Trees…Vary Sizes on Layout?

Variety would be more like things are in the real world.  On my tinplate layout, I use this same type of snow-covered tree, and in a variety of sizes.

Vary.

I agree - vary the sizes as in nature.  You may also want to install the larger trees closer to the front of your layout, with shorter ones farther in, or up on a mountain if you have one.

As all the others have said vary the size for a more realistic scene.

Dave

Thanks for your input; I've just ordered a dozen of the 6"-10" trees. Curious how some websites list 5"-6" pines as HO, while others list the very same as O-scale.

This may be a good time to point out Christmas sales on bags of 4-6" trees, as well as bushes and other landscaping. Check the ornament section of your nearby big box store. They'll be half price before Christmas and 75-90% off afterward.

--Becky

Yes Size and Variety should be mixed.

I learned there is no such ting as a scale tree. Mix them in clumps as real trees propagate in groups. Behind my home there are white pines, oaks and maple trees interspersed in a forest. Trees along the edge of the forest have more foliage than trees inside of the forest.

I agree with all.  Not only does any wooded area consist of varying size (age) trees, but putting smaller ones towards your backdrop emphasizes the look of distance.  Here, I use bagged Home Depot trees, minus the snow and hacked and flocked, along with home made sedum trees in the foreground and home made Aspen trees.  The home made trees are sized to match their location while I use the smallest commercial trees on the far portions of the ridge in the background.

Variety is good.

Great looking trees on the above layouts and great ideas.  Trees are expensive to buy from the store already made.  I can make 200 trees in about 3 hours and the cost is only the spray cans of green paint or the tintex dye to color the lichen.

Trees make the layout come alive.  Not only should size vary but also color of trees as well as type.  I have used 5 different colors of green to make my forest varied.  All of my trees are a natural product.  No tree is store bought.  I have used everything from Golden Rod, Sedum, Astilbe and the invasive (in Michigan) tall reed.  For pines I use random pieces of scotchbrite pads on sticks as well as furnace filter painted green.  I also pick lichen in Northern Michigan and glue it to tree branches or buy woodland scenics tree forms. (yes I buy tree armatures).

Variety is the way to go in a forest of trees.  Also stuffing fiber from the craft stores lightly painted green and mounted on stick showing only the fiber to fill in the forest.

Nice look to your trees, Lary.  Grape stems dried out can be used for armatures as well.  They're flimsy, though, so probably don't want to plant them where you'll need to be reaching a lot.

Trainsrme wrote:

"You may also want to install the larger trees closer to the front of your layout, with shorter ones farther in, or up on a mountain if you have one."

This seems backwards to me, better perspective/more realistic this way(larger trees closer to the front)? Just wondering

Thanks for the grape stem idea.  Will try that next year.  Great idea.  I'm always looking for new ways to make trees.

My rule of thumb is to create a tree that is realistic in height for the scene, The following are some trees that line the street infront of Yale University, While not the greatest I created them from twisted wire coated with silicone corking.