How to Choose, Plant, and Grow a Shade Tree for Your Garden

For shading gardens, you will want a shade tree that grows quite speedily and to provide plenty of shade. There are a multitude of shade trees available. With this wide variety, finding a shade tree for your garden should be quite easy and fast.

You will want to choose a variety that will grow extremely fast and one that will provide the shade your garden will need. There are things that you can do to help speed up the growth of the tree.

Shade Tree Categories

There are two general shade tree categories: short-lived and long-lived varieties. For temporary shade for your garden you should choose the short-lived variety. However, you can choose a long-loved tree for many years to come. This will give you an option of what if you do not want to plant a garden in this spot every year.

With a short-lived tree, you may be looking for a shade tree that has a speedy growth rate. A short-lived shade tree that grows rapidly, the root system of the tree will be rather aggressive. With this style of a tree it shouldn't be planted need septic tanks, water lines or gas lines.

The short-lived trees with aggressive roots will shoot out rapidly once they have taken roots in the area they are planted. You will want to place the tree in an area that will be relative to the garden you want to shade. The tree should be placed in the southern or western side of the garden you are wanting to be shaded.

Soil Preparation for Shade Trees

In preparing the soil for the shade trade is the easiest way to help the growth of the tree. The hole for the root ball should be as big as possible.

Before replacing the soil back into the hole to cover the shade tree, the soil should be worked over well. This allows the roots penetration of the soil, easier. You should also consider adding nutrients and fertilizer to the removed soil before adding back into the hole.

You should try to use as many organic materials as possible for mulching around the tree. By mulching with bark or branches this will help with water maintenance of the shade tree and encourage faster growth.

Purchasing a Shade Tree