Shade Trees for the Small Home

The most important landscaping the gardener does for his home and yard is the planting of shade trees. This is particularly true when applied to the small home owner. Yard space is generally limited. It then becomes necessary that the location and choice of trees be given thorough study.

We plant trees for several reasons: to frame the home, to give balance to the yard, for shade in summer and for distinctive twig and limb arrangement which add so much to the winter landscape. Good foundation plantings add much to home landscape values, but often become overgrown through lack of proper care. Happily this is not true of well selected trees. In them we continue to find beauty in form, flower, leaf and shade for many years.

The placement of trees should be given first consideration. Trees properly planted should be so spaced as to give balance to the home and front yard. Likewise, when planted in the rear yard or outdoor living area, trees create an illusion of depth and make a small yard seem larger.

Studying the Problem

Before any planting is attempted a simple sketch should be made so that definite planting locations can be established. On either plain or graph paper lay out the boundaries of the property, draw in the outline of the house, garage, drive and walks. Indicate relation of house as to north, east, south and west exposure. Views of yard as seen through windows are also important in relating trees to home and lawn areas. Now lightly pencil in possible locations for the trees. Study the problem from both inside and outside the home. Long stakes driven into the ground will help one visualize the ideal location for the trees. Don’t hesitate to revise your thinking while in this planning stage. It will be much easier to erase a few pencil marks or move a stake now than to move a large tree later on. Plan to use a least one small ornamental tree near the house. For example a clump of white flowering dogwood will compliment a house when planted close to it.

Once we have decided upon the proper location for our trees, we now must choose the proper tree for each location. Generally speaking. we plant a tree for the shade it will provide us.

Probably the most popular shade tree for mid-America homes is the Norway maple (Acer platanoides). This maple is a relatively rapid grower, is easy to transplant and is very hardy. The tree carries good green foliage all summer and in autumn the leaves turn yellow. The tree casts heavy shade, but selective pruning of branches while the tree develops will allow additional light to filter through the foliage.

Another variety of the Norway maple which is popular is the ‘Crimson King’ Norway maple. This tree has purplish red leaves all summer long. It is very showy and is best used as a specimen or to contrast with green leaved trees.

The Honey Locusts

A group of trees which are popular for planting about small homes is the family of honey locusts. The `Moraine’ honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis ‘Moraine’) has very lacy, delicate foliage

which permits interesting shade patterns on lawn or small patio. These trees have neither thorns nor seed pods.

Still another form of the honey locust is the ‘Sunburst’ honey locust. This tree is quite similar in growth habit ‘Moraine’ but differs in having lemon yellow foliage on the growing tips of the branches which contrast with the dark green leaves within the tree. At a distance the tree appears to be bloom all summer. Both of these honey locust are favorites for homes.

Although the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) will eventually grow into a large tree. it should be considered a very desirable shade tree. Not as rapid growing as the other trees we are considering, the native sugar mayple is well worth giving space in our yards. Few trees can equal the gorgeous fall coloring of this tree. This was the favorite tree of the nature essayist, John Burroughs.

by Frank McLinden

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