Tree-Buying Tips

My first tip is to try to get a tree that no one else in the neighborhood has.

We all want trees that grow quickly, never have any problems and do not create any work, but we also want them to be alive. Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Q: We are moving to a new state and don’t know much about the trees that grow there. Can you give us some tips on what to look for? We have looked at some top 10 lists for trees to grow in the area, but they are confusing and list plants that we would never use in our current landscape.

A: Check with the town that you are moving to and see if they have a list of trees that they don’t want people to plant and a list of preferred trees. Trees on the first list may be overplanted or may produce messy fruit. Trees on the preferred list are usually nice trees that are underrepresented on the tree census.