Are you wondering what the best shade trees are to plant on your property in Palm Harbor or Tampa Bay to cool things off during outdoor entertaining or just relaxing? By planting shade trees you will help keep your home and yard cooler in the summer heat, save you both money and energy, while adding wildlife habitat to the neighborhood.
Shade trees help improve the overall air quality, conserve water and cut down water usage, provide habitats for wildlife, and regulate the climate by curbing the effects of rain, wind, and sun. These are just some of the benefits of shade trees.
Trees that can serve to cast shade come in all shapes and sizes, and for many different climates and planting zones, so there are plenty of options to choose from. However, because most of us are very impatient, one of the most common requirements that people have in choosing varieties is that they be fast growing shade trees.
Most Popular Shade Trees
Here are eight of the most popular fast growing varieties of trees that can add shade to your property:
- Hybrid Poplar
One of the most recommended fast growing shade trees is the hybrid poplar, which can grow up to 8 feet per year, and mature at about 40′ to 50′ high. There are various types of hybrid poplars. These shade trees do drop cotton-like seeds around the yard and different types drop different amounts. If you want a low-mess tree, this may not be the one for you.
- Nuttall Oak
This fast growing shade tree, also called red oak or pin oak, is said to be the fastest growing variety of oak, and can provide not only a leafy canopy, but a steady supply of acorns each year, which are devoured by squirrels, deer, and turkeys.
- Northern Catalpa
The large showy flowers of the catalpa, also known as the cigar tree or the catawba, are an added attraction to having this fast growing shade tree in your yard. The special part of a Northern Catalpa tree is the thick canopy of large leaves it creates.
- Red Maple
Along with casting shade, the red maple also adds a burst of color in the fall, with the leaves turning a vibrant red before dropping. The growth rate of the red maple is about 3 to 5 feet per year, topping out at about 40′ high, and can rapidly create privacy and shade for your home or yard.
- Weeping Willow
This iconic shade tree also happens to be a fast grower, with growth rates of anywhere from 3 feet to 8 feet per year. While weeping willows will grow especially well near water, there are a variety of hybrids available that can be better suited to drier conditions.
- Paper Birch
The paper birch is another fast growing shade tree. It features a white bark that can add to the look of any yard, especially in winter when the leaves have dropped. Birches can also be tapped for their sap, which can be made into birch syrup.
- American Sycamore
This fast growing tree, sometimes referred to as the American plane tree, also has a whitish mottled bark, and can grow to be quite large. While sycamores are often found near rivers and ponds, they can also be grown in an urban yard, and may grow as much as 6 feet per year and reach heights of 70 feet or more.
8. Honey Locust
Honey Locust trees are very hardy and adapt well to many soils and climate types. The leaves of a Locust tree do turn yellow and drop quickly in the fall, and they can grow 30-50 feet tall, making them great shade providers.
Not all shade trees are well suited for your specific yard. There are various variables such as the:
- length of the growing season
- frost dates
- temperatures
- annual rainfall
- type of soil in your yard
The best way to find the fast growing shade trees that are best for your specific region is by asking a local expert. They can steer you toward proven varieties and away from nuisance, invasive, or exotic varieties of trees.
Want to know more? Contact Warner Tree Service to consult with Rick Warner who is an ISA Certified Arborist since 2008.
Contact
Warner Tree Service is a family-owned and operated business in Palm Harbor, Florida since 2007 with an ISA Certified Arborist. We are fully licensed and insured. The services offered with a 100% satisfaction guarantee are tree trimming, pruning and shaping, hedge trimming and shaping, tree removal, crane service, stump grinding, canopy elevation, tree examination, and more. Call us at 727-946-7098 or email warnertreeservice@gmail.com to get a free written estimate in Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Belleair, and Largo.
