Large canopy trees
12 Fast-Growing Shade Trees for 2022
Ah, shade. It’s what we all crave from our trees, but it can often take a long time to achieve it. Looking for faster results? Check out these 12 fast-growing shade trees.
1. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)If there were a Guinness Book of World Records for trees, the quaking aspen would be in it — several times. First, it has the widest natural range of any tree in North America, spanning 47 degrees of latitude (equal to half the distance from the equator to the North Pole), 110 degrees of longitude (nine time zones) and elevations from sea level to timberline. It is also the largest living organism, growing in clones that reproduce primarily by sending up sprouts from their roots. And as far as the oldest … a clone in Minnesota has been estimated to be thousands of years old!
It is not a tree for all places. But planted in the right location, the quaking aspen is a delight of color, movement, and sound.
Zones 1-7
2. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)The northern red oak has been called “one of the handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America” by naturalist Joseph S. Illick, and it is widely considered a national treasure. It is especially valued for its adaptability and usefulness, including its hardiness in urban settings. This medium to large tree is also known for its brilliant fall color, great value to wildlife.
Whether you’re selecting a tree to plant in your front yard or out on the farm, it’s a fast-growing species worth keeping in mind.
Zones 3-8
3. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)The paper birch is one of the best-loved trees of the New England landscape, even serving as the state tree of New Hampshire. This fast-grower is often planted for the beauty of its most distinctive characteristic — smooth, white bark that curls and peels once the tree matures. It also provides a splash of brilliant yellow color every fall.
Being highly deer-resistant and tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions only add to the popularity of this tree.
Zones 2-7
Read More: 10 Drought-Tolerant Trees That Will Throw Shade
4. Red Sunset Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’)Known as one of the best red maple cultivars, this tree delivers on color. Winter buds, clusters of small winter/spring flowers, leaf stems, twigs and winged summer fruits all carry a red hue. And of course, the fall show is breathtaking, with red and orange leaves blending to give a sunset effect.
The lovely red coloring, a good branch structure and a faster growth rate make the red sunset maple a welcome enhancement to any yard or public space.
Zones 4-8
5. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)The hackberry, while often forgotten by casual consumers, is commonly heralded by tree experts as “one tough tree.” Found on a wide range of soils east of the Rockies from southern Canada to Florida, these trees thrive in a broad span of temperatures and on sites that vary from 14 to 60″ of annual rainfall.
They can even stand up to strong winds and tolerate air pollution.
All of this hardiness adds up to a good landscape choice, particularly if you’re looking for an energy-conserving shade tree that doesn’t require watering.
Zones 3-9
Read More: Tree Planting: How to Choose the Right Planting Site
6. Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)“The pin oak pleases me for reasons I cannot wholly explain,” wrote nature writer Hal Borland in A Countryman’s Woods.
But homeowners and city foresters are pleased with this tree for very specific reasons: strong wood; dense shade; tolerance of many soil conditions, heat, soil compaction and air pollution; free from most major pests; pleasing to the eye in all seasons; and easy to plant. Needless to say, this faster-growing oak is a common sight in yards, along streets and throughout parks.
Zones 4-8
7. River Birch (Betula nigra)As its name suggests, the river birch naturally grows along riverbanks.
But as a landscape tree, it can be planted almost anywhere in the U.S. The species is valued for its relatively rapid growth, tolerance of wetness and some drought, unique curling bark, spreading limbs, and relative resistance to birch borer.
This tree also puts on a nice fall show, adding a splash of brilliant yellow fall color.
Zones 4-9
8. Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)This is a tree that demands your attention. White, showy flowers. Giant heart-shaped leaves. Dangling bean-like seed pods. Twisting trunk and branches. How could you not stop to take it in? And with all of these unique features, the northern catalpa is popular with kids as well.
While not ideal for every location, this unique and hardy tree is a fast grower that finds a home in parks and yards throughout the country.
Zones 4-8
Read More: 5 Stunning Flowering Trees
9. American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)The American sweetgum — with its star-shaped leaves, neatly compact crown, interesting fruit, and twigs with unique corky growths called wings — is an attractive shade tree.
It has become a prized specimen in parks, campuses, and large yards across the country.
If you’ve got the space and are looking to add some fall color, this tree is a sure bet. The glossy green leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple in the autumn.
