Trees offer shade, shelter, aesthetic appeal and energy savings; they can also increase the overall value of your property by anything from $1,000 to $10,000 per tree. Tree choice and maturity will determine just how much value can be contributed but planting early in your ownership means that your investment grows steadily through the years as the trees grow.

Featuring a number of quality well positioned trees can be a real boost to your property but it’s important to consider the types of trees you will put in – specifically their growing habits and the shape they will form as they mature. Height is also crucial, as is their seasonal behaviour – autumnal colours are gorgeous it’s true, but clogged drains and constantly raking sludgy leaf litter are not. Blossoming trees are also a big hit for their explosion of colour at the end of a long grey winter, but not for people with alergies – and don’t even get us started on carpets of mouldy fruit on the ground.

To plan what kinds of trees to put into your garden, it’s worth sketching out a rough map of your outdoor spaces and making a list of what you want the trees to do. You may want something of medium height and bushy to cover an ugly shed or corner, or something tall and leafy that creates shade in a particularly hot spot in the garden, or cools a front room in the house to cut down on air-conditioning costs. Espaliered fruit trees are a great way of covering up an unattractive fence, while quick growing hardy plants like Jasmine and Bougainvillea provide colour and coverage too. Camelias can be ideal for deeply shaded areas where other plants won’t grow, especially under pine trees. Your best option is to take your map and your list and go ask your local nursery what kind of plants would best suit your property for the purposes you require. Some of these options may take some time to establish themselves, so what you choose will also be determined by when you plan to sell. You might find your nursery has better suggestions for mature trees or hedges, that are already at the height or size you require and can be planted to immediately provide the solution you need.  Remember, the fastest growing plants are always tube stock, not larger established ones. 

A few hundred dollars at the nursery can turn into thousands of dollars of value added to your property if taken care of properly - so make sure you mulch, water, weed and feed your trees as advised and pay regular attention to them to spot and control pests or diseases early if they appear.