Trees provide shade, shelter, and sometimes fall color and fruit. But privacy? That’s up for debate. Depending on your yard, a tree can create a screen—you just need to be careful where you place it.

Patience is a virtue, and many trees require it. "Trees, in general, live on a much longer timeline than we do, with many living for hundreds, and some even thousands of years," says Nancy Gaspari, an ...

If you're thinking about planting a tree in your yard but worry about maintenance and potential damage, understory trees are a great alternative.