The Fastest Growing Shade Trees.
 (Read 250+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, the planting of a shade tree in your yard can dramatically reduce the cost of cooling your home in the hot days of summer and when planted as a windbreak can conserve energy to heat the home. We’re talking a 15-35 % reduction in heating and cooling costs every single year. That’s a big chunk of money saved, in your pocket or better used on just about anything you want. Hardly a thing to sneeze at.
Let us assume the only thing stopping you from grabbing a shovel to ready your yard for the planting of a beautiful shade tree, is the inability to decide on which tree to plant. Thus we shall go over some of the fastest growing shade trees. After all, we do want to save as much money as possible in the quickest time frame, don’t we?
Hybrid Poplar ( Populus deltoides x “Populus nigra”)- This is just about the fastest growing tree anywhere, growing from 5-8 feet annually. Height at maturity is 40-50 feet tall with a spread of 30 feet. The leaves are a silvery green with branching relatively close to the ground but the canopy can be easily raised with careful pruning. This is the perfect tree for quick shade or for harvesting as firewood in as little time as 5-7 years. Only problem with the poplar, by most tree standards, it is short-lived, only about 30-35 years. Hardy from zone 3-9.
Quaking Aspen ( Populus tremuloides )- A member of the Poplar family, the Quaking Aspen is extremely hardy from zone 1-7 and tolerates many kinds of soil. It has long, smooth, narrow trunks with bark a greenish white color. In the fall the leaves turn a vibrant yellow. The appealing thing about the Aspen is the slightest breeze sets the leaves, white on the underside and a bright green on top, shivering. The sound is ultra-soothing.
Silver Maple ( Acer saccharinum)- This quickest growing of Maples has an open canopy with upright branching. Leaves have a silvery underside with a bright green topside which give it a delightful shimmer in the breeze. Tolerant of many soil conditions and hardy from zone 3-9. Grows 50-80 feet high with a 50 foot spread for perfect shading.
Tuliptree ( Liriodendron tupilifera )- Named for the unusual, somewhat Tulip-shaped leaves, the Tuliptree has pretty, large greenish-yellow flowers in spring. Unfortunately the flowers grow high up so only the birds get to see them close up but occasionally one will float down to make you glad you planted this one. Hardy from zone 4-9, likes full sun and grows 70-90 feet tall with a spread 40 feet wide. Autumn color is a golden yellow.
Catalpa or Indian Bean (Bignonioides )- This is the most beautiful of trees. It has large, heart shaped leaves in brightest green with fragrant 2 inch wide white flowers growing in clusters. They are streaked in purple with a yellow throat and look like miniature orchids. Following these come long string-bean type seed pods ( hence the common name of String-bean tree) which had been used by the Delaware Indians in particular as a vital food source. The tree can grow to 50 feet tall but the canopy depend entirely on the pruning. If allowed to follow their natural inclination Catalpas will grow spindly with only a 20-30 foot spread but if pruned when young it can get a rather wide, dense canopy providing unrivaled shade. Only draw back is it is late in breaking dormancy and one of the first to drop leaves in autumn without them turning anything other than a dull yellow or straight to brown if zapped by an early frost.
Hybrid Elm- Developed specifically to combat Dutch Elm disease, this one is also quick to grow some 8-10 feet per year. Wow! Very symmetrical side growth makes for excellent, dense shade. Grows to 60 feet high in zones 3-10.
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica x “Niobe”)- Gracefully drooping branches sweeping the ground makes for a perfect hiding place for little kids and amorous adults alike. The leaves, slender and long, are a light green with a grey green underside. Grows to 50 feet tall with an equally wide canopy. Hardy from zone 2-9 and loves a moist soil and full sun. Lovely anywhere.
Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)- Though not so quick to shoot up to its full height of 60-75 feet with a magnificent 45 foot spread this Maple is spectacular for autumn color. Vibrant reds, yellows and oranges almost painful to view look amazing against a brilliant blue sky. Nothing compares. Leaves are dark green and dense. Likes full sun but tolerate shade. Likes well drained, fertile soil on the moist side but will not tolerate salt so don’t plant it by heavily plowed roads. Needs plenty of room so don’t crowd it.
These are the most common, readily available and the fastest growing shade trees. There are many other trees for shade of course but for speed try these. You won’t complain when your cooling and heating cost drastically get lower and you start having extra money in your pocket. Told you trees were good.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Visit http://www.helium.com/user/32782 for more fascinating gardening lessons, amusing short stories and intriguing novel excerpts.
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