Arbor Day falls on April 30th this year, which gives you some time to prepare for planting a tree in your yard.  With so many different purposes for trees to serve, you can't go wrong with celebrating the holiday to plant a tree of your very own. However, you want to make sure to do your research and plan out what type of tree you are going to plant. Trees will, with proper care, live a very long time, so make sure you pick a tree that suits your needs.  Whether you're considering planting a tree to celebrate Arbor Day, or you have a specific purpose in mind, consider the following trees for your yard.

Agricultural Trees
You can save money on grocery expenses by growing your own fruits, and since San Diego's climate is mild like the Mediterranean, you shouldn't be very limited on the types of fruit trees available for growing. You can plant one of several types of citrus trees like lemons, oranges, limes, kumquats and tangerines, or save money by growing your own avocados.

With the price of avocados sometimes exceeding a dollar each, you can save money each time you make home-made guacamole by avoiding the grocery store prices and grabbing some ripe avos off your own tree. With the recent hikes in almond prices, you can also save some dough (pardon the pun) on the cost of making biscotti or marzipan by growing your own almond tree.

Ornamental Trees
Are you looking to plant a tree to fulfill a design concept? Perhaps you're just looking to fill in the emptiness of a big, flat lawn. Whatever reason, you might want to plant a tree for its appearance. If you're just looking for a drought-tolerant plant to fill in negative space, try planting an Acacia (Acacia sp.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) or Olive Tree (Olea europaea). If you're going for a native landscape, try planting a Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) or Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana). For creating a Polynesian-themed paradise, consider planting an Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea), Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) or Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.).

Shade Trees
Perhaps the most self-evident reason to plant a tree is for its shade. Not only does the shade of a tree provide you and your family with a nice, cool spot to have a picnic on a sunny day, it can also help reduce your energy bills. By planting a tree of the right size and in the right location, you can provide shade to your home, which will in turn reduce your need to keep it cool with energy-loving appliances like AC units and fans.

For large spaces, you might want to consider planting a Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) or Sycamore (Platanus sp.) tree. For mid-sized trees, you might want to plant a colorful Jacaranda (Jacaranda sp.), Golden Trumpet (Tabebuia chrysotricha) or Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) tree. If space is limited, try a smaller shade tree like a Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) or a Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Remember that whichever route you take, there are many wholesale nurseries that you can go to for expert advice about planting and care instructions before buying your new tree.