Zones 5-9
10. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)One can argue about whether the “tulips” are the outline of its leaves or its cup-shaped flowers. But both undoubtedly contributed to the fanciful name given to this tree by early settlers. And the tuliptree is still beloved for its beauty today, serving as the state tree of Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. It is the tallest of the eastern hardwoods — and a rapid grower when conditions are right.
This is a stunning tree that grows quickly and doesn’t suffer from many pest problems.
Zones 4-9
11. Dawn Redwood (Salix babylonica)An impressive tree by any standard, the dawn redwood is relatively carefree and fast-growing.
Its fine, feathery leaves are certainly a standout feature, and even though this tree is deciduous, it produces rounded cones. The dawn redwood was long thought to be extinct — with evidence of its existence found among dinosaur fossils — until it was discovered alive and well in a rural, mountainous area of China. It is now grown worldwide.
Zones 5-8
Read More: Small Trees Can Provide Shade Too
12. Sun Valley Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’)Wanting the quick-growing shade and fall beauty of a maple tree without the “helicopters”? Look no further. The sun valley maple offers brilliant red fall color and a symmetrical oval crown — but it won’t produce any seeds. This tree is also a low-maintenance choice that is easy to grow.
Zones 4-7
fast-growing shade treesShade trees
Top 10 Shade Trees
The right shade trees can add beauty and cooling shade to your yard. And your choices are vast. Check out some of our favorites from the Arbor Day Foundation’s tree nursery.
Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides
Hardiness Zones: 1–7
This fast-growing shade tree not only provide shade but also grows almost anywhere. It has a wide natural range and tolerates many soil conditions. In Autumn, the stunning yellow foliage brightens the landscape and finds its way onto calendar pages and magazine covers.
Scientific Name: Salix babylonica
Hardiness Zones: 6–8
This graceful giant is known for its open crown of wispy, ground-sweeping branches and long, slender leaves. The tree is easy to grow and quick to take root, reaching heights between 30′ and 40′ and nearly the same width. It lends itself well to planting singly or in small groves near the edge of ponds, lakes, and rivers.
Scientific Name:Quercus virginiana
Hardiness Zones: 7–10
Often seen magnificently draped in Spanish moss, the live oak is the iconic tree of the South. It has been called one of the most impressive North American trees and can live to be hundreds of years old.
With a spread of 60–100 feet, this tree offers significant shade for expansive spaces.
Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
Hardiness Zones: 3–9
The red maple is one of the best named of all trees. There is something red in all seasons — buds in winter, flowers in spring, leafstalks in summer, and brilliant foliage in autumn. This pageant of color, along with the tree’s relatively fast growth and tolerance to a wide range of soils, makes it a widely planted favorite.
Scientific Name:Liriodendron tulipifera
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
One can argue about whether the “tulips” are the outline of its leaves or its cup-shaped flowers. But both undoubtedly contributed to the fanciful name given to this tree by early settlers. The tallest of the eastern hardwoods, this tree contributes to your landscape throughout the seasons —beautiful flowers in the spring, cooling shade in the summer, and vibrant yellow color in the fall.
Scientific Name:Platanus x acerifolia
Hardiness Zones: 5–9
The London planetree is a widely planted street tree, and for good reason.
It can withstand air pollution, drought and other adversities while providing wonderful shade. Strong limbs also help make the London planetree a good choice where site conditions allow for its large size. The unique bark and interesting branching give it amazing visual appeal year-round.
Scientific Name:Quercus palustris
Hardiness Zones: 4–8
The pin oak is the type of tree that stands out from its neighbors. Its distinctive branching pattern sets it apart from other oaks, and the shade it provides is dense and widespread. Homeowners like this tree for many reasons including its tolerance of many soil conditions, heat, soil compaction and air pollution. The pin oak is also fast-growing and easy to plant.
Scientific Name:Quercus macrocarpa
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
The bur oak is a mighty sight to behold. A coarsely textured crown, wild and woolly acorns and a massive trunk with rough and deeply furrowed bark combine to make one impressive tree.
It is also a long-lived tree that offers dense shade and tolerates pollution and heat.
Scientific Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Hardiness Zones: 5–8
The dawn redwood is a beautiful tree in parks, golf courses, and other sites large enough to accommodate its size. It is relatively care-free and is a tough and beautiful specimen tree in any large landscape. Always a conversation piece thanks to its history.
Scientific Name: Betula nigra
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
As its name suggests, the river birch naturally grows along riverbanks. But as a landscape tree, it can be planted almost anywhere in the U.S. This birch is a popular choice thanks to its relatively fast growth, stunning yellow fall color, and cinnamon-colored bark that curls and peels once the tree is mature.
