If you live in Canada and have a yard, planting a tree would be a great addition.
There are different types of trees that you can grow to provide shade, act as a barrier to cold winds, and filter air.
Especially for people who prefer sustainable gardening practices, it is an ideal approach.
So, if you think that something is missing in your lawn aesthetics, we have the best trees for front yard Ontario ideas for you.
Best Trees for Front Yard
These are the best types of trees that you can plant in Canada:
1. Spruce Tree
Unlike pine needles bundled together, evergreen needles on spruces are attached separately.
Spruce trees are tall, symmetrical conifer trees. Despite their resemblance to fir trees, spruces do not scatter their seeds initially as fir trees do.
Instead, they drop their cones intact.
These significant forest trees are harvested for pulp and paper products.
Only a few species are widely available for the front yard, but those comprise a wide variety of cultivars that vary greatly from the species in terms of size and features.
2. White Spruce
One of these types of trees for your lawn includes white spruce. These are the best evergreen trees for the front yard.
White spruce is a versatile plant that can be used as a landscape backdrop.
The mature height of the needles is 40 to 60 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide, ensuring that it won’t overpower most landscapes, and its glaucus green hue pairs well with darker evergreens.
These types of trees are adaptable to wind, drizzle, and full sun.
People often grow these trees as Christmas trees. They can live up to 250 to 300 years with maintenance and care.
Benefits of White Spruce
Its tips and resins have been used in traditional methods because of their high vitamin C content and nutrient-rich composition.
The tree’s components are used to prepare immune-boosting beverages and mouth rinses for sore throats.
Additionally, the tips, which have a lovely flavor, can be blended into oils for dressings to give your food a hint of freshness.
3. Red Maple Tree
Red maples are oval-shaped, fast-growing, and have strong wood.
You can get it in your yard at any age and develop to be medium-sized trees that range in height from 40 to 70 feet.
These types of trees thrive in almost any environment due to their extreme tolerance.
In spring, leaf buds appear, crimson flowers bloom, and fruits ripen.
Red maple trees have ash-gray to silver-colored bark. Its leaves are triangular in shape, with three or five lobes.
The upper leaves are a deep green, while the lower leaves are a lighter green. In the fall, the leaves turn a crimson color.
Most maple trees look beautiful because of their stunning fall foliage, which turns orange, red, and yellow.
These types of trees are valued for their graceful look and used as ornaments.
To take the beauty of your yard to the next level, here is a list of native plants in Ontario.
4. Sugar Maple Tree
The Sugar Maple trees are among the most wonderful sights in the fall, making them the best trees for the front yard.
This tree is green for most of the year. But in the fall, its leaves change to such a striking shade of orange and gold that it will make you spend most of your time in the yard.
The sugar maple tree will draw and retain your attention amid the sea of green and falling leaves.
The best part is that this tree doesn’t expect much from you. If you are an individual with no time for the upkeep of the lawn, you can still plant it. You only need to water it every day.
However, when planting them, get advice from professionals to know the right place for them.
In most zones, you can plant a sugar maple tree in the spring, summer, or fall.
If you want to know the techniques to make your lawn flourish in spring, here is our guide on Spring Lawn Care in Ontario.
5. American Beech
These are the best shade trees in your front yard.
These types of trees require rich soil and enough rainfall. Usually, they are preferred for park-like landscapes.
The rich green foliage of American beeches turns gray in the spring. The sharp, serrated leaves in the fall turn an amazing shade of harvest gold.
When fully grown, American Beech reaches a height of 70 feet and a spread of 50 feet.
Once you plant these, they will be a sight for the next generations as they grow slowly.
If the conditions remain right, they can survive to be at least 120 years old.
Speaking of conditions, you should plant them in full sun. For best development, they need well-drained, consistently moist soil. However, make sure there is no standing as it is harmful to them.
They thrive in rich soils but are not sensitive to the pH of the soil. Also, these types of trees are highly intolerant of urban pollutants.
6. Green Pillar Pin Oak
These fastigiate trees are great for yards with a tight spot for new trees.
These thrive in acidic soils and get chlorosis in heavy, alkaline soils.
The leaves of pin oaks are dark green all year round. In the fall, the prickly leaves turn a striking scarlet color. These are the types of trees that are highly disease-tolerant.
When pin oak trees reach maturity, they will reach a height of 60 feet and a spread of 40 feet.
With occasional maintenance, these can quickly reach a ripe old age of 300 years or more.
You should only plant them in full sun. These types of trees grow best in normal to moist conditions. These trees attract squirrels to your yard.
