Trees give lots of useful products like firewood, fodder for animals and timber. Different trees give different products and grow better in different areas. This means that there are lots of things to think about when choosing a type of tree to grow.

Some trees are native to your area but other are what is called exotic. Sometimes exotic trees can spread fast and become weeds. For more information about native and exotic trees you can look here.

YOUR SOIL

Soils come in different types. These depend on how much sand, silt or clay there is in the soil. Different trees often grow better in different soils. Some trees grow well in many soils. Different soils also let water drain away faster or slower. Clay soils often stop water draining away fast. Some trees may need soils that let the water drain faster or slower.

Different soils may have different acid levels. The acidity is measured by a number called pH which can be between 0 and 14. Some trees only grow well in soil with a certain acid level. You can get a testing kit to check the pH of your soil. If your soil is too acidic (low pH) you can make the pH higher by adding lime to the soil. Lime is made from limestone or chalk. Wood ash may also work.

If you are thinking about planting a tree it is best to find out which type and acidity of soil it grows best in and check that this is close to your soil.

YOUR CLIMATE

Your climate is what the weather is like in your area over long periods of time. You may have a hot or a cold climate in your area. You may also have lots of rain or very little. Some trees grow better in hot or cold climates. Others may need lots of rain or only a little. This means that checking that a tree will grow well in your climate is a good idea.

If you live in a dry area it may be useful to plant trees which are drought resistant. These trees can survive long periods without rainfall. You can also get frost-resistant trees. These trees can survive if the temperature in your area drops low enough that you get frosts (frozen water on the ground).

TREE PRODUCTS

Trees can produce many useful things. These include firewood (or charcoal), timber, wood for tools and buildings, edible fruits, fibres for ropes, leaves which animals can eat and dyes. Not all trees produce all of these.

It can be useful to think about what you want from your trees and which trees will give you those products. Some trees will give a lot of different products. These can help to get more out of the trees you plant.

Some trees may produce wood which is resistant to termites and other insects or some types of rot. This means that the wood you get from these trees may be less likely to be eaten away by insects or to rot. This can be helpful if you want to use the wood from the tree for buildings or tools.

PESTS AND HARDINESS

Some trees may be resistant to some pests or diseases which are found in your area. This can help them to grow better because it means that these pests or diseases will not attack them.

Some trees grow faster than others while others are hardier. This means that they are tougher and can live through many different types of weather.

MONOCULTURES

If you only grow one plant this is called a monoculture. It can seem like a good idea to grow a monoculture of the best tree for you. Monocultures can provide more wood and be easier to harvest. However, there are also be good reasons for growing several different types of trees.

Diseases can spread more quickly through monocultures. You could also lose all of one type of tree because of disease or bad weather. This means that having other types of tree planted which might survive the things that killed the first type can be good. The trees of the other type may survive so that you still get some tree products.

Growing more types of trees is also good for biodiversity.