Ornamental Trees for Sale

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What Is An Ornamental Tree? What, exactly, is an ornamental tree? Aren’t all trees pretty to look at? Why would I want one? What purpose do they serve? Let’s break it down to help you make the right decision when purchasing an ornamental tree for your yard. A Tree is a Tree, So… Even the definition of what counts as a tree is less than clear. There are no minimum height requirements to be called a tree and no size restrictions. Generally, a woody stem or stems and some size bigger than most people would call a shrub is sufficient. But that doesn’t help much. Anything from a dwarf apple tree to a redwood fits that description. Commonly, trees that might be planted on your property are divided into three categories. When looking at trees, you can think of them as: Shade trees Like it sounds, shade trees are usually taller, more expansive trees with full crowns and a branching habit. They are planted to provide a significant patch of shade for summer naps or to shield the house and yard from the scorching summer sun. Shade trees are usually deciduous. Before air conditioning was standard, most houses had shade trees to block the hot sun in the summer but allow the sun to warm the home all winter after the leaves dropped in fall. Forest trees planted in the open where they can branch out are the most common shade trees. Think of trees like oaks , maples , tulip trees , and gums. Fruit trees Pretty self-explanatory here. Fruit trees are planted to harvest delicious fruits to eat. They are usually smaller trees and can be found in dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard sizes. Although a standard apple tree can be pretty large, it typically won’t be as large as shade trees. Ornamental trees Trees categorized as ornamental usually share several characteristics. They are of small to medium size, generally topping out about 25-30 feet tall or less. Some may be much smaller. Most ornamental trees feature unique foliage, like a Japanese maple , or springtime displays like flowering che