What are the Best Trees to Plant Near Your House for Shade?


A large tree on the article What is the Best Tree to Plant Near Your House for Shade?

Choosing the best tree for your garden can be quite some work. Not every tree is friendly enough to be planted beside your home.

Any quick decision can lead to harmful consequences later when the tree fully matures.

You need to choose the right tree so that you don’t have to face invasive roots, leaf litter, and other such problems in the future.

Trees offer more than just shade. Besides providing fresh and clean air, they provide a natural ecosystem for nature to thrive.

Continuously surrounded by tall trees has a pleasing effect on your mind and creates a sense of tranquillity inside you.

If placed correctly, the dense shade of your future tree can drastically lower your air conditioning expenses.

Other than that, the tall canopies serve as windbreaks and help mitigate the harmful effects of weather on your precious home.

They also tremendously increase the monetary value of your home. Homes with mature trees are likely to be sold off quickly as compared to those homes which do not have this luxury.

They are a great investment overall and will be a source of awe for many generations to come.

What Factors Should be Taken Care of Before Planting the Tree?

Several factors come into play when choosing the right tree for your lawn.

1) Knowing The Height and Spread of the Tree

A autum looking treeThe most important factor which must be considered is the estimated height that your plant can achieve.

Trees reaching 60 feet require more room for growth and extend their roots laterally to a greater degree.

Such trees should be planted 15 to 20 feet away from the outer wall of your house.

You have to consider both the height and the spread of the tree before planting it not to forget the roots which can cause damage to the foundation, underground water and sewerage pipes.

The roots can spread much wider than the crown of the plant so it’s best to place trees with larger growth potential away from your house.

2) Choosing Trees with Fewer Pest Problems:

Planting trees which are a great attraction for pests can ruin the whole experience of having them.

The added cost of maintenance and precautionary measures can be quite annoying and stressful. For that reason, trees adapted to that area should be selected.

3) Avoiding Littering Trees:

Trees that litter a lot will keep you busy with leaf collection all day.

The messy fruit drop and shed leaves take most of your time when taking care of the tree. It is best to avoid such trees and opt for evergreen ones.

If you’re enjoying this article, check out our article on top 7 shrubs to plant in front of your house.

Top 7 Best Trees to Plant Near Your House for Shade?

The following trees are great to plant for shade near your house if you have a larger enough yard to accommodate them in.

1) Silver Maple:

The silver maple grows about 60-80 feet in height and is almost double in size as compared to a dual story house when fully matured.

It can spread to about 30-50 feet in diameter and provides ample shade to your house.

Pros:

Silver Maple is a fast-growing tree and attains maturity in a fairly short time i.e. 7 to 12 years.

It is ideal for landscaping as it is easy to grow and can tolerate most soil conditions without breaking a sweat.

Cons:

The roots of the tree are very invasive and can damage the foundations of your home.

They can easily crack the sidewalks and or driveways and cause damage to the lawn grass too.

2) American Sycamore:

Sycamore trees look similar to maple trees in appearance and are equally fast-growing.

After you plant them they can achieve heights of up to 100 feet with a wide canopy, all these features make these trees an excellent choice for providing shade to your house.

Pros:

The most resilient feature of Sycamore trees is their beauty. The creamy trunk looks absolutely gorgeous and provides a beautiful contrast to the bright green leaves on the top.

Cons:

The only downside to planting Sycamore trees is their increased susceptibility to pests and insects.

They can be easily damaged by insects and are a favorite target of the boring pests which ruin the whole appearance of the tree.

3) Tulip Trees:

The tulip tree is also included in the fast-growing category. The leaves of this tree resemble the tulip flowers and look very gracious.

This tree requires a lot of sun as compared to other trees of the same category

Pros:

It provides ample shade due to its large size and is a great reservoir of food for wildlife. These trees can significantly reduce your air conditioning costs.

Cons:

They produce extensive litter during fall and roots can be invasive when planted near the foundation.

4) Pin Oak Trees:

Pin oaks are faster-growing varieties of oak trees. They range in height from 60 to 80 feet and grow best in rich and well-drained soils.

Pros:

The tree is free from most major pests. Also, its beautiful pyramidal appearance and brilliant red autumn leaves make it a part of every landscaper’s checklist.

Cons:

The roots can impinge on the foundation of your home and cause damage to the structural integrity.

