Getting the most out of your saplings, shades and shrubs
Trees add to your home’s curb appeal and help you enjoy the great outdoors. Whether they’re fresh saplings, mature specimens or stately shrubs, their branches spread a special peace. The climate in San Antonio is ideal for nurturing native trees, and these canopied beauties can actually improve your property’s value along with its landscaped good looks.
Growing Green Investments
Residential trees aren’t a cash crop, but a recent study by the city estimates that they add as much as 7% to your property’s value. Just one mature live oak commands an appraisal value of $10,000. With careful pruning, trimming and the right touch of mulch, you’re doing more than caring for the trees: you’re making an investment that pays off if you decide to sell the house. You’re also enjoying aesthetic dividends that keep your home beautiful for many years to come.
Planting With Purpose
Armed with this new financial knowledge, it’s tempting to dig a hole in the front yard, stuff it with a sapling and watch your assets grow. However, trees are surprisingly versatile, so plan before you plant. Tall canopies are ideal for shielding the house from summer’s heat, and careful positioning saves on the cooling bills. Compact shrubs serve as windbreaks that double as living privacy fences. Fruit and nut trees are a joy to harvest, and ornamental species turn spring into a riot of glorious colors.
Nurturing Local Natives
For summer shade and beautiful foliage, maples trees are one of your best choices. They love the area’s alkaline soil, and their majesty enhances any landscape. Towering live oaks and crape myrtles also grow well here, but don’t overlook the pretty personalities of smaller shrubs. Weeping yucca, sweet viburnum and Japanese yew are just a few local favorites. For ornamental natives, nothing compares to the springtime bloom of redbud trees bursting with brilliant pink, or the heavenly fragrance of Texas mountain laurels.
While you love your trees for their natural beauty, it’s comforting to know that they return your care by keeping the house cool, splashing it with color and adding to your property’s value. If you’d like to learn more about our favorite natives, contact our friendly staff here at ABC Home & Commercial Services in San Antonio. We love your trees too, and we’re always happy to help.