How to Select Fast Growing Shade Trees

Fast growing shade trees are a hot commodity. Especially if you live in a newly developed area, natural shade can be hard to come by. The reason I wrote this article is because I live in a new house with zero trees and zero shade. I wanted to find fast growing shade trees so that I could enjoy their protection before I turn 100. This article is the fruit of my fast growing shade trees labor.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine how much money you want to spend and how quickly you want shade. There are some fast growing shade trees that can grow 6-8 feet per year. That is amazing. I have a regular Purple Maple that only grows 1 foot per year. I wish I had researched the growth rate before I began planting.

2. Decide if colored foliage is important for your fast growing shade trees. There are plenty of breathtaking shade trees that provide vibrant leaf colors in the Summer and Fall. Some of the fast growing shade trees with beautiful color include the Summer Red Maple, Autumn Purple Ash, Autumn Blaze Maple, Tulip Poplar, and the Scarlet Red Maple.

3. Keep the debris in mind when choosing fast growing shade trees. Any nut tree that is fast growing will drop a lot of nuts. If you find this charming, go ahead and plant one. If you don't like the idea of a yard full of nuts, go a different route. Also, the Weeping Willow is another fast growing shade tree. It's branches, however, drop constantly. Be prepared to pick up branches from the ground each week.

4. Consider purchasing fast growing shade trees online. Although they will come to you much smaller than going to a local nursery, they are much less expensive. Plus, they are fast growing, so they will make up for the smaller size in no time.

Tips & Warnings

• Some of the fast growing shade trees can reach 40 or 50 feet tall. If you plant them right, you can block the sun from your home almost entirely.