If you’re looking for a beautiful way to enhance your home landscape, then look no further than the elegant beauty of trees! Strong and magnificent, these towering symbols of growth can add romance and delight to any outdoor space. But before you go planting them in your yard, it’s important to know what kinds are best suited for different climates as well as how to properly care for them post-planting. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or an experienced horticulturalist, our guides down below explain everything you need to know about growing and caring for various landscape trees.
As dioecious plants, ginkgo trees are either male or female, and it’s essential to know the differences between them. In our guide to telling apart male and female Ginkgo biloba trees, you’ll learn what the two have in common, what sets them apart, and when to utilize each in the landscape. Read more now.
Elms are strong trees that can grow in various climates, making them a common sight in parks and public spaces. They are a popular choice for landscaping due to their resilience and iconic features. We cover the cultivation, propagation, and maintenance of elm trees, as well as tips for growing. Read more now.
Plant propagation can be a mysterious process, and that’s especially true of unusual plants like magnolias – these prehistoric plants have evolved some pretty unique parts. If you’ve ever wondered how to harvest and grow magnolia seeds, this guide walks you through the process from start to finish. Read more now.
For a beautiful and versatile deciduous tree that’s been around since the dinosaurs, Ginkgo biloba is the plant for you. It’s resistant to many pests, pathogens, and environmental stressors, and has beautiful autumnal foliage. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to grow and care for Ginkgo trees the right way.
Phytophthora and the fungi Armillaria, Phymatotrichum, and Xylaria can all cause devastating cases of root rot on fruit, nut, and landscape trees along with woody shrubs. Prevention is the best way to manage these diseases. Read on to learn the best ways to avoid these diseases and biocontrol agents and fungicides that may help with Phytophthora root rot.
When properly cared for, pecan trees can yield delicious nuts and liven up the landscape for years to come. But Carya illinoinensis cultivation is quite involved. Propagation, tree maintenance, nut harvesting and storage – our guide explains it all! By the end, you’ll be ready to grow these trees like a pro.
If you’re looking for a medium-sized tree that is pest and disease resistant, a pollinator magnet, useful in the kitchen and the yard, and downright stunning when in bloom, then the hawthorn is for you. With dozens of species and cultivars available to grow at home, there’s one that’s perfect for your garden space.
With an upright, vase-shaped habit and gorgeously dense foliage, growing a Japanese zelkova is a stunning way of providing shade, whether it’s in your landscape or on the street. In our guide, you’ll learn the essentials of caring for this deciduous tree and how to keep it healthy for years of beauty. Read more now.
Highly ornamental as a container plant, ground cover, hedge, screen, or specimen, low-care Chinese fringe flower features spidery pink flowers in early spring with beautiful burgundy/plum foliage all year long. A striking addition to mild-winter gardens, learn how to grow and care for Chinese fringe flower right here.
Larches are deciduous conifers that have dramatic fall foliage and colorful cones. Because of their unique, elegant appearance, they draw all the attention in the garden. But their pretty looks hide a tough, resilient interior. They’re disease resistant, extremely cold hardy, and tolerant of drought, heat, and fire.
There are hundreds of magnolia species and even more hybrids and cultivars out there, so choosing the perfect one can be difficult. This guide explores 23 of the best magnolia varieties, from petite shrubs to massive trees, and everything in between. Find magnolias that thrive in the cold or that flower profusely.
Sweetbay magnolias bloom for a long time with lots of intensely lemon-scented flowers. They’re also fairly easy to care for, and will even thrive in boggy areas where other plants quickly drown. There are many new and exciting cultivars to choose from. Learn all about growing these magnificent shrubs and trees.
Love ‘em or not, deer are going to be around for as long as we’ve got gardens. The best way to prevent damage is to avoid offering up trees and plants they find palatable, and to fill the landscape with resistant flora. Check out our list of the top deer-resistant trees for your growing zone now on Gardener’s Path.
