By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Shade Trees In 5-gallon Containers
Step1
Select the spot in your garden where a shade tree will do the most good - on the west or south sides of most houses. Then look for a tree that will grow to fill that space with an upright, arching shape to create a grand canopy with room for people underneath.
Step2
Decide how soon you want shade and how long you want the tree to last. Fast-growing trees may deliver more shade sooner, but those with moderate to slow growth rates are more likely to live for a hundred years and will be less vulnerable to storm damage, since their wood is stronger.
Step3
Look at shade trees you like and consider the qualities each can bring to your landscape: color, seasonal features and texture. Go for a leaf shape and color you like; big, bold, coarse-textured leaves make more dense shade, though a thick crown of smaller, fine-textured leaves can also create a cooling, dappled shade below.
Step4
Consider shade trees with spring or summer flowers, fall color and winter berries, but also consider maintenance. Fallen flowers and leaves must be raked, and berries can sprout in the lawn below. You may prefer trees with neat habits and avoid those with a reputation for sprouting from the roots.
Step5
Make a statement. Choose a stately specimen native to your area and lend a classic sense of place to your landscape. (Pick a container-grown plant for easier transplanting.)
Step6
Shop for the specific variety of shade tree you want - improved or named selections offer reliable growth habits wherever you buy them. Look at local nurseries, tree farms and online catalogs, and find the shade tree that meets most, if not all of your criteria.
Step7
Buy a shade tree that is 3 to 5 years old and growing in a 5-gallon container for the easiest transplanting.
