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Best Shade Trees Shade trees add beauty to your yard and, depending on where they are planted, can reduce your home's heating and cooling costs. Most nurseries define "shade tree" as a full-grown tree that is at least 25-feet tall. The best options for shade trees for your home will depend on your climate zone, maintenance commitment and yard size. Aside from the shade they provide, shade trees help prevent soil erosion, attract wildlife and provide compost materials. Choosing the right tree for your space, however, depends on several factors.
Maples Maple trees are known for their height and beautiful fall foliage, making them an excellent shade tree. They are best suited to colder climates. Red maples grow quickly and are 80- to 100-feet tall when mature. Red maples are some of the first trees to get foliage and change colors in the fall. Smaller shade trees such as the Norway and silver maple can also be excellent choices. A silver maple is especially good in poor soil and grows quickly in comparison to other maples. The Norway maple, on the other hand, is 40- to 50-feet high at maturity and grows much slower. Oaks Oaks can make excellent shade trees. Many oak trees grow and shed acorns, which make them more challenging to maintain. When people speak of oak trees, they are often talking about the red oak, which gives off dark-red foliage and drops brown acorns in the autumn. Red oaks are good shade trees because of their quick growth rates. They also transplant easily, making it easier to start with a partially grown tree. Red oaks can 90-feet high with careful growth. Willow Weeping willows can be good shade trees if you have a large yard and want a fast-growing tree. The green weeping willow grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet and does well in wet areas that are challenging for other shade trees. However, because this tree's shallow root system makes it susceptible to toppling over, it should never be planted near a home. Elm While many shade trees are best suited for eastern and northern climates, the lacebark, or Chinese elm, is a perfect shade tree for many western climates. The tree grows fast, has a long leaf season in which to provide shade and is a great size for many yards (40- to 60-feet tall). Flowering Varieties Those shade trees that do have flowers produce beautiful spring blossoms. Remember, if you are interested in flowering shade trees, this type of tree can create extra work for homeowners. Silk trees are a popular option for several reasons. They grow to only 40 feet at maturity, making them appropriately sized for many yards. They also are known for the beauty of their blossoms and the mess their blossoms cause after they fall. A less messy and smaller option is the flowering plum. It grows to 25-feet tall at maturity and produces blooms early in the season. This tree also gives off some fruit, making it a favorite for many homeowners. Choosing a shade tree that will grow for the next 40 years is a big decision. Make a list of a few options that you might consider, then go to a local nursery. A knowledgeable nursery will be able to tell you if the tree will thrive in your area, and suggest options you haven't considered.
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