If you are a proud backyard owner and you are looking for a way to enrich this space it is a good idea to plant a tree on it. Planting a tree will not only make your backyard more beautiful but it will also provide shade during hot summer days. During the process of selection of the type of shade tree, make sure to take the volume and shape of the tree canopy into consideration. Of course, you should also think about the size of your backyard. Trees with canopies in the form of balls or umbrella can protect a wider area from sunlight. Tall trees are perfect for larger backyards while dwarf-spherical shapes are ideal for small backyards. Now let’s see some of the most popular shade trees used in backyards.
Sweetgum is a deciduous tree with a broad canopy that reaches almost to the ground. It has a beautiful, large, light green leaves which change colors in early autumn – from yellow through orange and coralline red to almost black. Fertile heads in the form of beads are formed on ling, thin stalks, maturing in October and remain on the branches during the winter period. It is best to avoid planting sweetgum (liquidambar) in areas with extremely cold winters. Deep and wet soil suits this tree the best. It is resistant to urban conditions, especially dust and smoke.
Red buckeye tree is a decorative species that creates really deep shade. It is characterized by pink and yellow blooms gathered in long, erected inflorescences that appear in May and form large fruits during autumn. The tree is very strong and it can grow up to 15 m, while the canopy has a diameter of about 10 m. It grows really slowly (around 30 cm per year). It grows well on any type of soil.
Dwarf catalpa is an ideal tree for small backyards. It has a really interesting form with proper circular crown and a height of 3,5 to 5 m. The light green leaves that can grow up to 20 cm in diameter give this tree a special decorative feature. Trumpet-like, white-pink flowers gathered in a large erected inflorescences appear in May and June while in September long, thin pods replace them and they last throughout the winter. Catalpa fits in sunny positions and deep, well drained and moderately moist soil. Low temperatures are not a problem for grown catalpa trees. Young trees should be protected from frosts in the first few years.
Globosum tree is a really beautiful deciduous tree with dense and spherical canopy. It can reach a height of 6 m and width of about 5 meters which makes it perfect for small backyards. The bark of this tree is gray-brown and very smooth and as it starts aging the bark is peeling and the tree looks even more attractive.
The leaves are reddish during spring. Later they become dark green and glossy while in autumn they become intensively yellow. It is resistant to urban conditions and drought.