They flourish in inner-city settings and highly tolerate pollutants from cities.
7. Canadian Hemlock
With soft needles and an open growth habit that grows erect and broadly conical, these trees give your lawn a delicate appearance.
They require rainfall, rich, acidic, organic soils, and protection from drying winds.
The dark green foliage of Canadian hemlock turns bright green in the spring. All winter long, the needles maintain their deep green color.
When fully grown, Canadian hemlock trees reach a height of 60 feet and a width of 30 feet. They have a medium growth rate and, in perfect circumstances, can survive for at least 70 years.
In full sun or full shade, plant these types of trees. The soil must be moist. In winter, cover the root zone with a heavy layer of mulch to protect them.
8. Tulip Poplar
One of the tallest native trees in eastern North America, with distinctively shaped leaves and huge, difficult-to-see yellow tulip-shaped blossoms due to the tree’s height.
These types of trees require plenty of moisture and area to flourish. So, if you have a small space in your front yard, these are not a good option.
Mid- to late-spring tulip trees bear buttery yellow cup-shaped flowers with orange cores.
All season long, they have emerald green leaves. In the fall, the square leaves turn an amazing shade of gold. The lustrous, deeply grooved gray bark provides great winter appeal.
When fully grown, they will reach a height of 90 feet and a width of 50 feet. You should only plant them in full sun.
Although it is pH tolerant, slightly acidic soil is ideal for it to work in. Due to their drought sensitivity, these need summer irrigation to avoid early leaf abscission.
Verticillium wilt can affect tulip poplar, and the tree leaf miner can cause problems.
Aphids may consume the leaves, and their sticky excrement spills on anything beneath the tree, along with the black, sooty mold that develops on the exudate.
Ice storms and wind may cause substantial damage because certain trees may have very fragile timber.
9. Balsam Fir
An exquisite evergreen spire found in northern woodlands, featuring velvety, dark green needles that are upright and open. Its growth conditions are highly specific and should not be grown in exposed or windy areas.
The leaves of balsam fir are dark green. All winter long, the needles maintain their deep green color.
These types of trees reach heights of 50 feet and a spread of 20 feet. Native Americans have been using balsam fir for therapeutic and medical purposes for thousands of years.
Many animals and people eat the needles straight from the tree. Tea contains a higher content dosage.
The best conditions for these trees are full sun to partly shaded. They will grow in some standing water and prefer damp to wet soil. They have specific requirements for the type of soil they grow in, favoring sandy, acidic soils.
10. Chanticleer Pear
A tall, narrowly upright accent tree that is resistant to fireblight and covered with beautiful white blooms in the spring.
Before the leaves appear in the middle of spring, the Chanticleer Pear trees are covered with beautiful clusters of white flowers with purple anthers arranged along the branches.
In the fall, the glossy, heart-shaped leaves become an amazing deep purple. The fruits are colorful pomes that are on display in the late summer.
At maturity, Chanticleer Pear will reach a height of 40 feet and a width of 25 feet. These types of trees have a 50-year or longer lifespan.
If you are worried that trees will attract ants, here are several effective ways to eliminate ants in the garden.
11. Hanna’s Heart Katsura
These types of trees have a lovely pyramid shape and beautiful foliage in the spring and fall.
If you are looking for the best small trees for the front yard, these are very tidy with heart-shaped leaves.
The bluish-green leaves of the Katsura Trees turn burgundy in the spring. In the fall, the heart-shaped leaves become a striking orange color.
When fully grown, this Katsura tree will be around 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It grows quickly as well.
These trees leave a subtle aroma in the air. Hence, they offer a perfect relaxing environment.
Learn more: Low-Maintenance Backyard Landscape Ideas
FAQs
Which are the best types of trees for the front yard?
The ideal tree for your front yard will rely on a number of factors, including the size of the yard, the amount of space available for growth, the climate, and the intensity of the summer and winter months.
When is the ideal time to plant trees in Ontario?
The geography and type of tree determine when it is ideal for planting trees in Canada. For the most part, spring and fall are the best seasons to plant trees because of the milder temperatures and more precipitation that helps the roots take hold.
Which types of trees can I find easily in Canada?
Many different types of trees can be found in Canada, such as maple, spruce, pine, fir, cedar, birch, and oak.
Summary
These are the best types of trees to add to your front yard to increase its visual appeal.
With all of these stunning options, you can add an everlasting color to your landscape.
It is imperative that you select native plants for that area. So, make sure your selected types of trees will flourish in the climate and environment of the area you wish to place them in.
If you want to transform your gardens, contact us to make your vision into reality.