beautiful blooms draw many birds to them. This tree can give you nice shade and coolness when the heat of summer rolls in.

The strong roots keep the dirt together, which helps stop soil from washing away during rains. One more perk is its toughness against bugs and diseases, so you won’t need to use a lot of sprays or treatments on it!

5. Red Oak

The Red Oak, or Quercus Rubra, adds bold beauty to any property with its distinctive red fall foliage and swift growth rate. Dial into the comprehensive features of this robust tree and its appeal for home-adjacent planting in our next section.

Features & Benefits

Red Oak trees are great for your yard. They have a wide top that gives lots of shade. The leaves turn red in the fall and look beautiful. Red Oak wood is strong and good for making floors and furniture.

Many kinds of animals live in these trees, too. So, you will see more birds and squirrels around your home. Plus, this tree grows well in many parts of North America!

6. Texas Redbud

This native Texan tree, known for its vibrant purplish-pink blooms, is a perfect addition to your home. With its drought tolerance and alkaline soil preference, the Texas Redbud is easy to maintain while adding color and charm to your landscape.

Its ornamental nature provides aesthetic appeal throughout the year, with lush green leaves following the spring bloom period. The size of this tree also makes it an ideal choice for planting near houses, as it doesn’t grow excessively large, helping you avoid potential issues with roots or branches.

Remember to provide full sun exposure for maximum growth and bloom benefits.

Features & Benefits

The Texas Redbud tree has a lot going for it. Planting near your home is great because its roots won’t mess things up. This tree can handle hot weather and dry soil, so it’s cool if you forget to water it sometimes.

The best part is when spring comes around because this guy pops out pretty pink flowers. Plus, having a cool-looking tree like this can increase your place’s worth!

7. Yaupon Holly

This native tree to the southern United States is renowned for its glossy leaves and vibrant red berries, making Yaupon Holly a picturesque addition to your yard. It’s not just about looks; this adaptable tree thrives in various soil types and can tolerate drought conditions, too.

The Yaupon Holly is a low-maintenance option requiring minimal pruning, making it perfect for those with busy lifestyles. It offers year-round color and privacy as an evergreen species, serving as an excellent boundary or hedge plant.

And don’t forget wildlife; birds love their berries! Embrace the beauty of nature by adding a Yaupon Holly near your house.

Features & Benefits

Yaupon Holly is a tough tree. It deals well with shade, drought, and hard soils. Its roots do not hurt your house’s foundation because they stay to themselves. The red berries it grows draw birds close.

If you look for privacy or need to block the wind, its thick leaves can help. It also fits in small yards near houses well without taking up too much space.

8. Tulip tree Tree

This majestic tree, recognized for its unique tulip-shaped leaves and vibrant springtime blooms, is an excellent choice for your yard. Learn more about the Tulip Tree’s fast growth rate and other benefits that make this tree a marvelous addition to your landscape.

Features & Benefits

The Tulip tree has a lot of things to love. It grows very tall, up to 90 feet. It loves being in full sun and likes moist and well-drained soil. The leaves have interesting shapes and turn yellow in the fall.

This makes it pretty both now and when it’s cold outside. But take care where you plant this tree! Its big size could hurt your home or pipes under the ground if placed too close. Also, its fast growth might cause branch issues with walls or roofs nearby.

9. Japanese Maple

The Japanese Maple is one of the most artistically stunning trees you can plant near your house. This tree is renowned for its gorgeous fall foliage, which ranges from bright red to purple hues.

Don’t worry too much about root invasion because it has a non-invasive root system that makes it safe to plant near houses. With a moderate growth rate and small size, Japanese Maples are perfect for those with limited space.

They thrive in full or partial shade and are adaptable to various soil conditions. They’re also surprisingly low maintenance, requiring minimal pruning each year. Plus, their unique twisted branches create an attractive silhouette even after the leaves drop off in winter!

Features & Benefits

Japanese Maples are a great choice for your home. These trees show off stunning colors in the fall. They like spots with some shade and soil that drains well. You’ll love how they add beauty to your yard! The tree grows slowly to medium speed and gets up to 25 feet tall when fully grown.

Best of all, Japanese Maples have roots that don’t cause damage. This makes them safe near house foundations or pipes under the ground.

10. Green Giant Arborvitae

This hardy evergreen shines in the world of trees with its rapid growth rate, towering height, and year-round privacy. Known scientifically as Thuja picea, ‘Green Giant,’ this Arborvitae stands tall against pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance choice for homeowners.

Its thick green foliage provides an excellent natural shade while acting as an effective windbreaker and noise barrier. Green Giant Arborvitae is suitable for every soil condition and only asks for good sun exposure to reach its full potential – a perfect companion near your house!

Features & Benefits

The Green Giant Arborvitae is a great tree to have near your house. Its roots don’t cause harm, making it safe. It grows fast and can block the view from others. This tree stands up to bad weather like wind, snow, and ice.

It gives you a green wall all year long and helps reduce noise. With this tree, there are fewer bugs and diseases to worry about, so it’s easy to care for!

11. Crabapple

Dive into the world of Crabapple trees, known for their vibrant spring blossoms and fruit that attracts wildlife. Learn about their moderate growth rate, adaptability to various soil conditions, and the colorful display they add to your property.

