Shady Welcome
Owning a house means putting down roots, and nothing underscores that notion like planting a large tree whose leafy embrace will shade your home and yard. We’re talking about oaks, elms, maples, beeches—trees that can live for a century and whose names conjure small-town streetscapes and backyard picnics. Such a tree is an investment in the future: It may go in as a twig, but as you watch it grow, its canopy spreading and its trunk thickening as it rises toward a full height of 50 feet or more, it will start to feel like a member of the family.
There are practical reasons to put in one of these trees, too. Their deeper roots reduce the likelihood of buckling pavement, and their strong branches are less prone than spindlier specimens’ to break under stress from wind or snow. Properly placed, they can keep a home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, taking as much as 25 percent off utility bills. Plus, when it comes to curb appeal, a mature shade tree can boost property values by as much as 20 percent.
We’ve narrowed the choices down to six species, all beloved for their looks, longevity, and low maintenance. And spring is an ideal time to plant. The key to success? Putting the right type of tree in the right spot, where it can spread out unimpeded. Read on for our guide to selecting, planting, and caring for a shade tree that will grow straight and tall—and enrich the landscape for generations to come.
Shown: A large deciduous shade tree, such as this ash, which can reach a height of 120 feet, provides a focal point in the landscape.
Anatomy of a Shade Tree
Permanent roots anchor a tree to the ground, while temporary feeder roots carry water and nutrients to limbs, branches, and leaves. At maturity, a well-shaped tree has a balanced canopy and a single strong leader.
Shade Tree Vitals
How much do they cost?
A year-old “whip” with no branches starts at $10; a 2-year-old pot-grown tree goes for $20 and up. A field-grown tree with a 2-inch-diameter trunk can range from $200 to $1,000.
When to plant?
In general, trees are best planted in spring or early fall so that strong roots develop before extreme weather sets in. Plant bare-root trees in early spring only.
DIY or Hire a pro?
It’s easy to plant a 55-pound potted tree. But one weighing 300 pounds? Call in a pro, as installation is usually included for trees with a trunk diameter of over 2 inches.
How much care?
Newly planted trees need supplemental watering and pruning for the first three years, then only as needed.
How long do they live?
Absent disease or damage, often 100-plus years.
Buying Basics: Potted
For convenience, most folks buy three- to five-year-old trees sold in 15-gallon pots at nurseries or home centers. To inspect one, gently slip the tree from the pot; a thick, solid mass of circling roots is a bad sign. And if the tree’s root collar is buried, don’t buy it.
Buying Basics: Bare Root
Field-grown, dug up while dormant at about 1 year old, then shipped, small bare-root trees can be a money-saving option. Look for multiple small, fibrous roots that are moist but not moldy. Plant within 72 hours or keep in a bucket of water until ready to plant.
Buying Basics: Ball and Burlap
Mature, field-grown trees are dug up with soil intact, then wrapped with burlap and sold at nurseries. Check for a strong leader and a firm root ball; if the burlap is torn, roots might be broken. The root ball should be 10 to 12 times the caliper (trunk diameter), measured 6 inches above the root collar.
Plant It Right
Roots spread outward, so a wide, shallow hole that allows the root collar to sit 1 to 3 inches above the soil is best.
Potted trees: Dig a hole with sides that flare outward, three times the width of the container. Carefully slide the tree from the pot. Prune any circling roots with four vertical slices along the sides of the root ball. Add soil, keeping the root collar above the hole, and water.
Bare-root trees: Soak overnight, then clip any damaged roots. Dig a hole 3 feet wide and 1 foot deep, mounding soil in the center so that the root collar sits above grade. Flare roots over the mound and fill in with soil. Water once to settle the soil, and water again.
Ball-and-burlap trees: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and five times wider to encourage rapid rooting. Move the tree into place. Add soil so that the root collar is above the top of the hole. Remove any wire, twine, and burlap. Fill with soil and water thoroughly.
Give It Room to Grow
Too big a tree in too little space is an all too common problem. A tree that’s oversize for its site can damage a house’s roof or foundation, impinge on power lines, and encroach on a neighboring property. Carefully consider a specimen’s size at maturity—and believe that it will grow that big. A typical 55-foot-deep backyard can accommodate one large shade tree, planted at least 20 feet (or about half the width of its mature canopy) from the house and 5 feet from the sidewalk. In a typical front or side yard, about 30 feet deep, select a medium-size tree no taller than 40 feet and plant it at least 20 feet from a house’s foundation. Around power lines, stick to a small tree, under 25 feet tall.
