What kind of fast-growing shade tree should I plant?

16 years ago

I have just had two very large white pine trees cut down because they were leaning and losing branches. I knew the tress provided a great deal of shade, but because of other trees in my yard and my neighbor's, I couldn't tell exactly how much shade until they were gone - and let me tell you, it was a lot. So now I have a fairly large open space (easily 60ft of spread available) where the two pines once stood. What kind of shade trees can I plant there now that will be fast-growing and provide shade reasonably soon (and, of course, withstand the acidic soil)? I already have a large maple in the front yard and another large maple in the back, so I would like to have something else. Are Ash or Poplar trees good ones to try? If so, specifically what kinds are best? Thanks.

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Comments (7)

quirkyquercus
16 years ago
Sure. Ash, tulip poplar, sycamore. Just search the forum here for fast growing trees and you will get the skinny on all of them. We answer this Q here at least once a week. Posting a photo however will get you a custom-tailored answer.
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
16 years ago
If you don't mind the nuts, black walnut would be a good fast growing shade tree.
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Quirky: From the age of five I have been a tree nut--I think I gave a little of my personal history about this in a couple of other posts. Well, to add to that., at the age of five and for many, many years after, tuliptree was my favorite tree. I told some stories about some of the wonderful tulip trees that grew in my neighborhood before in this forum. Let me add this: in my yard I was officially given as my very own a young tulip tree that was about 25 feet tall at the time. My brother was given a slightly larger one next to it. Boy we had fun climbing these trees. And my neighbor had two somewhat taller ones growing next to each other and my brother and I would climb these to the tippy top and sway in the wind. Well, people can tell me these trees are weak wooded --subject to breakage--until they are blue in the face, and they will only make themselves look silly in my eyes. During the time I lived in that town and climbed these trees and measured others with my little handy tape measure, I never saw any of these trees suffer any significant damage. We had a hurricane in about 1949 with trees down everywhere, and in January of 1948 had a terrible, terrible ice storm that had me crying about all the broken trees. But through all of that, not one of my favorite tulip trees was damaged. Thanks for your words of support and what I assume will be some reduction of fear in people who might want to plant and watch these wonderful trees grow. Bob: Thanks for the info. The trees in my hometown are growing along some streets that have 3 or four story buildings that may force their growth energies upwards. They are a fairly dark green unlike the lighter or yellow green of some of the more recently popular cultivars. You say skyline is pyramidal--is it broadly so, or does it grow in a kind of more narrow shape that more properly would be a cone shape? Pyramidal, strictly speaking, is rather broad. I am not really sure what this term means when I see it used to describe the form of a tree, except that it does suggest a central leader, unlike the vase shape. --Spruce
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Need suggestions on fast-growing shade trees
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trees are dug up.. when leafless.. when they are dormant ... but i do not know the proper timing for SC .. its either late fall.. early winter.. or late winter.. lol.. that narrows it down.. also.. will you be there to keep them PROPERLY WATERED???? if not.. the timing is IMPERATIVE ... for best success ... with this tree .. you could probably have 3 foot bare root whips mailed to the location rather cheap.. and at the proper planting time ... rather than driving hundreds of miles.. digging them.. transporting them.. torturing them.. etc ... what a nightmare for something that can mysteriously appear at your front door ... see link as an e.g. good luck ken ps: do NOT buy poplars .. tulip poplar is not a poplar .. its actually: Liriodendron tulipifera though fast growing.. poplars ... are fast to disease ... and fast to dropping huge limbs.. and fast to die ... and.. fast in tree terms.. is a decade or two ... but why plant future cost or problems .... Here is a link that might be useful: not that i am rec'ing this seller .. just size to price example ...
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Fast growing shade tree
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I always thought I was 9a, but according to the zone chart I'm in 8b. Fallen leaves don't bother me I'll just mow over them since I mow once a week anyways, but it would be nice for it to be evergreen. I do live in a neighborhood with nothing but mature pecan trees so seems like I have shade on most of my 3 acre yard except around the house. This post was edited by Joey83 on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 21:59
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Planting a tree next to driveway for SHADE. What should I plant?
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Avoid the following trees because they have shallow roots that push up and crack paving: Norway, Sugar, Silver or Red Maple; Pin, Live or Willow Oak; American Elm; Ash; Beech; Sweetgum; Tulip Tree; Hackberry; Poplar; Cottonwood; Sycamore; Plane Tree; Willow; and River Birch. Tillia Cordata "Littleleaf" (Littleleaf Linden) is hardy to zone 3 and provides dense shade. This cultivar supposedly grows 30 to 50 ft. with a spread of up to 30 ft. Fragrant, creamy yellow flowers in drooping cymes appear in June. Honeydew and bird guano are a constant threat with parking under trees. That does not mean these problems will be overwhelming. Your first problem will be waiting for the tree to grow large enough to cast shade. Make note of where the sun rises and sets. It's much better to have shade in the afternoon when the temperature is highest.
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boardgirl148
Original Author
16 years ago
quirkyquercus - I just reposted the question, with a picture of the trees before they were cut down, in the image gallery, if you would like to see what I am replacing - and very sad about losing :(

