Here are some tips for planting trees:

• Put large evergreens in locations with a northern exposure so you won’t block the winter light
• Shade trees should go on the south or southwest side of the lawn
• Don’t put shade trees or evergreens too close to the house, as they will block the light

Here are some favorites to consider:

If you want color

Sugar maple – it’s a full shade tree that has wonderful fall color (yellow and orange); maples tend to have more shallow roots, so they can be difficult to plant under, however. Reaches 75 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Needs moist, well drained soil.

Tip: add a backdrop of evergreens to highlight the color

Japanese maple – has a fiery red or orange-yellow color that reaches its height in the fall. Needs moist, well drained soil. Reaches 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

Tip: Use this elegant lined tree to frame the front of your house.

If you want an evergreen

Norway Spruce – provides the typical Christmas tree look. Reaches 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide

Tip: Because of it’s size, don’t plant it too close to the house.

How Close to Plant?

“A lot of people can’t afford to buy larger trees, so they buy a lot of small ones and put them close together,” said Linda Miranda, a senior horticulturist with the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL. “You can get into trouble five to ten years from now when everything is too close together.”

The best approach is to plant it so it looks perfect in five years, Miranda said. “Let’s say something is supposed to get five feet wide and that will take 20 years, I might leave three feet so it looks good in five years.”