If you love a redbud, with its bright spring color and glossy, elegant leaves, then you’ll go wild for Lavender Twist®. It’s a weeping type with even more blossoms per inch than the species, vibrant fall color, and zig-zagging branches, giving you four-season interest on a compact, tough plant. Read more now.
Redbuds aren’t just for those who want pink flowers in the early spring. They come in all shapes and sizes, with variegated leaves, white blossoms, or zig-zagging branches for year-round interest in the garden. In this guide, we talk about 21 of the best redbud varieties, including both western and eastern types.
Redbud trees have a well-deserved reputation for offering up stunning spring color and elegant heart-shaped leaves on a disease-resistant tree. Now, make it more compact and early blooming. Take all that and sprinkle in a little extra drought tolerance on a plant that is happy in the heat, and you’ve got ‘Oklahoma.’
If you’re looking for low-maintenance color in a majestic display, check out magnolias. They come in tree and shrub forms, and there are hundreds of species that can tolerate a huge range of temperatures. It’s safe to say that nearly anyone can find one for their space. Learn all about growing magnolias in this guide.
Growing a cornelian cherry is a pretty simple process… And after putting a Cornus mas in the ground, you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous and durable tree that produces delicious drupes. In our growing guide, you’ll get the rundown on cornelian cherry cultivation and a quick primer on the best varieties. Read more now.
In the right conditions and without the proper precautions, a dogwood tree can become infected by disease, which can reduce the plant’s health and aesthetics. With this guide on Cornus diseases, you’ll learn how to spot the presence of, treat, and even prevent a handful of common diseases that occur in dogwoods.
Got a dogwood on your hands that’s infested with pests? With a bit of prior knowledge and forethought, any gardener can learn how to keep their Cornus specimens pest-free. This guide provides all the necessary know-how for identifying, managing, and even preventing an assortment of dogwood pest problems. Read more now.
For stunning flowers, lovely lush foliage, and a layered branching effect much like an actual pagoda structure, the pagoda dogwood is the tree for you. In our growing guide, you’ll learn how to propagate this tree, grow and care for it, and even how to protect it from a variety of pests and diseases. Read more now.
Flowering cherries are cherished around the world, and for good reason: they’re absolutely stunning when in bloom during the spring – and sometimes in the fall, too! We’ll help you make these beauties thrive in your garden, with everything from proper ground preparation to dealing with any problems that might pop up.
Dogwoods are a diverse group of ornamental trees, shrubs, and subshrubs native to Asia, Europe, and North America. Some feature cheerful white or pink blossoms in spring, and others provide winter interest with brightly colored branches. Discover 23 of the best dogwoods for your landscape in this guide. Read more now.
Do you need a focal point for your landscape? With a plethora of cultivars, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for in a Japanese maple. From weeping dwarf trees to tall ones covered in scarlet foliage, there’s a massive range to select from. In this guide, we’ll talk about how to select, plant, and grow one.
With an elegantly cascading growth habit and finely cut, feathery foliage, the Japanese weeping maple offers a beautiful twist on an old favorite. In this Acer palmatum var. dissectum guide, we provide all of the cultivation information you need to grow these trees in your own landscape. Read more now.
Do you want a Japanese maple but can’t decide which one to choose? Learn about our top picks to help narrow down the wide array of colors, shapes, and sizes available. Our roundup introduces 21 of the prettiest, hardiest, and most unique Japanese maples out there so you can make the right choice for your garden.
Gorgeous and adaptable, arborvitae is an evergreen conifer that performs well in many parts of the landscape, whether it’s at center stage, part of a hedge border, or visually supporting other plantings. In this guide, you’ll learn how to propagate, grow, and care for Thuja plants properly. Read more now.
With gorgeous spring, summer, and fall foliage, the coral bark Japanese maple is quite stunning. But even in winter when the branches are devoid of leaves, this tree is very alluring thanks to its juvenile branches that stand out, providing stark contrast in coral pink. Read our growing guide now to learn more!
