Whether you’re interested in adding visual appeal to your home or you want to add some actual value to your property, trees are an often-overlooked opportunity. Below are some of the best trees you can plant in your yard right now to help boost the value of your home and property.
Trees that Withstand Cold
Chicago’s winters are brutal, and they can wreak havoc on certain species of trees. As such, you’ll want to be sure that many of the trees on your property are cold-hardy. Some of the best options in this category include evergreens and hardwoods like oak or maple. The latter options can also provide reliable shade for decades, which can actually reduce energy costs during the summer months, too!
Japanese Maple
The Japanese maple tree is growing in popularity right now, and for good reason. Their beautiful foliage ranges from green to pink to red throughout the year, which brings eye appeal to virtually any landscape. You’ll want to make sure to choose cold-hardy variants of this popular tree, and they’ll need to be planted in soil that is both well-drained and moist. Because these trees are smaller and more fragile than their North American maple counterparts, they should be planted in a location that will protect them from strong winds.
Linden Trees
Linden trees come in several varieties, and they can range in size from four to five feet high to a towering four stories high (or more!) Linden trees are popular in the Chicago area because they provide essential shade, and their foliage slowly changes color throughout the seasons. The American Linden trees bloom with small yellowish-cream flowers that add visual interest to your property in the spring, as well.
Magnolia Trees
There’s nothing quite like the stunning blooms of a magnolia tree to give your home the curb appeal it deserves. They’re known for their large, fragrant pink and white flowers in the spring and summer and their striking cone-shaped fruit in the fall. They are often utilized as ornamental plants in landscaping throughout the Chicagoland area. Small magnolia trees can be as small as five feet tall; larger variants can grow to as tall as 100 feet and 40 to 50 feet wide! Choose your species carefully so as not to overwhelm your property.
Fruit Trees
Finally, fruit trees are a surefire way to add value to your property to the tune of edible fruit! Some of the best and hardiest fruit trees to grow in Chicago include cherries and persimmons, though peaches, pears, and apples are alternatives, too. Persimmon trees are in especially high demand among Chicago home buyers, so if you’re struggling to decide which to try, it’s hard to go wrong with delicious persimmons.
Whether you prefer the stately look of a large evergreen, the floral appeal of a stunning magnolia, or the harvest that comes from your very own persimmon and cherry trees, these amazing trees are sure to add value to your home both now and in the future.