garden Archives - 3 Kids and Us

5 Privacy Trees for Your Backyard

May 4, 2021 by admin

Trees are a beautiful asset to any yard. They increase the aesthetic of your property, attract local wildlife, and provide shade and coolness during the hot summer months. However, one thing they also can provide, which people don’t always think of, is privacy. Privacy is important to many people. You want your yard to be a safe space. You want you and your family to be able to enjoy your yard as you please. This is why many opt to plant privacy trees for backyard areas.

One other thing to consider is the type of privacy you desire in your yard. Is it from neighbors or bystanders or noise? Or is it primarily for protection from the weather? If it’s to lessen the noise in your yard, you’ll want to choose trees with dense branches and long needles. If you just want help in covering the view, you can choose skinnier trees.

Not sure what you’re looking for yet? Here are five privacy trees for your backyard to give you some ideas.

1. Emerald Arborvitae

Emerald arborvitae, also known by many as the emerald green thuja, is one of the most popular choices for privacy trees for backyard areas. These are evergreen trees. They’re extremely thick and grow in a pyramid shape. At full maturity, they can reach about 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide. They can survive in various soil conditions and are very resistant to both ice and frost.

For best results, these trees should be planted about two to three feet apart. They should be in an area of full to partial sunlight. Emerald arborvitae trees are great for yards that are medium in size, especially as they only grow six to nine inches per year.

2. Eastern Redcedar

If your property is large, consider planting eastern redcedar trees, as they provide a lot of protection and privacy. This is because they can reach heights of 60 feet and up to 20 feet in width. They are conifer trees, which means that they provide year-round protection for your backyard. In the winter, they block out the cold, strong wind. In the summer, they provide you and your family with shade from the hot sun. Additionally, they have a nice scent throughout the year, an earthly fragrance that adds to your yard’s beauty and comfort. They also attract local wildlife such as birds and smaller animals.

For ultimate privacy, be sure to plant these trees about 20 feet apart. They should also be planted away from any neighboring homes or power lines.

3. Flowering Dogwood Trees

At Mr. Tree, we have already shared with you what our favorite varieties of dogwood trees are. But when it comes to privacy, flowering dogwood trees should be the dogwood of choice. These trees will not only provide privacy for your yard but will give your yard lots of dazzling color too. The flowers come in red, pink, white, and more. These are smaller trees, only reaching a maximum height of about 25 feet. However, they also reach widths of 25 feet, which is why they’re great at keeping neighbors or onlookers from being able to see into your backyard. Plus, flowering dogwood trees attract insects and birds with the berries they grow.

For maximum quality, flowering dogwood trees should be planted 20 feet apart in an area that receives full to partial sunlight and in well-drained soil. A lot of people who plant flowering dogwoods as privacy trees for backyard areas strategically place these trees for spot coverage.

4. Spartan Juniper

If your backyard is on the smaller side, the spartan juniper is a great choice of privacy tree for you. They grow to only a height of 15 feet tall and a width of 5 feet. They provide thick branch cover, which is why they’re great choices to create a privacy fence and a great way to block harsh weather conditions.

For best results, these trees should be planted about five feet apart in an area that gets full sunlight more than six hours per day. They need to be planted in dry soil. It’s important not to overwater them, as that can cause root rot and other diseases. Spartan juniper trees should also not be pruned heavily, which is important to consider before choosing a location to plant them.

5. Leyland Cypress

Are you looking for privacy trees that will provide a lot of coverage in one large area? The Leyland cypress is an option for you. These trees reach heights of about 60 feet tall, meaning if you have a large backyard or a large house you’re looking to block, they’re perfect. They are also very fast-growing trees—many can reach heights of 50 feet in just 15 years.

Leyland cypress trees are a very popular choice for homes near the coast, as they have a strong tolerance for salt. They require full sunlight but don’t do well in climates that are too hot. This is because they have a shallow root system. This means they need to be planted in large, well-drained yards. However, when they’re planted in a row, they’re an impenetrable mass of branches. This means that they’re great protection from harsh weather conditions such as wind and rain, as well as from the view of others and noise.

As you can see, if you’re looking for privacy trees for backyard areas, there are many great choices out there for you. The above five are all wonderful options, but you need to figure out which one will work best in your yard and for your family. Considering the size of your yard and the size the trees can grow to is important. It’s also important to make sure the soil in your yard is appropriate for the tree. Otherwise, you run the risk of your tree not growing to its healthiest.

