Evergreen or deciduous tree?

Evergreen trees are increasing in popularity as people seek easy care options for their home. What are the benefits and costs of evergreen and deciduous trees?

Evergreen trees

Benefits

• Consistent appearance year round
• Provide shelter from wind all year round
• Provide shade from sun all year round
• Provide privacy from neighbours all year round

Costs

• They shed small amounts of leaves all year long (especially small leaved trees)
• They can block out the sun in the winter
• Not as simple to deal with pests and diseases when they are always in full leaf
• Block views all year round

Deciduous trees

Benefits

• Creates seasonal interest, as many have blossom in spring/summer and beautiful autumn leaf colour.
• Provides shade in the summer and lets the sun through in the winter
• They drop their leaves at one time of the year
• Fallen leaves are a useful source of organic matter for compost bins and the garden
• Easy to deal with pests and diseases when they are dormant in winter.

Costs

• They drop all their leaves
• They look bare in winter
• You lose privacy from neighbours when leaves drop.

As you can see there are valid points for and against both evergreen and deciduous trees. It is important to assess what is most important to you. If it is low maintenance then you need to weigh up if it is easier to deal with one dump of leaves over a few weeks with deciduous trees or the continual leaf drop from an evergreen tree.

Don’t dismiss the benefits of passive cooling either. Deciduous trees provide shade to your home over the hot months, reducing the need for air conditioning and allows the sunlight into the home in winter, reducing the need for heating. This can make a significant difference to your home heating bill.

In terms of appearance, they both have benefits. Evergreens provide consistency all year round and important structure in the garden during the winter months. Deciduous trees provide a seasonal change in the garden which can include blossom and autumn foliage colour. A combination of both and careful placement of the trees will give you the best of both worlds! 

Written for Gubba by Kelly Jean Reyland from Garden Advice NZ (www.gardenadvice.co.nz)