Time to Say Good-Bye?
Cutting down a 75-year-old tree—even if it’s damaged, diseased, or causing havoc with paving—is a tough call. Before deciding, consult an arborist. A heavy limb that’s leaning precariously may be saved with cables or bracing; one with dead and broken branches might be fine with a good pruning. An arborist can assess whether a diseased tree is treatable or if changes in leaf color, development, or branch-tip dieback indicate that it has to go.
Pick a Tree: White Oak
(Quercus alba)
Size: 50′-80′ high and wide
Where: Zones 3-8
Broad and round at maturity; U.S. native with flat, lobed leaves that’s adaptable to diverse growing conditions.
Highlight: Brilliant fall foliage
Like the look, but lack the space? Click through for a smaller tree with similar attributes.
Suitable Swap: American Hornbeam
(Carpinus caroliniana)
Size: 20-35 feet tall and wide
Where: Zones 3-9
Named for the way its dense wood polishes like horn, this tree forms a medium-size, rounded canopy. Maximum growth is achieved in moist, acidic soil, but performs remarkably well in less ideal conditions. Makes a fine street or lawn tree. The dark green leaves turn brilliant yellow to bright red in fall.
Pick a Tree: American Beech
(Fagus grandifolia)
Size: 50′-70′ high, 40′-70′ wide
Where: Zones 4-9
Short trunk, wide-spreading crown, and shimmery foliage. Grows well in sun or shade.
Highlight: Smooth, light gray bark
Suitable Swap: Black Gum
(Nyssa sylvatica)
Size: 30-50 feet tall, 20-30 feet wide
Where: Zones 3-9
Distinctly pyramidal in youth becoming rounder as it matures. The dark grey bark is notably broken into thick ridges but it’s the fall foliage that makes this one desirable. Leathery leaves turn yellow, orange, red or purple, all on the same branch in fall. Sour dark blue fruits, ½ inch wide, attract birds.
Pick a Tree: Red Maple
(Acer rubrum)
Size: 40′-60′ high, 30′-50′ wide
Where: Zones 3-9
Round crown at maturity, with red twigs and three-lobed, toothed leaves. Specific cultivars will grow best in different regions.
Highlight: Bright red fall foliage
Suitable Swap: Paperbark Maple
(Acer griseum)
Size: 20-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide
Where: Zones 4-8
As an element of the winter landscape, it’s truly a star. The rich cinnamon-hued bark peels to reveal smooth tan bark underneath and the leaves, dark bluish green atop and fuzzy underneath, turn brilliant red in the fall. Three-pointed leaves are blue-green on top and fuzzy underneath. In fall, they turn orange to red.
Pick a Tree: ‘Valley Forge’ Elm
(Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’)
Size: 60′-80′ high, 30′-50′ wide
Where: Zones 2-9
Upright and vase-shaped with a full, dense canopy, this cultivar has been bred to resist Dutch elm disease.
Highlight: Toothy oval leaves
Suitable Swap: Lacebark Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia)
Where: Zones 4-9
Size: 40-50 feet tall, 25-40 feet wide
Also known as Chinese elm, this variety has proven resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle. It has a rounded crown with uniform, finely textured branches. As the tree matures, pieces of bark peel away, creating an intriguing mottled look with gray, cream, orange, brown, and green. A great lawn or street tree, it is highly adaptable to extremes of soil and climate.
Pick a Tree: Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)
Size: 60′-80′ high, 30′-50′ wide
Where: Zones 6-9
Pyramid-shaped; glossy, dark green leaves with matte brown undersides. Drought and heat tolerant once established.
Highlight: Fragrant spring flowers
Suitable Swap: Magnolia ‘Kay Parris’
(Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’)
Size: 20′-30′ tall and wide
Where: Zones 6-9
‘Kay Parris’ is a larger version of the very popular ‘Little Gem’ magnolia, long a substitute for the very large southern classic magnolia. A beautiful compact magnolia ‘Kay Parris’ sports extremely glossy, bright green leaves with deep orange-brown fuzzy undersides and long flowering season make this a standout.
Pick a Tree: London Plane Tree
(Platanus x acerifolia)
Size: 70′-100′ high, 65′-80′ wide
Where: Zones 4-8
Massive stature, with wide-spreading branches at maturity.
Highlight: Olive-to-cream mottled bark
Suitable Swap: London Planetree
(Platanus x acerifolia ‘Morton Circle’)
Size: 60′ tall and 45′ wide
Where: Zones 4-8
‘Morton Circle’ is one of a group of new cultivars of this truly magnificent tree that due to its size, is most often seen in parks and large residential grounds. Pyramidal with a strong upright shape, this tree is vigorous and shares the same cream-to-olive colored mottled bark that’s a highlight of the winter landscape.
