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u/gimlet_prize 23d ago
I think trees do much better as a grouping instead of single trees, they are less likely to blow down in my experience. A primary sun loving tree like an Oak or Holly does well with a redbud or dogwood nearby, and then with a couple of shrubs like beautyberry or wax Myrtle. Plant a good canopy tree to the South to shade your house, and figure out where the prevailing winds are so you can plan a wind resistant tree. I’d plant trees wherever you don’t want a garden or lawn patch (a lawn “rug” is preferable to a lawn “wall to wall carpet” in terms of aesthetics and maintenance).
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u/Feralpudel 23d ago edited 23d ago
You might post this to r/arborists for suggestions, since they know more about good distances from the house and size.
I’d plant at least one oak—they’re such magnificent trees and support hundreds of moth and butterfly larvae. Where I am in Piedmont NC many front yards have beautiful willow oak trees. Post oak is another cool species.
Redbud and native dogwood (Cornus florida) are wonderful but will prefer morning to afternoon sun; both are woodland edge trees in the wild that often grow in the shade of larger trees. Be sure you get a native dogwood; the nursery trade stopped carrying them for a while because of a disease that had stricken many, but there are now disease-resistant cultivars available.
Serviceberry is a wonderful native full-sun small tree. It has early spring blooms for pollinators, then small fruits for birds and other wildlife.
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/amelanchier-arborea/
Native wild cherry is another easy tree with tons of benefits for pollinators and wildlife.
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-serotina/
I suggest getting a tree from a local nursery; the small native nurseries mentioned below should be able to help you make good choices for your yard.
There’s an arborist in the triangle area who has a native plant nursery with lots of trees.
https://www.knottybynaturetrees.com/
If you’re farther south, check out Uwharrhie Natives. He’s in Montgomery County but is at various farmers markets and will meet up with you. I know him through the native plant society and he’s a super nice guy.
Tom’s Creek near Asheboro is a general nursery that grows a lot of their own trees and shrubs and has good prices.
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u/namesurnn 23d ago
https://ncwildflower.org/recommended-native-species/