The tree is also prone to iron chlorosis which has to be settled using different remedies.

5) Paper Birch:

These trees are an excellent choice for landscaping and provide great ornamental value to your lawn.

They are naturally found to grow together in clumps and can easily attain a height of 50 to 70 feet.

Pros:

The tree provides ample shade for the house plus adds a greater aesthetic touch to the garden.

Cons:

The biggest disadvantage of having a Birch tree is that it is easily susceptible to diseases. Also, the catkins falling from the tree can damage the paint job on the cars parked under the shade.

6) Bald Cypress:

The spreading canopy of this tree helps block most of the sunlight that crosses its paths. It can easily attain a height of up to 70 feet.

The tree can tolerate many conditions easily and grows better in slightly wet areas.

Pros:

The tree is adept in growing swamps and near the bank of rivers. So it can easily grow in depressed areas of your yard where water tends to accumulate most commonly.

Cons:

The trees are notorious for littering and shed a significant amount of leaves during fall.

7) Weeping Willow Tree

A weeping willow

These trees are well known for their widespread crown and long ground sweeping branches.

The Tree easily grows up to 30 to 40 feet.

The long tendrils make a spectacular display when air blows through them.

The shade is ample enough for you and your family to enjoy summer picnics beneath it.

Pros:

The weeping willow grows quite fast and it can be shaped in any way you like. They add several feet of height each year and mature faster than maple or oaks.

Cons:

Willows are notorious for attracting insects. Moths especially lay their eggs on them which then develop into caterpillars. Other than that the tendrils can also wreak havoc by creating a large mess.

You may also like: Best 5 low growing shrubs for the front of the house.

Top 5 Small Trees to Plant Near House For Some Shade

If your lawn is not large enough then planting medium-sized trees is the best choice.

Also, if your house is small, then you probably don’t want it to looks even smaller with an overshadowing large tree. For these purposes following trees can be selected as an ideal choice:

1) Japanese Maple:

The Japanese Maples are small trees that mostly grow up to 15 to 25 feet in height.

They are quite attractive with their vibrant colored leaves and are perfect to place in smaller sized lawns.

2) Crabapple Tree:

Crabapple trees are a popular choice among homeowners who don’t have plenty of yard space. They range in size from 15 to 20 feet maximum.

The spring flowers look absolutely stunning and increase the outlook of your lawn. They require a well-drained and acidic soil to flourish.

3) Dogwood Trees:

Dogwood trees are hardy trees that bloom early in spring.

The large flowers provide a majestic look in the spring and they look equally beautiful in autumn when their leaves turn red. They can easily attain height up to 15 to 25 feet.

4) Service-Berry Trees:

The serviceberry plants are excellent plants to be used as privacy screens for small yards.

Plus, they produce tasty fruit each year similar to blueberries which is a bonus in addition to their magnificent beauty.

5) Royal Star Magnolia:

These trees grow to a maximum height of 15 feet and are well suited to tight lawns.

They are very hardy and can tolerate a wide array of climate change. The marvelous white spring flowers make it all the more desirous of having it on your lawn.

Final Thoughts: What are the Best Trees to Plant Near Your House for Shade?

A green tree with the sunshine behindThe choice of the tree that you plant wholly depends upon the size of your lawn.

If you have ample space, then having large trees like silver maple and pin oaks is no problem at all.

They provide ample shade and are best for providing a nice aesthetic to the exterior of your house. But if they are placed too close, they can cause significant damage via their invasive roots.

For this reason, homeowners with limited space should go with trees like Crabapple and Royal Magnolia.

Besides acting as a privacy screen they are non-invasive and fit perfectly in the smaller lawns.

You just need to plan what’s the right tree according to your circumstances and that is all you require for setting up ample shade for your home.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our article on how long do I have to wait before planting after stump grinding.

About the Author:

Saad Ansar

Saad is an avid gardener himself and is a great lover of plants, animals, photography, & people. Currently, he is focused on photographing indoor plants & captioning beautiful outdoor sceneries. He writes and rewrites in depth articles on nature and science.

Bean Growing

We provide a wide range of information from indoor to outdoor plants to product recommendations to make your gardening experience the best it can possibly be. We are not experts in gardening but through extensive research and experience we will give you the best information to provide the best care for your plants.

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