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/trees/gal0915120419614.html
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
16 years ago
If you liked the white pines that were there before, why not plant new ones? They are fast growing.
katefisher
16 years ago
Hi there.

I don't know what your definition of 'fast' is but I can tell you about our Willow Tree. In fall of 2005 we planted a willow that at the time was about seven feet tall. It was really pretty and we were unprepared for what was ahead! Kind of like buying a puppy without knowing how big it will get. Fast forward to late summer of 2007 and the tree is already shading the house. I love that tree, it is gorgeous and really has grown with haste.

The only downside I have seen so far is that the wind really knocks loose a lot of branches. I pick them up pretty much year round but truly I don't mind. A great tree.

Hope this helps.

Kate
boardgirl148
Original Author
16 years ago
alabamatreehugger - I thought about replanting white pines, but now that I can choose, I would like something different. Three things I won't miss about my pines are pine needles, pine cones and pine sap ;)

katefisher - thanks for the willow suggestion. I saw one of those blowing in the wind the other day and thought it was very pretty. I read they need moist soil, and I was afraid this soil would be too dry. I'll check into it more, though. Thanks!
spruceman
16 years ago
If you want a weeping willow, I would recommend the golden weeping willow. I am sorry, but I am confused about the names of some of the weeping willows. I have seen golden weeping willows called Salix alba "tristis" or Salix albs ""Niobe," and "Salix sepulcralis chrysocoma." I am sure I have seen one or two other names for it. One source suggests there are more than one cultivar involved, another says it is just name confusion--I don't know. But don't let the confusion about the names of this tree confuse you. The one I am recommending has golden color winter twigs, golden color catkin bloom in spring, and if the weather is half-way favorable, wonderful long-lasting gold leaf color in the fall. It is very fast growing and gets quite large. The popular Babylon weeping willow can have some bad dieback in Z6 or 7 during a cold winter. It has greenish twigs. In the south where it is not damaged by cold, it is a fine tree.

As for soil and moisture--if you have a good soil that is not too sandy, your willow will do fine. I planted two from a cuttings 5 years ago out in a field that used to be an apple orchard--nothing about the site suggests that it is any more moist than any average site. The largest is now about 20 feet tall and 5" in diameter--the other is almost as large.

If you have a willow growing that you really like that has golden twigs and can get some good strong cuttings from fairly high up, come back here and ask me for instructions.

--Spruce

What kind of fast-growing shade tree should I plant?

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quirkyquercus

alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama

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boardgirl148
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alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama

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What kind of fast-growing shade tree should I plant?

Comments (7)

quirkyquercus

alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama

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boardgirl148Original Author

alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama

katefisher

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boardgirl148
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