What Are the Best Shade Trees for Close to a House?
Did you know that proper landscaping design with the right shade tree can help you keep your house cooler and preserve your safe haven from harsh sunlight during the summers?
You might be surprised to learn that shade trees are more effective in keeping homes cool than curtains or blinds. Not only that, planting shade trees also reduces energy consumption. Based on studies, it’s been confirmed that the average US household can save up to 25 percent yearly in energy costs with well-placed shade trees.
What’s more, according to the University of Purdue, sitting under a shade tree provides you with an equivalent of SPF 10 sunblock.
Once you decide to plant shade trees close to your house, you can look at a variety of options that best suit your preferences and go ahead with the one that matches your needs.
Here are a few of the best shade trees for close to a house:
1. Paper Birch
The paper birch is a fast-growing shade tree. It can reach a height of 40 to 70 feet with a spread of 30 to 60 feet. It also boasts white bark that instantly adds to the beauty of your yard, especially when the tree starts dropping its leaves for the winter.
Paper birch grow best in clumps and can function as a woodland garden. They prefer well-drained soil but are capable of tolerating drought.
However, you shouldn’t plant paper birch too close to the house or power lines.
2. Tulip Poplar
Tulip poplars are considered one of the tallest and best shade trees for close to a house. They can reach 60 to 90 feet high, but their spread is only 30 to 50 feet. These trees also have an attractive leaf shape and flower in the spring. Due to their leaf shape, they provide excellent shade, regardless of the landscape.
Tulip poplars grow well in full sun when they can grow freely.
3. Dawn Redwood
The dawn redwood is a popular type of tree that was discovered in China. This species of tree has beautifully colored bark and luscious green foliage. They quickly grow to very tall heights, offering a pyramidal shape. They give a heightened aesthetic appeal when grown in a line.
Dawn redwoods can grow from 70 to 100 feet in height, with a spread of 25 feet. These trees don’t require a lot of maintenance, though they lose their needles every winter so they might require some cleanup.
4. Weeping Willow
The weeping willow is also called the Salix babylonica. It’s most popularly known for an open crown of ground-sweeping, wispy branches and long leaves. Its green foliage and yellow twigs are often seen as the first indication of the arrival of the spring season.
Weeping willows grow at a fast pace and can reach heights of from 30 to 40 feet and almost the same width. They’re easy to maintain and often lend themselves to being planted singly or in a small clump. They’re commonly found near ponds, rivers, and lakes.
5. American Plane Tree
The American plane tree is a fast-growing shade tree and is also called the sycamore. It has whitish and mottled bark. It’s found near ponds and lakes and grows quite tall and large. It’s capable of growing as much or more than 6 feet each year, reaching a height of 70 feet or more.
The American plane tree is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a tree that grows to a great height and provides the right amount of shade as well.
However, not all yards are appropriate for a sycamore to be planted and careful consideration is necessary.
6. Hackberry
Hackberry is highly regarded by tree experts as a very tough tree. They can survive in almost any type of soil or temperatures and can handle an annual rainfall of anywhere from 14 to 60 inches. Hackberries are also capable of taking on strong winds and air pollution to a great extent.
Moreover, this tree doesn’t require regular watering, unlike most others. If you’re looking for a tree that requires minimal to no maintenance, can withstand rough weather, provides shade, and conserves energy, the hackberry might be your best bet.
7. Silver Maple
Silver maple gets its name from its features. The silvery undersides of the tree’s leaves produce a shimmery effect, even with very light wind. The bark is silver in color too, especially when it’s in its younger phases.
This shade tree is fast-growing and is a champion in the landscaping department. It can reach 49 to 82 feet in height, and its spread at maturity is 36 to 49 feet.
The silver maple is most suited for large yards and has a wide-spread root system, rewarding you with a quick and beautiful shade. Moreover, the tree is aesthetically pleasing and adds great ornamental value to your house.
8. American Sweetgum
The American sweetgum is a shade tree that has star-shaped leaves and a neat, compact crown and great fruit. It has twigs with a “corky” growth, which are called wings. It can grow as tall as 60 to 75 feet, with a spread of 40 to 50 feet.
It’s often planted on college campuses and in large yards because it adds fall color to the landscape. American sweetgums have glossy green leaves that turn to shades of yellow, orange, purple, and red during autumn. They are a definite treat for the eyes.
Planting trees in your yard will also enhance the capacity of your soil to retain water. In particular, shade trees will help prevent the evaporation of water during the summertime. This becomes a great advantage when you’ve worked hard to make your lawn luscious.
Choosing the right shade trees for close to your house requires deliberation on the shape, size, and right location for planting it. The efficient placement of your shade tree will ensure that your home gets the right amount of shade. Besides all the benefits that they provide, shade trees close to a house act as an ornament for your landscape.
If you’re looking to plant the best shade trees close to your house, then Mr. Tree can help you. With more than 30 years of residential and commercial tree care service experience, we believe in quality service, customer satisfaction, and professionalism. Feel free to contact us for all your shade tree planting and maintenance needs.
