One of our favorite days to celebrate and remember is Earth Day (it is April 22^nd, by the way so don’t forgot to celebrate in your own way). It is like the holiday was made for us!

From the coasts of California to the Gulf of Mexico, we have been planting more trees than anybody else over the last 25 years. And we will keep planting them for years to come and growing into new territories.

Since 2010 alone, we have planted over 1.7 million trees!

Earth Day lands in a great time of year to help educate and inform people about the benefits of all the different types of trees. It is also a great time to plant trees!

With the weather we experience in early spring, our soil is warm and prepped for new trees. This helps acclimate newly transplanted trees quickly, which lessens any potential for transplant shock. The mild warm temperatures also create the perfect environment for your trees to get used to their new home and be prepared for the summer.

To celebrate Earth Day, we want to spotlight some of our favorite trees that do best when planted this time of year and that can transform your landscape in one day. Some of these are even exclusive only to Moon Valley. Keep reading to pick out your next tree!

Which Trees Will Transform My Yard this Summer?

Citrus

California is a great place to grow nearly anything and everything for your dinner table so now is the time to finally start growing your own food like you have been talking about for years now!

Citrus trees are a popular addition to your yard and they produce fresh fruit throughout the year.

Lemons are one citrus variety that can be considered "ever bearing" as they often produce two crops per year. Meyer lemons are a favorite due to their many culinary uses and their thin rind that makes squeezing the freshest lemon juice a breeze! Some other great varieties to plant are Lisbon and Eureka lemons.

Red Grapefruits are another tree that can be planted to increase the length of time you can harvest fresh citrus from your yard. The most popular types of grapefruits to plant and grow are the Red and White varieties. Grapefruit trees can be fast growers with the perfect combination of rich soil and full sunlight.

Purple Leaf Plum

The Purple Leaf Plum tree is one our favorite flowering trees and right now is the best time to see them at their best! This tree produces a wealth of showy pink flowers in spring but can start to bloom sooner and last longer, depending on the weather.

And the color does not end there!

This remarkable tree also features exceptional dark purple foliage. Between the flowering season it has in the beginning of the year and beautiful purple foliage in the fall, this tree is the ultimate ornamental tree.

We recommend planting them in front yards, where they are sure to attract all the right attention from neighbors. We often plant them in pairs or more to line borders, gateways, and driveway entries in colorful style.

They can also be planted in an orchard-like row to create a stunning privacy screen. These ornamental trees can make a bold and beautiful color statement no matter how you choose to plant them!

Fruitless Olive

These certified fruitless strains and disease-free olives have grown their entire lives in the hot and dry inland climate, so they are a far superior choice than those grown in other regions.

They can grow to be medium-sized trees, so they are the perfect fit for any landscape and almost any style! These evergreens can grow with a wide-spreading canopy, which makes them an ideal option as a shade tree or used as a silhouette against structures.

They also have the impressive multi-trunk structure that makes them an excellent choice for exhibition by landscape lighting, where they add dramatic flair and curb appeal to any yard!

One of the best features of this tree that makes them grow so well in Southern California is how tolerant they are of all types of soil, good or bad!

Magnolia

Magnolia trees are a sight to behold! They are often used as a centerpiece in many gardens throughout the area. It is easy to see why these elegant trees are so popular with home owners.

They have a dramatic canopy, glossy leaves, and creamy, fragrant white flowers. Few trees can match the year-round beauty of these deciduous and evergreen trees. Once the white flowers are in bloom, the landscape is filled with the sweet aroma that these trees are famous for. And, we cannot forget about the shade they can make!

What is even better is how many varieties of Magnolias we carry in California. Some are grown primarily for the aromatic flowers with attractive shape and form. Some people are planting the bigger varieties for use as a large shade tree that can block out the sun.

Crape Myrtle

The Crape Myrtle is our favorite tree to add color to a landscape and it is the number one selling flowering tree at Moon Valley Nurseries due to its ability to offer something for every season.

During the spring season, this tree really shines with its large clusters of flowers (nearly the size of a football) that bloom all over the foliage. The blooms can last a long time, sometimes even until late summer.

At Moon Valley Nurseries, we offer this tree as a single-trunk or multi-trunk. In addition, the Crape Myrtle trees grown at Moon Valley Nurseries are a top variety thanks to its optimal mildew resistance, which you will not find anywhere else.

Celebrate with Us This Weekend

Come by your nearest location and find all the trees on this list for yourself. Nothing compares to seeing them with your own eyes and standing in front of them to truly appreciate all their beauty.