Stay tuned for more on this popular choice!

Features & Benefits

Crabapple trees are great for your yard. They have dark pink and rose-pink flowers that make a pretty view. They can live in Texas without much water and don’t mind soils with lime.

Thick leaf coverage from these trees gives you cool shade on sunny days. You will also get more privacy near your house because of it. Crabapple trees do not grow roots that mess up other things around them, so they’re safe to plant close to the house.

Your house will look better with a crabapple tree around it as well!

12. Emerald Green Arborvitae

This compact, evergreen tree is known for its dense growth and rich green color, making it an excellent option for privacy screens or windbreaks near your home.

Features & Benefits

Emerald Green Arborvitae is a great tree to plant near your house. It grows fast and keeps its beautiful green color all year round. This tall, slim tree is perfect for small yards.

You won’t have to worry about it taking up too much space. It’s also thick enough to give you privacy from neighbors or the street. So, if you want a pretty, easy-to-care-for tree with many benefits, choose Emerald Green Arborvitae!

13. Eastern Redbud

The Eastern Redbud, or Cercis Canadensis, is a small but magnificent tree for your home. It’s known for its vibrant pinkish-purple flowers that bloom in early spring, providing an eye-catching splash of color against the still-dormant landscape.

Its heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn, upping its visual appeal throughout the year. Besides aesthetic charm, this tree thrives under full sun and partial shade conditions, making it fairly adaptable.

Also, it doesn’t grow too large, with a typical height between 20-30 feet, which can be perfect if you don’t have too much space around your house. However, remember to water them regularly as they prefer moist soil conditions.

Features & Benefits

The Eastern Redbud is a great tree. It has roots that don’t cause trouble. It can handle heat and no rain very well. In spring, it shows off pink-purple flowers. Its leaves are shaped like hearts.

This tree makes your home look much better! With this tree, your home price could go up by 15 percent.

14. Crape Myrtle

This vibrant tree, Crape Myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica, is a head-turner with dazzling summer flowers and stunning autumn foliage. Discover how this fast-growing and drought-resistant tree can enhance your landscape’s beauty.

Features & Benefits

Crape Myrtle trees are great for your yard. They have big, frilly pink, red, lavender, or white flowers. You will see these bright colors in the summer and fall. These trees also have good looks when leaves change color in the fall.

The roots of Crape Myrtle won’t harm your house because they aren’t invasive. This tree is tough, too! It can handle hot weather, dry times, and soils with lots of lime without getting sick.

Some types, like ‘Arapaho’ and ‘Catawba,’ fight off disease very well. So they stay healthy and pretty for a long time.

15. Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Dive into the world of Dwarf Alberta Spruce, an elegant, cone-shaped evergreen that makes a great addition to any house due to its slow growth rate and manageable size. Not only does this tree offer year-round color with its dense, bright-green needles, but it’s also deficient maintenance – no need for frequent pruning or shaping! With a root system that won’t threaten your home’s foundation, the Picea glauca is undoubtedly an intelligent choice for those seeking a hard yet beautiful tree.

Features & Benefits

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a good tree to have near your house. It grows slowly and stays small. This tree has dark green leaves that stay all year long. It makes your yard look nice in every season.

You do not need to cut or shape it often, so it’s easy to take care of. Its roots don’t go deep so they won’t hurt your house, pavement, or pipes underground.

Tips on Growing Trees Near Your House

  • Pick the right spot for your tree. Make sure it will have enough space to grow high and wide. You don’t want it too near your house or other trees. The good place is where the sun can hit most trees, not just one side.
  • Always dig a hole two times wider than the pot but no deeper than its root ball. Place your new tree in its hole and cover it with soil halfway up its root ball. Water well so all air pockets leave the area around roots.
  • Finish adding soil until level with the ground, then water again after planting.
  • You must care for young trees until they take root and grow independently. Protect them from heavy winds using stakes and straps if needed, but remove these once strong roots are in place.
  • Trees need water often in their first year of life, even more so when it’s hot or dry outside. Yet be careful not to drown them — too much water can make a tree sick! If you see leaves starting to turn yellow, cut back on watering.
  • Avoid putting bark mulch directly against the trunk as this may cause rotting over time while keeping grass away from the base because the blade mower can damage young bark skin, which is sensitive.
  • Feeding trees with fertilizers during late winter or early spring helps them grow healthy and high; still read instructions before applying any product!
  • It’s also important to prune trees correctly when they’re young so they can form good shape as adult ones later in life: remove branches that cross each other, those that come off the main stem at less than a 45-degree angle (as weak), those pointing inward toward the center of the tree (as won’t get enough light) or rubbing each other (as causing wound).
  • Learn how to prune properly – cutting branches without hurting the rest of the plant – before attempting!
  • Get help from pros if dealing with large matured ones; these could pose risks due to safety reasons if not handled correctly.
  • If you notice any sign of pests or disease, get a tree expert to check it out immediately! The sooner you act, the better your chances to save your tree’s life.

With these tips and love, your trees can thrive near your home!

The Bottom Line

Planting the right trees near your house can be a joy. The trees you pick add beauty, shade, and value to your home. Carefully picked trees are also good for the earth. Plant with care and enjoy a better home!

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