Trees can make a big impact on your Greater Chicago commercial property. Shade trees bring lush canopies, and flowering trees bring beautiful blooms and lovely aromas.
Trees attract attention and instantly boost your commercial property’s curb appeal.
That’s why they are a great choice for your entryways, along pathways, near exterior areas where people can gather or relax, and even near seating areas.
However, not all trees are ideal for commercial properties in Greater Chicago. You want to choose the right ones to benefit your unique property, whether you manage an office park, an industrial facility, an educational site, a healthcare facility, a retail center, or a homeowner’s association.
Let’s examine some of the best trees for commercial properties in Chicago, so you can gain a better understanding of the optimal choices for your site.
Best Trees for Commercial Properties in Chicago
A commercial property without trees can be pretty barren. You want to add a bit of height, greenery, and color, breaking up that monotony and adding some personality and aesthetics.
Nothing can do that better than trees for commercial landscapes. In addition to tree benefits like preventing soil erosion, boosting oxygen, reducing stormwater runoff, buffering wind, providing shade, and improving your property’s overall appearance, trees can add amazing color, scent, and beauty to your commercial property.
But the right ones make a difference. You want trees that can withstand the traffic on your site and handle the pressure of looking good amidst your busy property activities and schedule, without causing unnecessary mess or requiring tons of attention.
Here are 6 trees that we rely on to deliver an amazing appearance and elevated curb appeal on commercial properties.
1. Thornless Honeylocust
If you want a fast-growing tree to plant in Illinois with fragrant spring flowers, the thornless honeylocust is a good choice.
The open silhouette is filled with tiny leaves that turn yellow or a yellowish green in autumn. In spring, the blooms are yellow and fragrant. This sun-loving tree can grow to a height of between 30 and 70 feet, with a 50-foot spread, and can tolerate a wide range of soils. On top of that, it’s pollution-, salt-, and drought-tolerant.
This tree’s thin, airy crown provides dappled shade underneath. Use this tree on your commercial property hillsides to help stabilize soil and control erosion.
2. Japanese Lilac
If you’re looking for something to place near outdoor seating areas that offers flowers and fragrance, try the Japanese lilac tree. It can be an anchor in one of your landscape beds or mixed with other plants of various sizes to create a lush area.
The best tree for commercial properties blooms in clusters of creamy, white flowers with a sweet fragrance, delivering an early summer delight for approximately two weeks.
The Japanese lilac tree can reach a height of up to 30 feet, with a spread of 15 to 20 feet. It grows in a graceful, upright, attractive shape with reddish bark that has white markings.
Japanese lilac tree leaves are simple and oval, measuring 3 to 6 inches in length. Medium-green leaves turn pale greenish-brown in autumn before falling off.
3. Triumph Elm
If you want to avoid problems with Dutch elm disease but still want the benefits of an elm tree, try a resistant variety like the Triumph elm.
This is the ideal tree for commercial properties, featuring large, lustrous, dark green summer foliage that transitions to golden fall color.
You can expect this tree to reach 50 to 60 feet in height with a 35- to 40-foot spread when you plant it in full or partial sun.
4. Chinkapin Oak
If you have a larger industrial property, you might want to consider planting this tree in Illinois, which can reach 40 to 50 feet in height and spread when planted in well-drained soil and full sun.
This tree has dark green leaves in summer that turn to yellow-orange in the fall.
The rounded shape of the chinkapin oak makes it an attractive addition to your site, as do the 1-inch acorns it produces.
5. Norway Maple
With a dense, round, and symmetrical crown, Norway maples grow to 40 to 50 feet tall with a spread of 30 to 50 feet.
This tree, suitable for commercial landscapes, prefers to grow in full or partial sun and moist, well-drained soil, and has dark green leaves that turn pale yellow in the fall.
However, since this tree is known for its potential to grow roots into foundations, sidewalks, and driveways, it’s best to plant it at least 100 feet from buildings or hardscapes to avoid these complications.
6. Shagbark Hickory
This tree, suitable for planting in Illinois, features a trunk characterized by long, peeling strips of bark, making it an attractive addition to your commercial site.
Its green leaves turn pale green to yellowish-brown in autumn and it loves full to partial sun and well-drained soil.
Expect this low-maintenance tree to grow 60 to 80 feet tall and 50 to 70 feet wide.
The Right Trees for Commercial Properties Can Boost Your Facility Aesthetics and Curb Appeal
You can attract customers to your retail center, residents to your HOA, and employees and businesses to your office park or industrial facility when you have an irresistible array of trees for commercial landscapes on your site.
If you see a list of trees for your site and find the options overwhelming, we’re not surprised. There are so many trees out there, and you want to pick just the right one for your Greater Chicago commercial landscape. Hopefully, this list of trees helps you make a better decision.
But we know it can be stressful. Let KD Landscape help. Our commercial landscaping experts have a ton of experience dealing with Greater Chicago growing conditions and can help you pick just the right trees to suit your needs.
Want to learn more about how KD Landscape can help you choose the best trees for your Greater Chicago commercial property? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can feel confident and make a great choice.
Image Source: Thornless Honey Locust, Lilac Tree, Triumph Elm, Oak, Maple, Hickory
