And one the developers and their consulting horticultural partners don’t take lightly when it comes to providing trees for new homebuyers.

“We try to make sure it’s varied. When you are trying to plant upwards of 2,500 trees, it’s important to plan,” says Sandy Clark, lot-planting co-ordinator at Carma Developers.

In Carma’s communities, trees that come included for the front lawn are pre-determined by the developer, who makes the decision based on location and growing conditions for the soil as well as an overall look to the area. Though known as being a tough place to garden, Calgary’s soil actually varies from one quadrant and community to another.

For example, Tuscany’s soil is “not especially saline” says Clark, so horticultural elements that need saline to thrive will fall short. Instead, hardy trees unaffected by rocky soil such as the Schubert chokecherry, mountain ash, Colorado spruce and laurel leaf willow are favourites for the northwesterly community.

Down south, in new communities such as Cranston, soil tends to have more clay content, so pin cherry, paper and weeping birch are favourites, says Clark.

Which type of tree will go on what lot is pre-determined before a buyer ever visits a show home in a Carma community, but if a resident is dissatisfied with the choice, concessions can be made for their tree, says Clark. “Nine times out of ten it’s no issue and everyone is really happy to have a tree going in. With the in, and with the others, we will go so far as to do the research and come up with some other trees that will work in the climate.”

To that end, Carma works with Eagle Lake and Foothills nurseries for all of its tree needs. Meanwhile, homebuyers don’t have to worry about the planting, as the developer sets that up, with two main waves of landscaping happening every summer—from May to late June, and late July to the end of August. Meanwhile, those with homes still under construction may have to wait a bit, as the rule is to have 75 per cent of a phase complete to prevent traffic from interfering with growth and help trees to thrive.

In new Hopewell communities, homebuyers go shopping for their own foliage. “When you take possession of your home you get a certificate from your builder and after proper grading they can pick their tree,” says Kevin Pyle, manager of architectural approval at Hopewell Residential Communities. “The choice is limitless and if they want a larger tree they can upgrade to that. It allows people to personalize their landscaping and not only choose the type of tree, but the actual tree.”

The value depends on the home’s price and lot size but averages $375, while buyers are also given a credit of $550 to $1,000 toward landscaping, such as shrubs and sod for the back yard.

Trees are planted once a month from spring to fall, so no matter what month buyers move in there are plenty of opportunities to beautify their yards during the growing season.

No less than 20 varieties of tree are available, which are tried-and-true in the Calgary climate, so homeowners can choose based on which way their home faces, what purpose the tree will serve (such as privacy or strictly for looks), and care requirements.
What’s more, new homeowners can even have the say where it will be planted —with the exception, of course, of spots too near utilities, Pyle explains.

Southerly homebuyers have everything at their fingertips at Spruce It Up Garden Centre, while northerly Hopewell residents tree shop at Balzac’s Bluegrass Ltd.

Joanne Dafoe, landscape co-ordinator at Spruce It Up Garden Centre, thinks the developer’s approach to landscaping for new homebuyers is a step in the right direction. “What they are trying to do is beautify their communities with natural trees right away,” she says. “A lot of the big-box stores have potted trees, but here you get a chance to select mature trees, and they all have a one-year guarantee.”

For those who prefer to start small, the nursery also sells potted horticulture, but buyers also have the option of instant gratification. Trees vary in price and size—with some stretching upwards of 20 feet or measuring as large as 110 millimetres in diameter of the trunk—but start around $340 for a 40-millimetre mature tree.

“They are grown on a tree farm for a decade,” says Dafoe, adding trees come housed in burlap, ready to go in the ground.

Popular choices include rich Schubert chokecherries, which start green and turn a vibrant burgundy with berries, Columner Aspens (which like the name suggests, grow tall and thin like a column) for those looking for privacy, and spruce for folks who prefer year-round “interest,” says Dafoe. “You don’t have to look at bare branches in the winter, which is nice.”

Amur maples are another favourite for foliage lovers, says Dafoe, adding they start out green in summer and shift to crimson in autumn, while mountain ash is also known for its leaves changing colour.

Also on new homeowners’ shopping lists is the Toba Hawthorn, which blooms into pink flowers in the spring. Dafoe recommends picking a range of trees “that play against each other” by showing their hues or blooms in different seasons. Likewise, Dafoe often suggests her clients blend tree textures for contrast. “If you are planting seven trees, pick trees with different textures such as a Ponderosa pine, with a Russian olive. It helps make sure you will have something happening in your yard all the time.”

Another consideration for selecting a tree, especially for the front yard, is purpose. “Do you like crabapple jam or want fruit trees? If you have a smaller yard, the Ussurian pear is a nice choice,” notes Dafoe, adding trees with berries have the added benefit of attracting birds. Ornamental and shade trees are also considerations.

Care is as important as what, when and where you plant, says Dafoe, who warns not to overwater. “You want to make sure the soil is kept moist, but not soaking and watering in the morning is key,” she advises.

A plant starter fertilizer is also recommended, and something with a “high middle number” such as 10/52/10. And this should start after leaves have started emerging, while the process should be repeated again in June and late July. Then, along with watering when a tree needs it, a final dose of wet nourishment in October is all most trees need to last the winter. But there are always exceptions. Evergreen varieties will actually need a watering if a Chinook raises the Mercury to 20 Celsius in February.

As for pruning, larger, mature trees have been “trained” so they should be OK for a year or two. After that, Dafoe suggests consulting an arbourist for advice on how to keep unruly branches under wraps. Distressed trees are a magnet for bugs and disease, so she also advises watching for signs of illness or any changes in winter months. And novice tree owners looking to make the most of their purchases can start with books like Lois Hole’s Favourite Trees and Shrubs, which lists species alphabetically by common name.

As with most things worth having, mature trees that add to yards—and property value—take some diligence and care, but the payoff is worth it in the end. NL