Shade Tree Suggestions

14 years ago

I am looking for suggestions for shade trees. In the last 2 years we have had to remove both of the 50 year old Norway Maples in our Minneapolis yard, and are now looking to replace them.

Like everyone, I would like something fast growing, relatively speaking, that will ultimately provide good shade. I have considered oaks and walnuts, but am not a fan of acorns or walnuts. I have looked at Coffeetrees, but don't want something that gets leaves late, and drops them early.

I like maples, and don't have any problems with the helicopters, but am now feeling a bit gun shy. Similarly, although I have read about DED resistant elm cultivars, we are still watching elms come down in our neighborhood every year, and I am not certain if they jury is still out on their resistance.

I would love to hear any suggestions.

We have a fiairly large yard, so are not particularly concerned about disrupting sidewalks, or anything like that.

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Comments (5)

kaptainkr
14 years ago
When we moved into our house we had hardly any trees. I've tried to plant a variety. Some of the faster growing ones that I think are good trees are: Prairie Horizon Manchurian Alder, His Majesty Cork tree and a Northern Catalpa. They may be a little hard to find, but they have been excellent trees, and the first two were developed in North Dakota and Minnesota. WCCO has a radio show on Saturdays and they really suggest the elm cultivars. Links to the show below.

Here is a link that might be useful: S&S Tree podcasts
RpR_
14 years ago
If you are looking for something that grows as large and as quckly as the Maples, Elm and Oak are not them.

Locust and Poplars are fast growers but do a thorough check on what you want that fits you parameters.

Get as BIG a tree as you can afford, no matter what anyone tells you trees of less than three inches in diameter take a looong time to give worthy shade and even ones that big will take years.

I have planted dozens of trees, if one cannot wait a decade for good shade, better spend the big bucks to get a real big tree.
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tom_mn
14 years ago
I disagree with above. Elms are very fast growing, especially when young, several feet per year is normal and a person can get a mid-sized tree in 6 years or so.

I also disagree with the large tree recommendation, since the larger the tree installed the slower the first several years of growth. For best results I would get the largest potted tree I could.
RpR_
14 years ago
Valley Forge average is 26 ft in twelve years.

If you consider a mid-sized tree ten feet tall, then your parameters are different from the average.
Trees grow feet per year ONLY after establishing their root system, which takes TIME.

As I said, if one cannot wait a decade, or more (the above depends on the tree getting established, and having planted trees often that is easier said than done) for good shade, plant a BIG tree from the get-go.
kaptainkr
14 years ago
If you go with a Honey Locust, try to get one of the varieties that grow with a central leader. We had a Sunburst that snapped last year, probably due to poor structure. We replaced it with a Skyline and so far that thing has grown straight and true. Hope it continues.