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Right Tree, Right Place!
Choosing the right tree species, size, and planting spot will help your tree thrive for years to come, maximize its benefits, and limit future interference with utilities, other trees, your home and driveway, and other features of your yard, neighbor’s yard, and street.
1. Choose your site
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Select your site before selecting your species. Use the diagram below to help make decisions about your site. This will dictate what stature and species of tree you should purchase. "Utility" refers to an underground utility, NOT powerlines.
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- Imagine what the tree will look like in 20 years! If you want a large statured tree species in your yard, then you won’t want to plant it closer than 10 feet to your house. But, if you have a wide, open space with no conflicts in your yard, consider planting a large-statured tree versus a smaller one.
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- When planting within 20 feet of an overhead power line, you should choose large shrubs or small trees that grow no more than 15 feet. Trees planted 20 to 50 feet from a power line should grow no more than 40 feet tall. And trees that grow more than 40 feet should be planted more than 50 feet from power lines.
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Call Indiana 811 prior to planting your tree to locate any underground utilities.
2. Select your tree
Below are the native Indiana trees that CanopyBloomington currently has in stock for tree plantings. There are many great resources to help you decide what tree to select for your yard!
Check out the City of Bloomington's tree care manual here.
Princeton Elm
Ulmus americana
Large
60 - 80 feet
40 - 70 feet
Vase
Insignificant
Full sun
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Description: Large deciduous tree the grows best in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Hardy and adaptable these trees thrive in urban settings. Small green flowers appear in spring before foliage emerges and become seeded wafer-like whirlybirds.
White Oak
Quercus alba
Large
50 - 80 feet
100 feet
Broad, round
Insignificant
Full sun
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Description: Large deciduous tree the grows best in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It is one of the best-looking Oaks in the winter due to the light grey, platey bark and open crown.
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Gymnocladus dioica
Large
60 - 80 feet
40 - 55 feet
Irregular, Oval
Showy
Full sun
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Description: Tall deciduous tree with rough, scaly gray-brown bark and large compound leaves. Greenish white flowers appear in late spring giving way to flattened reddish brown pods which ripen in October and persist well into winter which can be eaten after roasting and turned into a coffee like beverage. the grows best in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun.
Hackberry
Celtis Occidentalis
Large
40 - 60 feet
40 - 60 feet
Round, Oval, Vase
Insignificant
Full sun/part shade
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Description: Medium to large sized deciduous tree with greenish flowers in spring. Flowers can give way to found, fleshy berry-like fruits that can mature to deep purple.
Yellowwood
Caldrastis kentukea
Medium
30 - 50 feet
40 - 55 feet
Round
Showy, fragrant
Full sun
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Description: Excellent tree for residential lawns, particularly on smaller properties. Also may be planted near patios and terraces. Roots go deep, so other plants may be easily grown underneath.
American Hornbeam
Carpinus Caroliniana
Medium
20 - 35 feet
20 - 35 feet
Round
Insignificant
Full sun/Part shade
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Description: Slow growing small to medium deciduous tree understory tree with dark green leaves turning shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Medium
30 - 50 feet
20 - 30 feet
Vase
Insignificant
Full sun
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Description: Slow growing medium deciduous tree with greenish leaves turning bright scarlet in the fall. Technically edible fruit, though very sour, is highly attractive to birds and wildlife.
Serviceberry
Amelanchier
Small
15 - 25 feet
15 - 25 feet
Irregular, Round
Showy, fragrant
Full sun/part shade
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Description: Early flowering, this large shrub/small tree produces edible berries that turn dark purple when ripe. The fruit is commonly used in jams, jellies, and pies.
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Small
20 - 30 feet
25 - 35 feet
Irregular, Round
Showy
Full sun/part shade
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Description: Small fast growing deciduous tree easily identifiable by their seed pods. Bright pink/red flowers bloom in early spring, quickly giving way to dull green leaves.
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