Types of Trees

The two major categories of tree are deciduous (hardwood) and coniferous (softwood). Both types have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to choosing what kind of tree you want to plant at your home.

Evergreen or Deciduous Trees: What Type Is Right for You?
Deciduous trees’ main distinguishing feature is that they lose leaves in autumn and have bare branches over the winter, then they produce new leaves in the spring. There are many more varieties of deciduous trees than there are coniferous trees, meaning there are more colors, leaf shapes, sizes, etc. that you can choose to suit your preferences. Examples of deciduous tree species are birch, oak, elm, willow, and beech trees.
One benefit of growing deciduous trees is that they provide shade during the summer when their leaves are largest. When the leaves drop off in the autumn, the bare branches allow more sunlight through, meaning having plenty of mature deciduous trees around your home can help with lowering utility bills.
If you enjoy having colorful leaves in the fall, you could get a maple, quaking aspen, or another variety with bright leaves.
Falling leaves can also be a disadvantage, though. Some people may dislike having to rake lots of leaves to keep their yard clean.
Evergreens generally have needles instead of leaves, and they do not change with the seasons in the way deciduous trees do. For this reason, they can be a welcome dash of color in snowy climates. This also makes them ideal to use as protection against strong winter winds. They can also be used to create an all-season privacy barrier. Some popular varieties of evergreen tree are cedar, fir, pine, and spruce.
Although evergreens don’t drop their needles the same way that deciduous trees lose leaves, they do shed needles. Pine needles can be difficult to remove from a lawn.
The majority of evergreens are conifers, meaning they reproduce by producing seed-containing cones. These cones also drop off the trees and can get in the way of lawn mowers if they are in a yard.
Finally, most evergreens contain a sticky sap. While it doesn’t cause problems most of the time, it can attract undesirable insects such as beetles and weevils. The sap is also likely to get on your hands and clothes when you prune the tree or try to collect cones or needles.
Growing Trees for Fruit, Flowers, and Fall Foliage

If you’re planting a tree anyway, why not choose one that can provide you with something beautiful to look at or something delicious to eat? There are any number of trees that fall into these categories (a few examples are listed below), but be aware of growing conditions for each of them before you try to plant these in your yard. It may also take years for a young tree to bear fruit.

Fruits and Nuts:
  • Apple
  • Avocado
  • Cherry
  • Hazelnut
  • Mulberry
  • Peach
  • Pecan
  • Persimmon
  • Plum
  • Walnut
Flowers:
  • Crabapple
  • Dogwood
  • Magnolia
  • Ornamental Cherry
  • Redbud
  • Serviceberry
Colorful Foliage:
  • American Sweetgum
  • Beech
  • Dogwood
  • Japanese Maple
  • River Birch
  • Sugar Maple
  • Sumac