Post a photo and look around you... see all those trees growing in "icky clay"?

i live in a subdivision, everyone has the same Tree - Kwanzan cherry, i want something different.

A tiny lawn means you should pay attention to the mature size of the tree you choose. You can consider using a "specimen" tree for one area - something that is really unusual.

A nice tree for color is Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' (also known as "redbud" but this is a cultivar with burgundy leaves). Japanese maples are also very nice for color as are paperbark maples (Acer griseum). Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is a seldom used tree that has attractive green leaves, interesting flowers and spectacular fall color. The native fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is also called Grancy Greybeard for it's unusual blooms. Snowbells (Styrax sp.) and Silverbells (Halesia sp.) are seldom used also.

Take your time, research the suggestions you get here, look around and see what you admire at banks, libraries and other places. Take pictures of what you like if you don't know what they are. Oct/Nov is the best time to plant, so you have several months to decide.

Drive around the older neighborhoods and look at the trees. Measure your yard so you have an idea of how much room the tree(s) can cover. Take photos, and, if you ask, you can probably take width measurements, of the trees you like the looks of. Either use the library or buy a tree ID book, or post the photos here and ask (include a close up of leaves, fruit or flower and maybe the bark, to get a good answer). Look at trees in parks, on college or school campuses, go to arboretums - the grounds keepers may well know what the trees are, or, again, ask here or look in books. If there are REALLY good nurseries around, with really knowledgable staff, and with display gardens, go and look and ask questions there. Do double-check the info, however, as sometimes nursery staff know less than they think they do. You want to be looking at trees that are older than 20 years, preferably 30 years, so you can have some ideas as to how they grow and what they look like.

There are new cultivars of some of the larger tried-and-true trees, maples, etc., as well as newer introductions of species, that are smaller than the 60-100' trees of the past, so look into them. Go on-line and find a few tree nurseries - go through the catalogues and look. Use Google Image to see photos - many of these will be smaller, younger trees, but will give you a chance to see how a given tree grows. Be aware that some of the heights mentioned on the hang-tags of trees for sale may be the expected height in 10 years, not the eventual, mature height. ALWAYS double-check your facts!

Lecture now being over - I would agree with any of the above for small trees. Other possibilities include riverbirch (Heritage or Duraheat selections, will grow to 35-40'), dogwoods, crape myrtles (selected for size), magnolias, either deciduous ones (selected for size, shape and flower color) or M. viginiana, stewartias, hornbeam and, not to exhaust the possibilities, but to come to a stop, crabapples (selected for disease resistance, flower color and height).

If you want large trees, there are any number that will grow over 40', and many over 60', with time. Maples, oaks, sweetgums (selected males, to avoid the 'gumballs'), black gum, hackberry, sycamore, pecan, etc., etc. As well, there are any number of evergreen trees that can be used, ranging from magnolias to pines to spruce, cedar, etc. Most of these may make things a little TOO shady.

If you don't already have one, get a copy of the Southern Living Garden Book - it has a series of listings in the front for plants selection, including trees. You can get ideas, and see if they will grow in your area, although it may not include the latest introductions.

You do have time, since, as Esh Ga mentioned, the fall is the best time to plant. Decide what you want - eventual size in height and width, spring or summer flowers, berries, deep shade, dappled shade, deciduous, evergreen, fall color, winter interest - and then look for trees with whatever of these attributes you want. You can't have them all, but you can get several together. If you come back with a list of what you are looking for, the members here can help.