Normandy Park City Scene      Spring 2026
22
A
s any gardener can attest, it 
is difficult to ignore the draw 
of new plants. How many of 
us have fallen victim to the buy the 
plant now and figure out where to 
put it later? (raises hand). To help 
prevent future issues, here are a few 
tips to keep in mind when you add a 
new tree to your landscape. 
•	Space availability: Always look 
to see how big this tree will 
grow. How much open space 
do you truly have in your yard? 
How close to the house do you 
plan to put the tree? Remember 
that the roots will extend far 
beyond what you see. Are there 
power lines overhead? 
How to Select 
the Right Tree
•	Light: Trees, like all plants, 
will have specific light 
requirements. How many 
hours of sunlight will your 
chosen spot get? Is it on the 
north side where it will be 
mostly shaded by the house 
or is it in an open area that is 
south or west facing?
And while cost is definitely an 
important consideration, one last 
thing to think about is the other 
budget - the time budget. Are you 
looking for a tree you can put in the 
ground and walk away? Or are you 
willing to care for a tree that needs 
regular maintenance? 
Which leads us to another 
important topic - taking care of 
that tree you’ve carefully selected. 
Don’t Top Trees!
When trees start to feel too large 
in an urban landscape, or when 
they grow to heights where they 
begin blocking views, it can be 
tempting to have them topped. 
This practice is generally very 
damaging to trees, and the new 
branches that grow out of the 
topped cut are less structurally 
sound that the original branches. 
This can turn a healthy tree into 
a hazard tree that is more likely 
to drop large limbs in the long 
run. Tree topping also creates 
large wounds on trees that are 
easily infected by insects or fungi. 
Leslie Newman  
Realtor/Broker
206.769.8882
leslienewman@remax.net
leslienewman.info
INVESTMENT 
OPPORTUNITY!
 » 6 cottages plus a 2,400sf 
single-family residence
 » Approx. 150’ river 
frontage on 1.31 acres
 » Level, usable lot
13301 56th Ave S
Tukwila, WA 98178
$1,495,000
BY PARKS COMMISSIONERS, JENNIFER LOVE AND KELLY STEFFEN 

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