Planting the right tree is one of the best long-term investments you can make for your property. A well-chosen tree can provide shade, improve biodiversity, enhance privacy, increase property value, and create a beautiful landscape feature for generations to come.
However, the success of any tree starts long before it goes into the ground. Choosing the right species and planting it in the right location can make the difference between a thriving asset and a future problem involving excessive pruning, structural damage, neighbour disputes, or even premature removal.
Whether you’re a homeowner planning a new garden, a self-builder designing your dream home, or a developer creating a new residential site, careful planning at the outset will ensure your trees continue to add value for decades to come.
Start with Space: How Big Will the Tree Become?
One of the most common mistakes people make is choosing a tree based on how it looks at the garden centre rather than how large it will become.
A young sapling may stand only two metres tall, but many species continue growing for decades and can eventually reach heights of 20 metres or more.
Before planting, ask yourself:
- How tall will this tree be at maturity?
- How wide will the canopy spread?
- How extensive will the root system become?
- Will there still be enough space in 20 or 30 years?
Thinking about mature size rather than current size helps avoid expensive management or removal later.
Keep Safe Distances from Buildings
Trees and buildings can coexist successfully, but sufficient space must be allowed for future growth.
As a general guide:
- Trees should not normally be planted closer to buildings than approximately their expected mature height.
- Even smaller ornamental trees are generally best positioned at least 2.5–3 metres from walls.
- As a practical minimum, around 5 metres should usually be maintained between trees and structures, depending on species and site conditions.
- Medium and large-growing species require considerably greater separation distances.
Additional care is needed where properties are built on shrinkable clay soils or where underground services are present.
Professional advice can help determine suitable planting distances based on both tree species and local ground conditions.
Think Beyond Size: What Do You Want the Tree to Do?
Choosing a tree isn’t simply about appearance. The most successful planting schemes begin by considering the purpose of the tree.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want shade for a patio or garden seating area?
- Are you looking for year-round privacy?
- Would you like to frame an attractive view?
- Do you want seasonal interest through blossom, autumn colour, or decorative bark?
- Is supporting wildlife one of your priorities?
Understanding the tree’s role helps narrow down suitable species and ensures it enhances your property rather than creating future conflicts.
Shade, Privacy and Light
Different trees provide very different benefits.
Deciduous Trees
Deciduous species lose their leaves in winter, making them an excellent choice where you want:
- Summer shade
- Winter sunlight
- Seasonal colour
- Greater flexibility around buildings
They are particularly well suited to south-facing gardens where summer cooling is desirable but winter daylight remains important.
Evergreen Trees
Evergreens provide:
- Year-round screening
- Consistent privacy
- Wind protection
- Visual structure throughout the year
However, they also create permanent shade and may produce continuous needle or leaf fall.
Careful positioning is essential to avoid overshadowing neighbouring properties or reducing natural light within your own home.
Choosing Trees for Small Gardens
Many homeowners assume they cannot have a tree because their garden is too small.
Fortunately, there are numerous attractive species that remain compact while still providing excellent ornamental and ecological value.
Popular choices for smaller gardens in Devon include:
Amelanchier (Juneberry)
A beautiful small tree offering:
- Delicate spring blossom
- Attractive autumn colour
- Edible berries enjoyed by birds
- A modest mature size suitable for smaller gardens
Ornamental Crab Apples (Malus cultivars)
These provide:
- Spectacular spring flowers
- Decorative fruit
- Strong wildlife value
- Manageable long-term growth
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
An excellent native choice offering:
- Upright growth habit
- Clusters of berries
- Autumn colour
- Food for a wide variety of birds
Small Birch Varieties
Certain birch species provide:
- Light, airy canopies
- Attractive bark
- Excellent movement in the wind
- Strong seasonal character
Flowering Cherries
Carefully selected ornamental cherries can provide spectacular spring displays while remaining suitable for modest spaces.
Multi-stemmed forms and naturally compact cultivars often work particularly well in domestic gardens.
Avoiding Common Planting Mistakes
Many future tree problems arise simply because the wrong species was planted in the wrong location.
Common examples include:
- Large poplars planted close to houses
- Leylandii positioned along narrow boundaries
- Fast-growing willows planted near drains
- Large forest species squeezed into small urban gardens
These trees often require repeated pruning and may eventually need removal as they outgrow the available space.
Selecting an appropriately sized species from the outset is usually far more cost-effective than attempting to manage excessive growth later.
Planting Trees on New Developments
For developers and self-builders, tree planting involves much more than landscaping.
New trees must work alongside:
- Foundations
- Drainage systems
- Utility services
- Roads and driveways
- Sustainable drainage systems
- Existing retained trees
Good planning ensures new planting complements the wider site rather than creating future maintenance or structural issues.
Coordinating with BS5837 Requirements
Where developments involve existing trees, new planting should be considered alongside the recommendations contained within any BS5837 arboricultural reports.
This helps ensure:
- Existing Root Protection Areas remain undisturbed.
- New trees complement retained landscape features.
- Planting enhances biodiversity.
- Long-term landscape quality is improved.
Early collaboration between architects, developers, landscape designers, and arboricultural consultants often results in stronger planning outcomes and more attractive finished developments.
Understanding Devon’s Local Conditions
Devon offers an incredibly varied landscape.
Conditions can differ dramatically between:
- Coastal locations
- River valleys
- Moorland edges
- Urban environments
- Sheltered rural sites
These variations influence which species will establish successfully.
Factors worth considering include:
Soil Type
Different species thrive in different soils.
Local ground conditions may include:
- Heavy clay
- Free-draining sand
- Deep loam
- Shallow soils over rock
Matching species to soil type significantly improves long-term health.
Exposure
Coastal gardens may experience:
- Strong prevailing winds
- Salt-laden air
- Greater exposure
More sheltered inland gardens often support a wider variety of species.
Choosing wind-tolerant trees where appropriate improves resilience and reduces future maintenance.
Drainage
Poor drainage may restrict suitable species or require additional preparation before planting.
Conversely, free-draining soils may require more intensive watering during establishment.
Why Professional Planting Advice Matters
Planting a tree is a long-term investment that may shape your landscape for generations.
Seeking advice before planting is often considerably less expensive than resolving problems once the tree has matured.
An experienced arboricultural consultant can help you:
- Select species suited to your objectives
- Recommend appropriate planting locations
- Advise on spacing from buildings and boundaries
- Consider future growth and maintenance
- Coordinate planting with planning conditions
- Produce professional planting plans where required
Good planning helps avoid unnecessary conflicts while ensuring trees deliver maximum environmental, visual, and practical benefits.
Final Thoughts
The principle of “the right tree in the right place” is one of the foundations of good arboriculture.
By thinking carefully about mature size, site conditions, future growth, and the role you want a tree to play, you can create a landscape that enhances your property for decades rather than creating costly maintenance issues in the future.
Whether you’re planting a single ornamental tree in a small garden or designing landscaping for a new development, taking the time to plan properly will deliver lasting rewards for people, wildlife, and the wider environment.
At Devon Tree Services, we help homeowners, architects, developers, and landowners across Devon select suitable tree species, prepare professional planting plans, and design landscapes that are attractive, sustainable, and built to thrive for generations.
