• Soil type: what kind of soil will the tree be planted in?

• Groundwater level: what are the average high and low groundwater levels?

• Available space below ground level

• Dimensions above ground level: how wide and high is the tree able and intended to grow?

• Other location factors, such as geographical position, paving and wind

• Designer's vision: shape, texture and structure, height and width, colours, seasonal effects, atmosphere and accents

• The function of the tree: e.g. play tree, ecology, cultural history or native 

Once the choice of species has been decided, it is recommended that the trees should be drawn into the design based on their mature crown diameter. It will then be clear straight away whether or not there is sufficient space for the species in question and whether there will be any problems in the future, due to public lighting, for example.

When choosing the species, it is important not to forget the budget available for management. A designer may have an avenue of neatly trimmed block trees in mind as a desired final look, but if there is insufficient budget for annual pruning, this desired final look will unfortunately never be achieved. Leaf fall, fruit fall, insects in the tree (such as lice in certain lime species and species that attract wasps), imprints on paving and branch breakages are also management factors that need to be carefully weighed up.