I’m sure we don’t have to tell you that shade trees are an important part of your landscape. The summer months can be almost unbearable outside but a shade tree can turn a hot backyard into a cool oasis.
Shade trees have many benefits for your yard and home. They not only provide shade, but they will also help cool your home and yard through transpiration. Transpiration is when trees sweat. In one study, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the cooling effect of one young healthy tree can be the equivalent of 10 room-size air conditioners running for 20 hours a day. Imagine what kind of impact you could make on your cooling bill!
There are several factors to think of when looking into the right kind of tree for your yard.
How much space do you have?
If you only have a 5-foot empty area in your backyard you’re not going to want to purchase a giant tree. They will interfere with your other plants and could possibly do damage to your home/driveway or sidewalk. Our experts know the full growth potential of all of our trees and they can help you find which one will be best suited for your space.
Will the tree grow well in Utah?
There are many beautiful trees out there but not all of them will work in our climate. A tree should be a purchase that lasts for years and if you get one that isn’t used to our dry climate you could end up with a stunted tree or your other plants could be “choked out” of water because the new trees watering needs are greater than your yard can afford.
Where do I plant my new tree?
You want to plant your trees where they will make the most impact on your yard and house. It’s important to remember that the sun moves through the sky and the location in the sky changes throughout the year. Which means, depending on the season will hit your home at different angles.
Our hottest months are July – September and it would be best if you used the full potential of your tree’s shade during those months. Glover Nursery offers installation services and can plant the tree in the best spot for your yard. If you only need recommendations, we will be happy to help you with that, too. An general rule of thumb is to plant shade trees in the Southeast, West, and Southwest of your home.
Should I plant 10 of the same tree?
You could, yes, but in general we recommend using a few different varieties. Most landscapes have a greater aesthetic when there are multiple types of foliage and growth patterns combined, it catches the eye and adds dimension and texture. Another reason we recommend planting multiple varieties, just like people, trees can share diseases. Having only one type of tree could leave all your trees susceptible to disease, but usually (not always) the same disease doesn’t affect different varieties of trees. So, having a mix of varieties help ensure that if something were to go wrong down the road, you’ll still have a nice shade cover in place. It’s best to use a variety of trees in your planting. Different varieties and also different sizes of trees will help you make the most of your shade cover.
The knowledgeable team at Glover Nursery can help pick out the perfect shade tree for your home. We have so many great trees in stock to use for shade. A few of our favorites are:
- Pacific Sunset Maple
- Espresso Kentucky Coffeetree
- Green Vase Zelkova
- Bloodgood Sycamore (Londonplane Tree)
We’ve got one final tip for keeping your house and yard cool.
Plant a shrub near your AC unit. The shade and transpiration from the shrub can help cool your AC unit which means your AC unit won’t have to work as hard to cool your house. Pretty neat!
Don’t forget, we are here to help so feel free to stop by during our business hours to look at trees and get all your questions answers.
Happy planting!