Ready to get planting? Read Why it’s Important to Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place.landscape treesprivacy treesShade trees
What can be learned from the crown of a tree? Tree viability
Tree viability is often assessed by the condition of the tree crown, its branching and structure, using the Andreas Roloff method, which he developed in the 1980s.
What is this method based on, what can you learn about the tree with it and how to use it correctly?
Vitality of trees
When we determine the condition of a tree by the degree of branching of the crown, we proceed from the assumption that a decrease in the viability of a tree causes a decrease in the length of its shoots. nine0003
By the vitality of a tree in a general sense is meant the life force. For trees, this concept can be more accurately described as the ability to grow. Since the growth capacity of a tree is expressed in terms of the length of its shoots, these should represent a suitable measure of viability. If a different definition of viability is followed, then other parameters, such as the ability to regenerate and reproduce, may be important, but they are more difficult to group for classification. nine0003
A method for assessing tree crown structure was developed based on the results of studies of 20 species of deciduous trees, as well as pines and spruces.
For them, as a result, a classification of the degrees of viability was compiled, based on the branching of the crown. At the same time, not only the main species were selected for research, but also a wider range of ecological characteristics was taken into account, that is, the original tree varieties and their later hereditary phases, varieties with high and low shade tolerance, high and low competitiveness and high and low maximum age. . nine0003
“Loss of foliage” and “crown transparency”
It is surprising that when comparing the assessment of the condition of a tree by leaf loss, on the one hand, and by crown structure, as will be described below, on the other hand, in some tree species, be significant differences (up to two degrees of viability).
The term “loss of leaves” should have been replaced by “crown transparency”, in which case there would be no impression that we are talking about fallen leaves. If a deciduous tree has a "leaf loss" parameter of 30%, this does not mean that 30% of the leaves fell prematurely, it means that there were none at all before the start of the growing season.
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It should be noted that the parameter "loss of leaves" is very much affected by precipitation: during or after a wet summer, the foliage density is higher than after a dry one, which is not related to the general condition of the tree. In addition, the next year after abundant fruiting, the trees produce significantly smaller leaves and, therefore, a more transparent crown, which, as a rule, does not worsen the general condition of the tree.
And one more aspect is significant: there are a number of tree species (many light-loving species, such as birch and pine), in which the crown becomes denser with a decrease in the length of the shoots, and the assessment for such a parameter as "loss of foliage" can give opposite results Compared to the shoot length/branching score, a decrease in shoot length results in crown compaction rather than an increase in crown transparency. nine0003
On the other hand, when evaluating the condition of a tree, the quality of the foliage should not be overlooked, since, despite the above limitations, this parameter is important for the overall assessment.
The definition of viability is a basic indicator that serves as an initial description of the state, does not require a lot of time.
Assessment of tree viability based on crown structure
- Viability phase “0” . nine0044
In healthy, undamaged deciduous trees, the apical shoots are in the so-called phase of exploitation : both the main branches of the apical shoots and partly their lateral branches consist of long shoots, due to which a fairly uniform, network-like branching develops that goes deep into the crown . The crown is harmoniously closed and rounded, without large gaps, unless significant intervention, such as pruning, has been carried out immediately before, since such gaps, due to the intensive formation of new shoots, close again within a short time. In summer, dense foliage forms without large gaps. nine0003
- Viability phase "1" .
In trees with a slightly reduced viability, the apical shoots are in the degeneration phase , due to which branches appear protruding from the periphery of the crown (“bottle brushes”, “fox tails”), on which leaves are densely and in a circle (on ends of short shoots). The crown looks disheveled from the outside, as the space between these protruding branches is not filled with branches and leaves or is not completely filled. Inside the crown, branching (and, accordingly, foliage) is still quite dense. To this degree of viability, straight, through main branches of the apical shoots still dominate in the periphery of the crown, but the crown does not look so harmonious anymore, since numerous branches stick out beyond its borders. nine0003
- Viability phase "2".
In trees with significantly reduced viability, the apical shoots themselves form short shoots: the stagnation phase begins.
