why old trees almost always get a vote

when i walk onto a property for the first time, the mature trees are usually some of the first things i notice. where they sit, how their branches reach across the yard, the shade they create, the way the light filters through them, and even how they make the house feel. an old tree has a presence in a landscape that is pretty hard to recreate.

which is why, when we’re designing a new landscape, old trees almost always get a vote.

that doesn’t mean every tree stays. trees can be unhealthy, poorly located, damaged, or simply nearing the end of their lives. sometimes removing one opens up possibilities for the property that make sense. but i don’t like removing a mature tree simply because it would be easier to design without it. more often, i’d rather figure out how the landscape can work around it.

a mature tree can actually become the starting point for an entire landscape design. its canopy might determine the shape of a patio or the curve of a walkway. the shade beneath it can become a woodland garden filled with layers of green, interesting foliage, and shade-loving perennials. a beautiful trunk might become something we intentionally frame from inside the house. sometimes an old tree creates the perfect place for a bench, a quiet garden, or a path that wanders beneath its branches.

old trees also bring something to a landscape that we can’t install: time. their bark is rough and imperfect. branches twist in unexpected directions. roots rise from the ground. moss and lichens settle in. birds nest overhead. squirrels race through the branches. the tree changes with the seasons and with the light throughout the day. all of that texture, movement, shade, and history becomes part of the garden.

throughout naperville, aurora, plainfield, yorkville, batavia, geneva, glen ellyn, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago, we’re fortunate to work on properties with some really beautiful mature trees. when planning landscape design, planting design, natural stone patios, walkways, fire pits, retaining walls, and other outdoor living spaces, those existing trees can help guide where things belong rather than simply becoming obstacles to work around.

there’s also something i love about combining something new with something that has been there for decades. a newly built natural stone patio feels different beneath the canopy of an old oak. fresh plantings feel more grounded when they’re layered around an established tree. the new landscape immediately has a little age and soul to it.

i think the best landscape design pays attention to what was there before we arrived. sometimes the answer is to change it. sometimes it’s to add to it. and sometimes the best design decision we can make is simply to leave a beautiful old tree exactly where it is and let everything else find its place around it.