Six Shade Trees to Skip
They’re showy and fast growing, but these trees are a headache in the making
1. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) The most widely found tree in North America; its roots sucker aggressively, meaning it multiplies fast.
2. Norway maple (Acer platanoides) Invasive throughout the Northeast and Northwest; strong, shallow surface roots crack and buckle sidewalks.
3. Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) (shown) Common in the Southeast, this nuisance has an invasive root system and litters yards and streets with spiky, sticky fruit fall through winter.
4. Mulberry (Morus alba, Morus rubra) Drops messy berries; is spread by birds throughout the eastern U.S.
5. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) Root secretions make surrounding soil toxic to many other plants.
6. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) This import produces seeds that sprout and crowd out other plants; invasive in all but Northern Plains states.
Saving our Native Landscape
The American chestnut was the dominant tree in the eastern U.S. until blight killed over 4 billion of them in the early 1900s. Elms shaded streets and parks across the country; then, in the 1930s, came Dutch elm disease, a fungus caused by an insect infestation. Now ash trees nationwide are at risk from the seemingly unstoppable emerald ash borer, an imported pest. But hope is on the horizon. Plant scientists at the U.S. National Arboretum have already bred and patented two disease-resistant elm varieties, and progress is being made on disease-resistant chestnuts. Crossbreeding the American ash with hardier related species is under way and may possibly restore this species to our neighborhoods by the next decade.
Pest Alert
They chew, they suck, they bore; insects are among the worst scourges affecting deciduous trees. Some are species-specific, while others are less discriminating. Here’s how to address the damage.
Emerald ash borer
Half-inch metallic-green beetle; larvae feed on inner bark, eventually killing affected ash trees.
Fix: Have a pro apply systemic insecticide, even to healthy trees.
Pest Alert: Asian Long-Horned Beetle
Inch-long black beetle with white spots; larvae tunnel into maple, willow, and elm heartwood.
Fix: None; remove infested trees.
Pest Alert: Gypsy Moths
Dark, hairy spotted caterpillars up to 2 inches long denude the branches of many types of trees.
Fix: Too widespread to eliminate entirely. Aerial spraying with pesticides can lower the population.
Pest Alert: Aphids
Tiny pests in different colors that affect many tree species. Sucking damages leaves; honeydew-like secretions encourage sooty mold.
Fix: Ignore mild infestations; treat mold with a targeted pesticide.
Pest Alert: Tent Caterpillars
Fuzzy, 2-inch-long caterpillars infest many tree species. Feasting larvae strip trees bare.
Fix: Ignore, and let natural predators, including frogs, rodents, and birds, go at them.
Good Neighbors
Shade trees often get a bad rap among gardeners because their leaves block sunshine and their roots take up lots of water, leaving the soil around them a wasteland. But suitable companions do exist, such as these dry-shade dwellers.
Bleeding heart
(Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
Where: Zones 3-9
Woodland perennial with fern-like foliage; showy heart-shaped pink to red flowers with white inner petals top graceful stems that rise2 to 3 feet tall.
Shade Companion: Foam Flower
(Tiarella cordifolia)
Where: Zones 4-9
Native to the eastern U.S., this clump-forming perennial spreads by runners, making a thick, 6- to 12-inch-high carpet of green. Small white flowers create the look of foam hovering over the leaves.
Shade Companion: Hosta
(Hosta)
Where: Zones 3-8
Well mannered with showy foliage in blue-green to chartreuse, punctuated with spikes of cream to purple flowers. Grows even under black walnut trees. Size varies by variety.
Shade Companion: Japanese Anemone
(Anemone hupehensis)
Where: Zones 4-8
Native to China, this perennial sends up a clump of leaves in spring, followed in late summer or fall by showy pink or white flowers on stems about 3 feet high that flutter in the wind.
Pruning 101
On a young tree, you prune to create a balanced, well-spaced canopy
Years 1-5: Prune to encourage a single leader and cut out water sprouts and suckers. Remove branches that create a weak or narrow crotch or angle the trunk sharply. As the tree grows taller, remove branches on the bottom third of the trunk.
5-plus years: Remove damaged, diseased, or crossed and rubbing branches. Also prune to create better branch spacing.
Pruning 101: To Cut or Not to Cut?
Consider the diameter of the branch with our guide.