The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Small Home Landscaping

Flowering trees, in addition to their ornamental value, are also planted for shade. Indeed, they are more in scale with the smaller home. However, some of them are large, like crabapples and magnolias. Used near the house, their size plus their freedom from pests must govern their selection. If they are to be combined with flowering shrubs for ornamental effect, the tree at planting time must be related to the size of the shrubs. It must be tall enough to keep ahead of the shrubs in growth, especially if these are the fast-growing kind. (See Shrubs).

The greatest fault on small plots has been the very little thought given to planting trees with regard to the path of the sun in order to obtain the greatest amount of shade and shadow (as witness the charming effect of dappled shade on grass). Look at the diagrams on pages 41, 42, 43. These are actual studies of young trees in relation to the movement of the sun from the forenoon through the hottest part of the afternoon during summer. Study these—they will help you place a tree to get the full effect from its shade on the house, terrace or other feature. It is important that the tree be set at the proper angle to secure the maximum shade in summer and light in winter.

A young Norway maple balled and burlapped for shipping; unsuitable for the small home, at iti shade if too dense.

Another dangerous tree to use on small plots is the weeping willow which grows quickly to a very large, overpowering size.