upward view of tree

5 Best Tree Species for Your Louisville Home Landscape

Even though we do not offer tree installation, we love to see Louisville homeowners choosing great tree species for their homes. If you know anything about us, you know that we really love caring for trees…it’s why we got into this industry…and we want to see people make the best choices.

In this article, we will talk about some of the best tree species for Louisville properties.

The truth is, there are many trees that can work really well at your home. These are just five that we happen to really love. We’ll tell you a little bit about these trees and why we feel they might be right for you.

Jump to:

Best tree species for Louisville homeowners
Key considerations for tree installation
Choosing tree care services in Louisville to care for your trees

Best tree species for Louisville homeowners

There are a lot of great trees that can work well on Louisville properties but here are five that we love.

1. Kentucky Coffeetree

If you’re searching for native trees for Louisville, you may assume that the Kentucky Coffeetree is a good choice. But despite its name, this tree is not exclusive to Kentucky. The tree got its name when early settlers encountered it in Kentucky, but its natural range extends beyond Kentucky’s borders.

This tree makes a nice choice for Louisville yards because it is adaptable and low maintenance. If you’re looking for low maintenance trees in Louisville, you can put this option on your list. It can tolerate a wide range of conditions. It is also resistant to a lot of pests and diseases.

Mature height: 60 to 75 feet

CC - Kentucky Coffeetree

2. Tulip Poplar

The Tulip Poplar has tulip-shaped leaves and tulip-like blooms, which is where it gets its name. The flowers are known to attract pollinators.

These broadleaf trees are native to the Eastern part of the country. They make a nice addition to a yard due to their ability to grow quickly and ultimately provide shade. 

The Tulip Poplar is a large tree, so you definitely want to make sure that you’re paying attention to future size.

Mature height: 70 to 120 feet

3. White Oak

In general, Oak trees always make a nice addition to a yard. After all, Oak trees are the national tree of our country. But we particularly like the White Oak because it tends to perform well in our soils.  

People choose Oaks, like the White Oak, for their durability and long-term beauty. White Oaks also produce beautiful fall foliage colors of burgundy and red.

White Oaks are specifically known for their longevity, with some having lived up to 500 years! When fully grown, this shade tree can become a landscape favorite.

Mature height: 50 to 100 feet

CC - White Oak

4. Pawpaw Tree

The Pawpaw Tree is one of our favorites. In fact, we named it our “Tree of the Year” in 2023. 

The Pawpaw tree is what we might call a “curiosity tree” in that it’s something unique and interesting. We feel the Pawpaw is one of the best backyard trees in Louisville since it’s a tree you might like to go sit by and enjoy with friends and family. 

If adding more than one Pawpaw tree to your Louisville property, we’d advise planting them in a group, like a wall. They can provide a great screen and add some privacy in the Spring and Summer months.

Mature height: 15 to 30 feet

Asimina_triloba_(pawpaw_tree)_1_(39451806582)

5. Eastern Redbud

This is another tree we’d have on our list of the best small trees in Louisville since it does not get too large. It makes a nice addition to the landscape thanks to its stunning spring blooms. Flowers are pink and purple. 

Thanks to its early spring blooms, often, people plant this tree in the front yard as a focal piece but you could also have this tree in a backyard to enjoy privately.

If you’re looking for low maintenance trees in Louisville, this is another one to consider. It’s not going to require much care to look its best.

Mature height: 20 to 30 feet

Key considerations for tree installation

Proper installation is critical to the long-term health of your tree. There’s a lot more to tree installation than just plopping a tree in a hole. As long-term tree caregivers, we see a lot of problems that could have been prevented if trees were installed correctly. 

Unfortunately, many planting mistakes can lead to tree health problems down the road that may not be easily remedied. 

Common problems during tree planting include improper planting depth, planting a tree in a poor location, mulching a tree improperly, and watering a tree improperly.

But one of the best pieces of advice that we can offer is making sure that you are installing the right tree in the right place. That means that you’re installing the tree in a location on your property where it will get what it needs (in terms of things like sunlight and water).

The health of the soil in that location is also important as are the overall conditions of that location. For instance, if you plant a tree in a spot on your property that is constantly getting waterlogged, that could lead to issues with root rot. It’s important that the soil structure is good and that it drains well.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s also a matter of making sure you’re considering the future growth of the tree. This is something that is commonly overlooked when a tree is small and just being installed for the first time. But if you do not pay attention to the future growth of the tree, you could wind up with problems with the branches or the roots.

house with tree and lawn-1

Choosing tree care services in Louisville to care for your trees

Although we do not install trees, we do care for them. It's the ongoing care of your trees that is going to maximize your value in them. And when you make a wise choice in tree care services, the process can be simplified for you.

With the right company, you’ll ensure your trees are getting the proper care all year long. There can be a lot involved in caring for your trees and the process can be overwhelming. But a tree care expert will know exactly what’s needed. 

At Limbwalker, we are committed to preserving the health and beauty of trees here in Kentucky. We got into this industry because we truly love trees. We know that they serve many valuable purposes and we want to do what we can to help homeowners enjoy them for many years to come. 

Depending on your tree needs, we can customize your tree care in Louisville, KY to fulfill everything you need. Whether you have one of the trees on this list or another species, we are here to help.


That means less worries on your end and more time to enjoy your property to the fullest.

If you’d like to learn more about tree services for your Louisville home, get in touch, get your quote, and get back to enjoying your yard.

Get a Quote

 

 

 

 

 

Chris O'Bryan

Chris O'Bryan

Chris grew up in Louisville, KY. He holds a Forestry degree from the The University of Kentucky and a Master's Degree in Economics from Clemson University. He is a Certified Arborist and 5-time Kentucky Tree Climbing Champion. When not at work, he has fun with his family, enjoys traveling, one-wheeling, and working in his yard.

Related Posts