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nealtp

Suggestions for Shade Tree?

14 years ago

Hello,

I would like to plant a shade tree in my backyard. I live in Northeast PA, my yard is small, and I would like the tree to eventually provide shade to my patio.

The patio has not been made yet. The tree itself would be incorporated into the patio. Perhaps decking would be built around it, or something similar.

What I am looking for is something that doesnt get much bigger than my house (2 story), but also something that eventually will provide cover for a patio area. My yard is about 27' wide, and has full Southern exposure.

The tree farmer local to my area suggested a King Crimson, but I figured I would ask here before I made a purchase.

Any suggestions or other advice is gladly welcomed.

Neal

Comments (5)

  • 14 years ago

    We planted a red crepe myrtle, (I think it was a new variety) 3 years ago to shade our patio. We have a two story house with the deck on the second floor and the patio at ground level. We wanted the tree to grow up above the deck so that we could appreciate the flowers on both the deck and the patio. If you look at pictures on the internet you can see how tall these trees grow, It has now grown above the level of the deck, and this year we will enjoy the beautiful and plentiful blooms it produces as well as the shade for the patio. You may have to buy this yourself from a nursery then give it to the gardener to plant or plant it yourself. If you leave it to the gardener you may not get the right variety, gardeners tend to substitute if they are having problems finding what you want. They also tend to sell you what they have in stock or what is easy to find. Good luck :)

  • 14 years ago

    I've seen a posting warning against parking under crepe myrtles due to the potential for fallen blooms to damage the car's paint job. Not sure what if anything it'd do to a patio.

    A Crimson King Norway Maple can cast a really dense shade. Not sure if that's what you're looking for. Norway Maple are invasive in some areas, and so often spoken ill of on the forum. Not sure how well one would prosper in northeast Pennsylvania.

  • 14 years ago

    Neal, what is your area like? Wet or dry? You up in the mountains or down lower?

    First thing which worries me is the tree needs to be planted at the right depth for the eventual soil grade. Second is we are entering the warm part of the year where transplant survival percentages go down. So either hurry or wait lol.

    25 foot tall seem right?

    Redbud
    Paperbark maple
    Maybe kousa dogwood but I prefer those get some shade. Maybe just me.
    Serviceberry trees are neat but alas they have big berries..

  • 14 years ago

    Is your zone warm enough for Crepe Myrtle to not die back lots of it's top? I don't have any Crepe's myself, but I have seen on here that below zone 7 alot of Crepe's lose their tops in harsh winters, and of course that isn't good if that is your shade tree. I would go for a Quercus Rubra, my 2 cents, after all construction is done of course. They get huge though, but if they're limbed up they aren't in "the way". It's a fast growing oak with good fall color.

  • 14 years ago

    I lived in Northeast PA for a couple of years. I lived in Chinchilla, PA for a few months before moving to Scranton. A Crimson King Maple is a cultivar of the Norway maple if it is what you really want. It has dark maroon foliage all season long and grows slower than other cultivars of Norway Maples. It is not native to the U.S.
    If you are going to plant a maple tree, I would recommend either a Red Sunset Maple or an October Glory Maple. They are native to the U.S. and grow faster than the Crimson King, so you will get that deck you are planning to build shaded faster. The October Glory Red Maple's leaves hold on longer in the fall than the Red Sunset Maple's leaves do, and its red fall color is a little bit more dependable. However, the Red Sunset Maple is a little bit hardier than the October Glory Maple. But I think either one of these trees would do great in Northeast PA.