Trees can be planted successfully during the summer and there is still a good selection available to choose from. There are many varieties of trees, which can fill a specific need in your landscape such as shade, leaf color, blooms and visual interest throughout the year.

When planting a tree during the summer, dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball.

The depth of the hole should allow the top of the root ball to be a little above ground level. Once the size of the hole is determined and dug, fill the hole with water and let the water seep into the ground. This will help moisten the soil around the root ball. Set the tree into the hole, fill in the hole around the ball with a good soil mix and pack it in to reduce the air pockets.

Once the tree is planted, build a small berm around the hole to hold the water in around the tree. Add mulch around the tree to help keep in moisture and water as needed.

Many varieties of trees are still available for purchase at the nursery. Choose Red Maples or oaks for shade. For flowering trees select from dogwoods, Yoshina and Kwanzan Cherries, Forest Pansy Red Buds and Oklahoma Red Buds; many sizes and colors of crape myrtle and Vitex trees.

There are also trees with interesting bark such as Paper Bark Maple and River Birch that have peeling bark, and Coral Bark Japanese Maple, which has redish bark. There are trees with colorful leaves, the most popular are Japanese Maples; some varieties have red foliage and a few have variegated foliage.

There is also Wolf Eye Dogwood that has variegated foliage.

Browse the available selection of these trees and see where they can enhance your landscape now and throughout the year.

Happy gardening.