When there is no foliage, one can see, figuratively speaking, "claws" and "crow's feet", as short shoots begin to predominate in the periphery of the crown, which become longer (lined up in chains) and reach for the light in the form of claws. Over time, short shoots become very long and break off during the growing season, with storm winds and heavy rain. Under normal conditions, thanks to this mechanism, the tree gets rid of branches that have become redundant inside the crown and in its lower part. nine0003
However, if the apical shoots are in the stagnation phase, the purge of the branches spreads to the outer sections of the crown and it thins out from the inside. But the reason for this, as a rule, is not premature leaf fall, but broken chains of short shoots, insufficient branch formation and non-viable buds on dead branches. The still ongoing formation of branches occurs in the form of bushes and in the form of lumps in the periphery of the crown, which leads (both in winter and summer) to the formation of a crown consisting of bunches with large gaps.
In this phase of viability, there are practically no through, straight branches in the periphery of the crown. nine0003
- Viability phase "3".
In damaged trees with severely reduced viability, the crown is destroyed due to the death of the main apical shoots due to progressive branch breakage. The tree appears to be made up of several "undercrowns" that are randomly distributed in space and form whip-like structures. Due to the large gaps, the crown looks inharmonious and skeletal. The apex is often in the dying stage or has already died out as the apical shoots have reached phase resignation .
Viability, safety, lifespan of trees
There is still a debate about whether this method allows you to make a conclusion about the safety of a tree and make predictions about its lifespan. To answer this question, it is necessary to clarify once again that the method based on branching structures determines the ability to grow.
In principle, it should be assumed that trees with high growth potential are more likely to withstand negative influences (diseases, damage, adverse situations, poor environmental conditions, etc.) than less viable trees. nine0003
This manifests itself, for example, in cases of fungal attack, mechanical damage, reactions to pruning and certain diseases. In addition, trees with high viability have a higher photosynthesis capacity, a greater buffering capacity (resistance or resistance to negative factors/pathogens or pests) due to higher growth and thus a better chance for the future.
However, using this method, it is impossible to make a prediction about the life expectancy of a tree, just as it is impossible to make such a prediction about a person, guided by how well he looks and feels at the moment. Many factors influence life expectancy. nine0003
If the evaluation of the tree resulted in a viability level of 2 (trees with significantly reduced viability), it cannot be concluded that the tree is dangerous and should be cut down, as it has no chance for the future! This has never been asserted before in the development and description of a method for determining viability phases.
Such a decision would be erroneous and fatal, since in this case many trees would be unreasonably cut down. A tree in viability phase 2 can stand quite reliably for decades more and perform its functions in the city, for example, if the cause of its decline in viability is advanced age. nine0003
Forecasts are worse if the viability phase is 2.5 or even 3, that is, the crown of the tree is dying. Since such a signal indicates significant problems with trees and, as a rule, requires at least the removal of dead wood in situations where this is required to ensure the safety of people and vehicles.
The Tree Care TDA (FLL 2006) and the FLL Tree Management Directives (FLL 2010) state: “Because trees with high viability are not always safe for people and traffic – and vice versa, a distinction must be made between viability and sustainability. ". Moreover, there are two fundamentally different methods of determination and different goals: trees in the viability phase from 0 to 2 can have dead branches in the crown and damage to the trunk, which at the same time do not have any effect on their viability, and vice versa, trunk damage is not always should lead to loss of viability.
The situation is different for trees that have a viability phase of 2.5 to 3 and, according to the definition of viability phase, there is a death of the upper branches. nine0003
Thus, the determination of viability is a basic indicator (such as a blood pressure measurement at a doctor's office) that serves as an initial description of the condition. This is not time consuming (one to three minutes per tree) and can be important for other decisions.
Based on this method, it is impossible to predict the life expectancy of a tree.
For all ages and types of trees
This method can be used to assess the viability of trees of different ages. The reason for the change in the structure of the crown is exclusively a decrease in the length of the shoots over a long time, that is, chronic damage or a decrease in viability. This is an advantage of such an assessment, it does not respond to short-term (partly biologically determined) fluctuations in foliage density, to transparency (openwork / sparseness) of the crown or the so-called loss of foliage.
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Similar viability phase codes have been developed for more than 20 tree species , are well established in tree control practice and can be applied to almost all major tree species in the urban area.
In our Tree Inspector: Techniques for Identifying Emergency Trees in the City, we teach you how to identify and improve tree vitality.
View the course program
The next course will take place from 5 to 23 April online + offline. nine0003
Why do they cut the tops of large trees in Moscow?
https://realty.ria.ru/20200302/1566717923.html
Why are the tops of large trees trimmed in Moscow?
Why do they cut the crowns of large trees in Moscow? - Real Estate RIA Novosti, 03/02/2020
Why do they cut the crowns of large trees in Moscow?
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