New home living has its benefits. There are warranties on the appliances, green-minded additions save energy and money, forward-thinking design keeps the whole family comfortable.
Outside, however, takes a little bit of work. Gardening and landscaping makes a big difference in the curb appeal of a home, and there's nothing like a mature tree to add beauty and shade to any front or backyard.
That's why we asked the experts: How can I plant my own tree, and how should I take care of it?
"With most trees, you can plant right up until freeze," says Meryl Coombs, general manager of Spruce It Up Garden Centre. "You should dig the hole a third bigger than the pot itself, then you amend the soil with a soil additive -- a sea soil is nice to mix in because it's a seaweed-based product and provides organic material. Then, give it a good soaking twice a week, letting the water soak right into the bottom of the root ball."
That's key, he says. Actually getting the tree in the ground is the easy part -- making sure it's watered enough can be tricky.
"If you don't soak it, the surrounding soil will soak the water out of the root ball," he says, and that'll result in a tree that's quite simply parched.
"You'll know it's not getting enough water if it's drooping and wilting on you. But you can also give your tree too much water -- you'll know you've done that if it starts turning a deep yellow."
Relying on rain to keep the tree well-watered is also not a great idea, he adds, as rainwater typically only permeates the first inch of the ground soil. Trees require a lot of HCO, right up until the ground freezes.
"The most important time to water is in October, to freeze trees in really well," Coombs says. "What hurts them the most is the freezing and thawing over winter when we have chinooks, so it's important to water them really well so they freeze in and stay frozen all winter long."
And when it comes to winter, adds Merle Lefevre of Plantation Garden Centre, choosing a tree that looks good sans-leaves may be a good idea.
"Evergreen trees will give you the green in winter, but having said that, the form and shape of some deciduous trees are spectacular."
Certain dogwoods, roses, hollies and willows can all provide a focal point in a snow-covered yard, as their colourful branches, interesting shapes or sprays of berries offer interest and colour.
"Some trees you might want to plant for their berries," she says.
"Mountain Ash have a nice form. It's like a sculpture, and the berries stay on all winter and attract birds."
Of course, there are many homeowners who couldn't tell a Mountain Ash from a poplar tree if their lives depended on it -- and that's why Lefevre says know-how from a green thumb is indispensable.
"You don't have to be a really good gardener, but you should find yourself a garden centre where they'll give you advice and spend time with you," she says. "We try to make sure our customers have some assistance because it can be intimidating -- the tree you plant may not be for your life, but it may be for your child's life, so it behooves you to do it well."