For a tree that’s gorgeous, easy to care for, and able to withstand or avoid most infestations and infections, behold the kousa dogwood! This plant has everything you could ask for: incredible leaves, stunning blooms, and a wondrous branching habit. Our guide will teach you how to grow and care for these amazing trees.
Japanese maples come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and leaf shapes. There are trees with coral bark and some with pink foliage. Some have deeply-lobed leaves, while others have distinct variegation. How do you make sense of all the different types? This guide explains the different categories of Japanese maples.
Japanese maple is one of the best trees out there for container growing. These have a compact, non-invasive root system and they grow slowly. But while they’re mild-mannered, they provide an exceptional display with bold, bright, and interestingly-shaped foliage, and varied, elegant growth habits. Read more now.
For a mid-sized ornamental with lovely multi-season aesthetics, look no further than flowering dogwood! This tree flaunts stunning white leaf bracts, fantastic foliage, and an attractive growth habit, all of which are sure to wow and amaze visitors to your garden. Our guide explains exactly how to grow it! Read more.
Spring is such a colorful time of year as winter fades away, and one of the most colorful contributors is the glorious redbud tree. These can put on a big, bright, flowery show with very little effort on your part. This guide shows you all you need to know about growing these sturdy, beautiful harbingers of spring.
Japanese maples are fairly sturdy trees that can live a long time but they’re not immune to winter dieback. When temperatures rise and fall repeatedly, especially coupled with desiccating winds, it can seriously harm your precious plants. Learn all about dealing with and preventing winter damage in Japanese maples now.
Japanese maple bonsai trees are striking with their unique foliage and dramatic forms. Plus, each season brings a change as they transition from spring into winter. This guide demystifies the process of planting and caring for one of your own. Don’t worry, while they aren’t the easiest species to grow, it isn’t hard.
Want to create a massive impact in a minimum amount of space? Look no further than dwarf Japanese maples. This guide reveals 17 of the best options, from laceleaf weeping types to upright green leaf cultivars that make a dramatic statement in a tiny package. All of these top picks stay under about 10 feet tall.
Red Japanese maples stand out against all the green in the garden with their bright coloring. Plus, the scarlet hue really brings out the unique shape of the lobes and serration of the leaves. Here are 11 of the toughest, brightest, and most gorgeous red Japanese maple options that we’ve found to bring to your garden.
Suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7, the mighty chinkapin oak tree is a white oak species. Its lance-shaped, toothed green leaves are yellow in the fall for a rich seasonal display. Long-lived, this striking landscape specimen grows in full sun and provides comfortable shade in outdoor living spaces for generations.
You’ve got your shovel, you’ve got your acorns… now what? Oak trees are amazingly hardy once established, but they can use some help getting there as easily as possible. Read our expert guide to learn how to plant and provide care for your oak trees until they’re big and strong enough to do the job on their own.
Japanese maples are elegant trees well worth the investment. If you want a tree that makes an impact, you can’t go wrong here. But how long can you expect yours to thrive? How long will all your money and hard work last? This guide explains Japanese maple lifespans and what you can do to influence how long they live.
There are several common diseases and afflictions that may affect a maple tree and compromise the aesthetic beauty of its bark. In this guide to treating maple bark diseases, we’ll cover the main threats you should keep a sharp lookout for, along with how to treat them and how to prevent them in the first place.
Sugar maple trees are gorgeous and bountiful. With beautiful fall color, rock hard lumber, and deliciously sweet sap, sugar maples are well worth the cultivation effort. In our growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, growing techniques, and plant health care tips. You’ll be growing sugar maples in no time!
Elegant Japanese maples don’t get that way all on their own. It takes careful pruning to keep the trees healthy and their shape looking graceful. All that’s required are some thoughtful winter cutbacks and spring shaping. Learn more about when and how to prune Japanese maples the right way to create a striking display.
