83% of Americans believe it’s important to have a yard and 75% of them think it’s important to spend time in this space.

If you’re one of these people, then you might be looking at ways to make your outdoor area a more pleasant place. After all, if you enjoy what you’re looking at, you’ll be more inclined to spend time there.

But if you don’t have much landscaping experience, you may be scratching your head. This is especially true when you’re trying to figure out how to landscape around trees.

To help you out, here are 5 dos and 3 don’ts to keep in mind when you’re landscaping around trees.

1. Do Pick the Right Plants

When planting flower beds around trees, there is such a thing as the right or wrong plants. Don’t just go for flowers that are visually appealing to your eyes.

Consider that the tree will provide a shady area, which means whatever goes underneath won’t receive much sun. So when you pick out your plants, you need to make sure they’re ones that’ll grow strong without much sunshine.

Some good choices for landscape tree ring ideas include coralbells, coleus, and impatiens. These are all pretty hardy, which means you’ll get some vibrant flower beds around your trees, even without much sunlight underneath.

2. Do Use Mulch Around Your Trees

All things considered, whatever you plant will have to compete with the trees for nourishment, and this includes water.

If you don’t take the right actions, the trees may end up absorbing all the water, leaving barely anything for your plants. As a result, they may start withering and dying away, which doesn’t provide for a very pretty sight.

A great way to fight against this is to use mulch around your trees. This will help moisture stick around the base of the tree so everyone can get a little water. This can also help cut down on the frequency you need to water the plants.

3. Do Think About Nighttime Features

Many homeowners make the mistake of only landscaping for the daytime. When the sun sets, they pack up and go back inside.

But this just means you’re not taking full advantage of your gorgeous yard!

Take into consideration where the dark spots are on in your backyard and light it up. For example, you can use some well-placed accent lights, paying particular attention to the biggest tree in your yard.

4. Do Take Advantage of Your Property’s Structure

You shouldn’t try to force things to fit into your property’s aesthetics. But you shouldn’t forget about playing to its advantages either!

For example, if you have a large tree in the middle of your backyard, consider putting a bench underneath. Not only will it look lovely, but it’ll also give you a nice shady area to relax in.

Or if you have a large enough branch on that tree and you have children, think about putting a tire swing on. It’ll give your yard a nice rustic look and the kids will have something new to play on.

5. Do Keep Your Options Open

When people think of the term “landscaping,” many tend to lean toward just plants, such as shrubs, flowers, and bushes.

While you certainly can create a beautiful landscape with organic matter, don’t forget about the inorganic! This doesn’t mean you have to stray from nature either.

Some great things to place around your trees include rocks and bricks. These keep your lawn looking natural. Plus, they don’t need much care at all!

So if you can’t be bothered to water plants, rocks and bricks are a great alternative that’ll upgrade your yard without much care.

Don’t Use a Shovel

Depending on the types of trees you have in your yard, their roots may be either extremely deep or shallow. If you cut off these roots on accident, then this can really damage your tree.

In fact, the damage may be so serious that you need to have it taken out. The tree removal cost will be worth it, but you’ll want to avoid this scenario in the first place.

Shovels can easily cut tree roots while you’re doing yard work, so forget about using that. Instead, use a hand trowel. Work in small patches so you’re confident you aren’t striking any tree roots.

If you accidentally uncover any tree roots, stop immediately and try somewhere else.

Don’t Pile Soil Around the Tree’s Base

Plants need soil to grow in, right? So surely an easy way to grow a flower bed around your trees is to pile some soil around the base, then go to town planting your flowers.

However, that’s a huge mistake. Tree trunks need air; otherwise, they’ll succumb to both disease and pest infestations. This is because when the wet soil covers the trunk, it promotes a damp environment that makes the organic matter rot.

If you want your flowers to be at a higher level than the tree trunks, you should consider putting them farther out. That way, the damp soil doesn’t sit directly on the tree and you’ll still get a nice raised border.

Don’t Pile the Mulch Either

We know that earlier, we said you need to mulch the area around your tree’s base. But like with the soil, you shouldn’t pile it up around the trunk.

Again, the tree needs to breathe and have fresh air. Mulch will just trap moisture inside and promote rot and other nasty things.

In general, you should mulch in an area that’s 8 to 10 inches away. This will be ample room.

Know How to Landscape Around Trees Like a Pro

Now that you know how to landscape around trees, you’ll be able to beautify your yard with the greenery that you’ve always wanted.

So keep our advice in mind while landscaping with trees. You’ll have a smoother time creating the yard of your dreams. Plus, you’ll end up getting every right the first time around.

For more home tips, please take a look at our other blog articles now!