When to Plant a Shade Tree?
Trees are the most permanent plants we own. A tree planted today may take between 10 and 30 years to reach maturity and may live 100 years or more. The type of tree planted should be dictated by its function in the landscape. Shade trees can improve a homeowner's quality of living. Does this Spark an idea?
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Energy Efficiency
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A shade tree can reduce heating and cooling bills in a home. Air conditioners do not have to work as often or as hard when a home is shaded by a tree. In winter, trees can break up wind that blows on a home so that a furnace or heat pump also does not have to work as hard. The net effect of shade trees around a home is reducing the overall cost of remaining comfortable.
Size
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A tree that is 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide when planted may grow to be more than 60 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Very few shade trees grow less than 30 feet tall. Many homeowners select trees based on their present size and then try to fit them into their landscape. Instead, a tree should be chosen based on its mature height. Many nurseries list the mature height of a tree on the planting tag. Consult this tag before buying the tree.
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Type
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Landscapers and contractors often plant fast-growing trees, such as ornamental pears or willows around a home for shade. These trees grow quickly, BUT they also have a short life span. A Bradford pear tree may last 15 to 30 years. Homeowners should choose slow-growing shade trees, such as maple or oak. Although these trees mature in a slower time, they will shade a home for many more years.
Planting trees
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Although trees may be planted any time of the year, the best time to plant trees in the South is the fall after the tree has gone dormant. If a tree is planted in spring, it must be nurtured through summer heat and drought conditions. Fall-planted trees have already gone dormant. The transplant shock these trees might experience is minimized. Additionally, the tree develops a strong root structure in the spring months, so that it can survive summer's heat. In northern climates, trees should be planted in early spring as soon as the ground is thawed and dry enough to be worked.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit wolken image by Karsten Fischbach from Fotolia.com
