With Arbor Day right around the corner, many Indiana homeowners are considering adding some new trees to their property. That’s because trees aren’t just great additions to your home’s landscaping. They also provide pleasant shade during the hot summer months and can improve the overall value of your property. Make sure you’re planting the right types and providing proper tree care so that the ones you choose will grow to be strong and beautiful.

Best Trees to Plant in Northern Indiana

Since northern Indiana is in planting zone 5, it’s important to pick trees that can handle colder winters. Depending on your reason for planting trees, certain species are better than others. For a nice, sprawling evergreen that maintains its appearance all year long while providing privacy, you can’t go wrong with the American arborvitae, Leyland cypress, or white fir.

If you prefer gorgeous flowering trees, pink azaleas mollis hybrids, purpleleaf sand cherries, and crape myrtles thrive in this area when given proper care. Finally, if you want to enjoy delicious food from your tree, consider the early harvest apple, Moorpark apricot, or the American hazelnut, which can all survive given proper care and attention.

Tree Care Tips when First Planting

When you first plant your new tree, it’s going to require additional care to grow and thrive. One of the most important tasks is giving it the right amount of water. Freshly planted trees are under stress as they adapt to their new environments, so you’ll need to deep water yours for the first two weeks. That means completely drenching the root system, which requires the water to soak at least eight inches or more beneath the soil’s surface.

After those two weeks, water it once a week for the first year. Mulching is also critical because it helps retain moisture, provides insulation, and repels weed growth. Apply 2 to 4 inches around the tree’s drip zone and leave bare soil at least 2 inches from the trunk to allow proper air circulation. You can also add fertilizer around the base to give it even more nutrients for healthy development. As it grows, regularly trim to remove dead or dying branches. Regular tree pruning prevents disease from spreading and ensures that healthy branches get the required nutrients.