Japanese maples are attractive trees, with their richly colored, delicately feathered leaves – and bugs agree. There are a variety of pests that like to snack on the vibrant foliage and suck the sap. Learn everything you need to know about common Japanese maple pests and how to deal with them in this guide. Read more now.
A Japanese maple’s gorgeous foliage and attractive growing habit look all the more beautiful when complementary plantings are incorporated into the nearby landscape. In this guide to Acer palmatum companion plants, we’ll cover 13 of the best options to grow in a Japanese maple’s immediate vicinity. Read more now.
For a simple, inexpensive, and reliable way of propagating Japanese maple trees, look to their seeds. Growing Acer palmatum from seed is an empowering and enjoyable way of acquiring this gorgeous specimen for yourself, and we’ll cover everything you need to know in this propagation guide. Read more now.
As summer gives way to autumn, the leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs provide a fabulous, colorful display of fall foliage. If your favorite color is orange, you’re in luck! In this guide, we take a look at 13 of the best landscape trees and shrubs that produce outstanding orange foliage in fall. Read more now.
With stunning ornamental beauty, durability, and adaptability in the landscape, the Norway maple deserves a spot or two in your landscape. In this growing guide, we’ll cover the ins and outs of cultivating Acer platanoides in your landscape, with topics ranging from propagation and plant health care to general tips.
When autumn leaves put on a spectacular display of browns, oranges, purples, reds, and yellows, do you wonder why they turn such vivid hues? You’re not alone. Ongoing scientific study points to reasons that may or may not tell the whole story. Read on to learn what we know to date about why autumn leaves change color.
A Japanese maple looks absolutely glorious – and even more so when you fertilize it properly! In our guide to feeding A. palmatum trees, we cover everything you need to know to provide your Japanese maple with the proper nutrition, including timing, techniques, and why you should bother fertilizing in the first place.
Maple trees are an amazing group of plants. With so many incredible species of Acer available, it can be hard to decide which one to bring home. That’s why we whipped up this roundup of the best maple trees. We provide a breakdown of what they bring to the table, and how they can best be utilized in the landscape.
Maple trees are beautiful plants, and they look even better when you trim them properly. Luckily, you can easily learn and put this skill into practice. In this guide, we’ll cover why you’d even prune a maple in the first place, what you’ll need, the ideal timing, and proper pruning techniques. Read more now.
As one of the most popular shade tree specimens in the United States, the red maple is a truly stunning plant. It’s also pretty easy to grow, especially with a wee bit of know-how. In our growing guide, we’ll cover just how to cultivate these trees, along with propagation techniques, plant health care, and more.
Maples are a diverse, adaptable, and beautiful group of trees. There are those that grow in frigid climates and some that grow in hot ones. Some love constant moisture and others deal well with drought. Need a tree that stays under 5 feet tall or one that grows 100 feet or more? The Acer genus has both – and more!
Versatile, leafy, and easygoin, hackberry trees can thrive in locations where most other trees can’t. Working well in cities or in your backyard, they grow rapidly to provide shade, produce colorful berries, attract birds, and display iconic bark. These large trees are easy to maintain, giving much and asking little.
Fussy indoors, weeping figs are hardy outside. But keeping them – and yourself – happy requires planting them in the right spot. Near sidewalks, plumbing, or pools, they can spell disaster. You can have a beautiful evergreen that works equally well in the landscape as it does as a hedge or topiary. Read more.
Store bought avocado seeds can be turned into a simple, fun project that you can do with children, at home or in the classroom. This educational activity extends learning opportunities through the summer. Demonstrate the plant life cycle and spark a love of gardening by growing a lovely tree to enjoy for years to come.
Learn everything you need to know about how to grow the majestic olive tree, a large plant that makes a dramatic landscape statement while providing delicious fruit that’s suitable for preserving in brine, oil, or water, or for pressing to make a flavorful oil that’s beloved by cooks around the world. Read more now.
