Best tree to plant in Backyard

[yakushika]

I just cut down a nondescript bush which was on its last legs. It has given me the chance to plant a cherry tree sapling. The blossom is one attraction but really I am jealous of a neighbour who has one which they sit under in the summer and it just looks perfect (insects notwithstanding)

[Gulliver]

Oak tree. They are hardy, fast growing, have a nice strong vertical branches that are excellent for attaching swings, building tree houses (for humans or birds) and climbing in general. They also have beautiful seasonal foliage and provide excellent shade in the summer (you said you like to spend a lot of time in your yard). There are many different sized oaks varieties so you will want to do some research matching the tree circumference to your yard size. Also, if you’ve never tried acorn pancakes/breads, they are delicious!

On a more whimsical note, i’ve always wanted to plant a tree like Cryptomeria (Japanese Redwood) or Sequoia and place a huge boulder next to it inscribed with the words “So-and-so planted this tree in 2022.” Then 2000 years from now people will be scratching their heads wondering- who’s this guy?

[TJKansai]

Oak tree. They are hardy, fast growing, have a nice strong vertical branches that are excellent for attaching swings, building tree houses (for humans or birds) and climbing in general. They also have beautiful seasonal foliage and provide excellent shade in the summer (you said you like to spend a lot of time in your yard). There are many different sized oaks varieties so you will want to do some research matching the tree circumference to your yard size. Also, if you’ve never tried acorn pancakes/breads, they are delicious!

On a more whimsical note, i’ve always wanted to plant a tree like Cryptomeria (Japanese Redwood) or Sequoia and place a huge boulder next to it inscribed with the words “So-and-so planted this tree in 2022.” Then 2000 years from now people will be scratching their heads wondering- who’s this guy?

Oaks are great, but unless you are in the countryside probably impractical. No Japanese homes I have seen have tall trees, probably due to the liability if they fall on the neighbor's place in a typhoon. Shrines are the one exception I can think of.

On a side note, one neighbor seemed annoyed our leaves were blown onto his (treeless) property...not that I felt guilty.

[Gulliver]

[No Japanese homes I have seen have tall trees

Good point. I was just thinking, while chuckling to myself, of a full grown White oak situated in my in-laws tiny backyard. It would probably provide shade for about six neighboring houses .

There are some scrub oaks that might fit the bill, but would probably not be sufficient to hold up a swing or anything nice like that.

Of course most any tree can be pruned to maintain a certain size. You would need a professional arborist to control most oak trees, however. Also it would be A bit of a shame to stunt it anyway.