When choosing trees for small landscapes, here are some things to consider.

Trees. No garden is complete without them. Yet it’s so hard to choose the right ones. And it’s even more important for those with small gardens to choose carefully.

Here are some quick tips to help you select the very best.

Look for the award winners. Many states have Plant of the Year awards. An example is the Gold Medal Plant Awards given by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society each year. One year the selected the Adirondack crabapple as a winner. Hardy in zones 4-8, this disease-resistant, small tree only grows to 18 feet. With its narrow, upright shape, it is suitable for those tight spots in the garden.

The right tree for the right spot. This is really important. Is the soil wet and poorly drained? If so, choose a tree that is well adapted to those conditions.

The area underneath power lines can be a problem. For this spot, choose small trees that need little or no pruning. There is a whole series of trees that were bred and chosen for their compact shape. Look for them at your local garden center.

Select a tree that can grow comfortably in the available space. Otherwise lots of pruning may be needed. By the way in case you haven’t heard topping is a no-no. This leads to a very unhealthy not to mention unattractive tree in the landscape, which is certainly undesirable in the landscape.

Select well-adapted, pest resistant trees. The white native dogwoods are no longer recommended for shady sites. When grown in sun, they will perform better and will be less likely to succumb to disease.

These are only a few ideas on choosing trees, but you’ll probably need more information. So visit the cooperative extension service website for your area. It has plant information geared specifically for your hardiness zone.

Choosing the best tree for the small garden is by no means easy. Armed with the information you need, the search is much easier.