If you live in a colder climate but still want to grow avocados, you’ll need to choose a cold-hardy variety. Luckily, there are several cultivars available that can tolerate the cold, and still thrive. Discover the best cold tolerant avocado varieties that can withstand freezing temperatures and still produce fruit.
To get insider tips on why fall is the best time to plant trees in your landscape, discover what “fall” actually means, depending on what part of the country you live in, and get expert advice about all the steps involved in planting trees for the maximum chances of success, read more now.
Do your shade, nut, or fruit tree limbs and trunks have unsightly growths on them? If so, they are probably burr knots or crown gall. One is due to roots growing on the stems, while the other is a bacterial infection. Prevention is the best bet for these disorders. Learn how to prevent and, in some cases, control them.
Thinking of suspending an avocado pit over water in hopes of producing some of the buttery green fruit? Learn whether this is a good idea, and other tips and tricks for growing “alligator pears” in your own backyard.
Mulberry trees have a short harvest season but produce ample fruits for all of your favorite pies, jellies, and wines. See what it takes to propagate this fast-growing tree and why it makes a beautiful addition to any yard or garden. Learn the basics for care in our growing guide on Gardener’s Path.
Before you begin your next landscaping project, read this book review. Essential Native Trees and Shrubs of the Eastern United States is an expert compilation of top performers that provide much-needed habitat for wildlife. Discover this go-to gardening guide now, as recommended by your friends at Gardener’s Path.
Like many of your other landscape plants, trees need a little extra attention as winter prepares to rear its chilly head. Get the best tips now on Gardener’s Path for preparing your beauties for the arrival of Jack Frost.
It is frustrating and alarming when the top part of an otherwise healthy tree dies inexplicably. Want to learn why this happens, how you can treat this odd problem, and how to prevent it from happening to other trees in the future? Our expert tips can help. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Shade trees are natural climate control for your home and yard. They offer protection from the light and heat of the sun and can serve as a buffer against strong, cold winds that whip heat away from the house. Gardener’s Path has compiled a selection of fast-growing shade trees, excellent selections for your home in every US Hardiness Zone. Read more.
What the heck is that conifer tree? Chalk it up to “Problems Only Gardeners Face,” but it’s a pain in the booty deducing whether a tree is a pine, spruce, or fir. Learning the differences between these trees can be a challenge, but it’s a rewarding one. Continue reading on Gardener’s Path now for our sure-thing identification guidelines.
Meet Bob Piaschyk, a smart and determined Texas nurseryman whose sharp eyes identified a beautiful and unusual tree. With luck, its propagation could lead to the financing of his grandkids’ educations. Learn about his quest now at Gardener’s Path.
If you are a gardener in the Midwest, this book is for you. It’s Adelman and Schwartz’s Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees: Gardening Alternatives to Nonnative Species. Read our review on Gardener’s Path now to learn why this illustrated guide is a must-have horticultural resource.
Have you heard of juglone toxicity? This side effect of keeping black walnut trees may be killing your other plants. Learn what fruits and flowers can withstand living near the tree and how to properly treat sensitive plants with our owner’s guide on Gardener’s Path.
If a top university recommends this tree for its own campus, you know it’s gotta be good. We share five unbeatable reasons why you should plant a fast-growing and easy-care Monterrey oak tree in your landscape — learn more now at Gardener’s Path.
The crape myrtle is celebrated for its abundant groupings of colorful and delicate flowers in hues from white to deep red. If you know anything about these trees, you know that pruning them is a subject of great debate. To learn the proper way to trim crape myrtle trees, read more now on Gardener’s Path.
If would take the better portion of a day to name every variety of cherry tree. All of them lovely and all originating from China and Japan. Some grow small and compact, others grow tall and provide shade, some produce cherries while others are strictly ornamental. All varieties of this flowering tree will grow well …