If you need help in choosing the privacy tree that’s right for you, give the arborists at Mr. Tree a call today. We are happy to help.

4 Fun Stepping Stone Ideas For Your Family Friendly Garden

November 17, 2017 by admin

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Are you and your family planning a garden together? As you search for possible designs, think about including elements that add value to your kids. This could be an educational value or health value. Placing stepping stones throughout the garden gives you a great way to add an interesting design element. These three stepping stone ideas should get your gears turning!

1. Hopscotch

When you place stones in your garden, think about setting them in a way that gives your little ones a built-in hopscotch platform. You can use square or round rocks, embedded along the garden path and painted with bright numbers. Have them work towards the goal of reaching a water fountain in your garden which they can then toss a stone into as part of the game. This game will get your kids an excuse to play in the garden, and actively move around. Jumping has proven benefits to the lymphatic system.

2. Alphabet Stones

Place a winding path through your garden with the letters of the alphabet written on them. This is perfect for families with kids who are just learning to enjoy the magic that the alphabet has to offer. Your garden will become an interactive learning zone.

3. New Numbers Every Day

Use slate stepping stones, and keep the chalk handy. When you go out to the garden, you can draw numbers on the slate stones. You could also encourage your children to mark down the new numbers each day.

When you make playing with numbers into a game, rather than “work” children are more likely to find math enjoyable. Try writing simple arithmetic problems out on the stepping stones. On three four blank slates you could mark out “2+3 =”, and leave the fifth stone blank. This might become a fun, math related game for the family.

4. Playful Logs

If you have a source of wood around the house, try cutting disks from complete logs. Paint each piece with a bright, primary color. Place these above a pathway made of pebbles or small stones. These fun and playful stepping stones encourage kids to learn the colors. Children love jumping from one object to the next, and this gives them a safe place to play.

Many backyard gardens include intentional paths. This is because you don’t want to be stepping on your plants, yet you want to enjoy the environment you have created. Use your pathways in a way that is fun and exciting for the whole family. Create a hopscotch court, an alphabet trail, or a perfect place to write numbers and make math problems. Each design adds value to your family.

How to Transform Your Garden into Something Beautiful Yet Practical

July 31, 2017 by admin

Gardens often perform many functions, they are a nice, quiet place to relax and enjoy the pleasant weather, and they are a playground for your children. However, they also have to house the shed for tools and garden furniture as well as have a cooking area for the barbecue.

With all these functions, it can be difficult to make your garden look beautiful while still keeping the practical side. However, there are ways you can adapt your garden to meet everyone’s needs.

Treehouse

For children, there is nothing more exciting than having somewhere like a treehouse to play and get together with their friends. If you have a large enough tree, you can have a house designed around the branches that can be as elaborate as you wish.

Some trees, especially some in cities such as London are protected, so you will need to seek advice before you proceed. It is also a good idea to enlist the help of professional builders to help you with the work.

Patio Area

If you don’t have a patio, or it is too small, you should consider enlarging it to accommodate a larger seating area. You can then add a barbecue area with perhaps a separate fire pit for the cooler evenings.

With some houses, you can install large patio doors or maybe a concertina door to open up the whole space between the house and garden. Speak with a qualified structural engineer London area who can help you with any extra support that may be needed.

A Water Feature

For the bigger gardens, having a nice pond or water feature can add another dimension to the overall look. You can even add fish to the pond and a nice bridge crossing over it to make it a real feature.

Combined with a flowing fountain and some elegant water plants around the edge, it will make the garden look serene and calm.

Raised Beds

If you have small children, then you might want to raise your flower beds to stop plants becoming damaged. It can be easy to add some wooden or brick walls which can also add a nice border to the garden.

You can also add some large planters or pots to keep small trees or larger plants along the edges. You don’t have to have square borders or planters; you can get creative and have them meander along the garden to break up the grassed area.

Lighting

Lighting serves two purposes, it allows you to see the garden even in the evening, and it also allows you to stay outside longer in the warm evenings. You don’t have to go for large standing lamps or halogen lamps that are very bright. You can use smaller lights along a wall or path to give a gentle illumination.

With just a few ideas, you can change the whole look and function of your garden and make it a great place to relax and play.