With Summer just around the corner, many homeowners are looking for some quick shade. One of the easiest ways to find or create shade is with the trees in your yard. You may already have some shade trees, but if you are looking to add more, here are a few to consider. We have customers calling Milledgeville Tree Services on a regular basis asking us to cut & trim shade spots in their yard around summertime.
Quaking Aspen– The quaking aspen has one of the largest branch spans of all trees- literally, you can find this tree in a book of world records. It has the widest natural range of any tree in North America. It is also the largest living organism, increasing in clones which mainly replicate by sending sprouts from their roots. And as far as the earliest … it is believed that a clone in Minnesota is thousands of years old! If you are considering planting one of these in your yard, it is important to consider the space the quaking aspen will need. It’s not a vine to go. But the quaking aspen, planted in the right spot, is a delight for color, movement, and tone.
Hackberry– The Hackberry is known by many experts to be one of the toughest trees around. It can handle loads of sunlight and weather types. Ranging from southern Canada to Florida on a broad variety of soils east of the Rockies, these trees grow in a large range of temperatures and on sites varying from 14 to 60′′ average rainfall. They too can endure heavy winds and bear air pollution. All this toughness adds up to a good choice of landscape, particularly when you are searching for an energy-conserving shade tree that does not need watering.
Sawtooth Oak– The sawtooth oak is an Asian species that has become naturalized in many parts of North America. The sawtooth oak is an elegant and lasting shade tree that adapts to a large variety of soil and environment conditions. The leaves contribute to the visual interest — opening a bright yellow in the spring to light yellow color, turning deep lustrous green in the summer, and yellow in the fall to a golden brown. Its common habit offers great shade, too. This particular oak grows very quickly which makes it a valuable and versatile landscape tool for any yard.
Weeping Willow– While this particular plant is less common in the domestic scene, it is a great resource to have in your yard and it is a tree worth considering if you are looking to increase shade. This majestic giant is recognized for its wispy, ground-sweeping branches open crown, and thin, slender leaves. Sometimes used as one of spring’s first signs, yellow twigs and green leaves of the weeping willow emerge early in the season — sometimes as early as February. The weeping willow will settle its roots quickly and naturally making it quick and easy to grow. It can also grow to be thirty to forty feet high and nearly the same dimensions in width. While this willow is perfectly fine being planted alone on your property, you can also consider planting it in a small grove near the edge of the water.