When you think of pine trees do you automatically imagine a Christmas tree? If so, you are not alone, but there is so much more to the species. There are over 120 species of pine trees that range from short, shrub-like pines to tall pine trees towering over 200 feet high. All of these different varietals have unique qualities that, with a little research and planning, can benefit your home. Since, at Mr. Tree, we love helping you find the best options for your home and garden, let’s take a look at some of the benefits you’ll gain from a pine tree landscape.
Pine Trees vs. Other Conifers
First, you need to understand what exactly a pine tree is. Pine trees are a type of conifer. Conifers refer to trees that bear seed cones and have needles, rather than broad leaves. Pine trees make up about 25 percent of all conifers, which is why other species can be mistakenly identified as pines. The pine tree is any conifer in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. The conifer family also includes spruces and fir trees.
One of the notable and most easily identifiable differences between these three types of conifers is their needles. Pine tree needles always grow from the branch in groupings of two, three, and five. They tend to be softer and can grow up to 16 inches long. Spruce trees, on the other hand, have short and stiff needles, while firs have soft and flat needles, both of which grow each needle from its own single-origin point rather than in bundles.
- Privacy
A pine tree landscape can add just the right amount of privacy to your home. While not as thick and unyielding as a wall of arborvitae, pine trees give your yard just enough mystery without closing you off from humanity. Depending on how much privacy and cover you’re looking for, there are many species and cultivars that can meet your needs. A cultivar is a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation through selective breeding. One nice compact cultivar of the Pinus jeffreyi is the ‘Joppi’. The ‘Joppi’ has a nice structure and is well-behaved in a garden setting.
Another species you may enjoy adding to your pine tree landscape for some extra privacy is the Scots pine—Pinus sylvestris. Most will recognize this pine from its common use as a Christmas tree. They grow quickly, are conical in nature, nicely dense for privacy, and as an added bonus, naturally prepare your yard for the Christmas season. With just a few strings of lights, you’ll be one of the most festive houses on the block.
- Ground Cover
While it may be surprising, Scots pine can also be great for ground cover if you find the right cultivar. Some Scots pines have been cultivated to grow low and wide—commonly referred to as spreading Scotch. The benefit to ground cover pines is they provide beautiful interest and widespread volume to your landscape without as much of the upkeep.
Our other favorite pine for this purpose is Pinus densiflora or ‘Low Glow’. While Pinus densiflora, with its natural spreading nature, will grow a bit higher off the ground, it’s lush green needles and ease of care, make it a nice addition to any yard.
- Focal Points
Not everyone hears “pine trees” and automatically thinks of unique and eye-catching arbors for a landscape, but you would be surprised by some of the interesting and visually stimulating species of pine.
There’s the lacebark pine, Pinus bungeana, which has intriguing exfoliating bark, which looks similar to the bark of a sycamore. It grows a bit slower, but at maturity, it can reach 30 to 50 feet tall.
The Mexican weeping pine, Pinus patula, is another stunning pine tree to add interest and intrigue to your landscape. Native to Mexico, this pine tree has dropping tufts of needles giving it a sagging and weeping appearance.
- Borders
Smaller shrub-like pines, such as Pinus mugo, are great additions to your garden. Not only do they contrast nicely with brightly colored flowers, highlighting their natural beauty, but they also give your eyes a visual rest. Pinus mugo trees are resilient and, with nearly 80 cultivars, have a wide range of desirable characteristics.
The mugo ‘Jakobsen’, for instance grows with a naturally open and interesting architecture. There are also a few golden mugo pines, like Pinus mugo ‘Carstens’ and ‘Sunshine’, which have beautiful yellow edges and new growth. Some other great pine trees that work for creating borders—or hiding less than attractive home foundations—are the Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ and the ‘Silver Whispers,’ a Swiss stone pine. These are two smaller selections of pines to fit in nicely with any garden.
- Shade and Cover
One of the most common reasons for adding any tree to your landscape is for shade. Pine trees are an ideal selection because, as evergreens, they will provide shade year-round, which has many benefits. Not only will they provide shade in the summer heat, giving you a nice place to picnic in your yard or play games with friends, but their cover throughout the year can also help save you money.
Planting pine trees in your landscape on the northern and eastern sides of your house helps provide a windbreak, keeping warmth inside your home during the colder months and reducing energy bills. Consider the Monterey pine, Pinus radiata, which reaches a height of 50 to 100 feet, and as it matures, develops a beautifully domed top.
With the many varieties of pine trees to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down exactly which species you want in your pine tree landscape. As with all gardening choices, we recommend you do your research and pick what is right for you and your soil. If you aren’t sure, we always have trained arborists here and happy to help.
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