How To Select Trees for Your Home in Michigan

Overview

Selecting trees for your home landscape can seem daunting at first, because there are so many to choose from. In Michigan, you must plant trees that can withstand prolonged freezing temperatures during winter and are hardy for your zone. The northernmost part of Michigan is classified as USDA hardiness zone 4, with minimum annual temperatures down to minus 30 degrees F, while the rest of the state is in zone 5, with winter temperatures down to minus 15 or 20.

Step 1

Consider where your trees will be growing in your landscape. Think about the type of soil your have and the sunlight exposure. For example, consider planting an American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) or red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) if you have a shady yard, or American beech (Fagus grandifolia) or American elm tree (Ulmus americana) for areas in full sunlight.

Step 2

Choose trees by their mature size and the amount of space you have. Smaller trees for Michigan landscapes include the Amur maple (Acer ginnala), crabapple trees (Malus spp.) and flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida), while larger trees include the Austrian pine tree (Pinus nigra), black oak (Quercus velutina) and bur oak (Q. macrocarpa).

Step 3

Consider trees' tolerance to certain conditions, such as high winds, droughts and compacted soils. The American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) are good choices for Michigan yards with compacted soils, while the Colorado spruce (Picea pungens) and common mulberry (Morus alba) can grow in dry sites and survive droughts.

Step 4

Select trees for your Michigan home by their intended use. For example, the American beech and elm trees, as well as the European alder (Alnus glutinosa) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) trees, are best for use as shade trees. The Austrian pine, Colorado spruce, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and American arborvitae all create excellent privacy screens when planted in a row.