What is a good choice for a fast growing shade tree?

[shelleyd2008]

I am going to be building some dog kennels, and we have a large area of our 'yard' that is unused. It is usually overgrown with ragweed and grass. This would be the perfect place to put these kennels, except for one problem....there is no shade whatsoever. I could use some shade cloth, but would really like to plant some trees for shade, for next year or whatever. And I mean none, it would be in direct sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

I remember seeing those royal empress trees, that supposedly grow 10' a year, do they really do this?

Any other type of tree that is good for shade, and fast growing?

 

[ams3651]

ive been looking into this as well for a wind break. If its shade you want a red maple grows very fast. Or the Austree though I think they grow too fast and the trunk is rather thin. For the wind break I decided on Scotch Pine. My neighbor has the Empress tree and it hasnt grown that fast and it drops annoying things from it in the fall I think. No matter what you plant it will take several years so I would probably invest in the shade cloth for a couple years to start with.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I was thinking empress tree when I read your thread title. I'm not sure if they really grow THAT fast. But they are relatively drought tolerant, which makes them a good choice for a spot that gets a full day of sun.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I think poplar trees are usually grown as wind breaks because they are fast growing.

 

[patandchickens]

Please, please think this through thoroughly from all angles before buying/planting anything. So many people make GIANT mistakes in the "fast growing shade tree" genre.

First, nearly everything that grows fast -- and *everything* that grows *super* fast -- has exceedingly weak crappy wood and also a short lifespan. Thus you quickly end up with a tree that is shedding major limbs on whatever it was planted to shade, has a good chance of coming completely down in a storm on top of whatever it was planted to shade, and if it doesn't, will within 20 years cost you a BUNCH of money and/or energy to remove when it is overmature and starts to senesce and get really dangerous.

Poplars and ailanthus are POSTER CHILDREN for doing this. I really, really, really would not plant them anywhere near a structure. (Poplars have legitimate uses as quick-growing field windbreaks, when a slower-growing windbreak is planted along with them, but that's different cuz there is something to take over when the poplars are gone and when they fall apart/over there is nothing but corn for them to fall on).

Other fast-growers, like manitoba maple (box elder) and willow, are similarly weak and brittle, but because they are more resiliant at regrowing lost parts, they can often stay up for longer, albeit always posing a danger to anything within falling range.

Secondly, things that grow fast get pretty big. There is no such thing as a fast-growing *small* shade tree. In some sites this is not a problem, but in a typical yard, or near a structure, it is. So make sure you've allowed for that.

I'm not sure what the best trees for Kentucky are, but there are lots of sources to research the subject. Just DO make sure you RESEARCH it, check and doublecheck what you hear or read, because there are never very many things that truly strike a good balance between fast growth and "tree that you will actually want to have around for more than 5 years". There are some maples (species and hybrid) that may well be suitable for you -- up here, I'd say Amur maple would be a good candidate, and there are red maple hybrids that are pretty nice trees too. And I'm sure other things, I just don't know about KY specifically.

Or, have you considered fast-growing shrubs. Or vines on a trellis. Or even, heaven help me, am I really saying this, bamboo. (PLEASE research your bamboo first and pick a non-spreading type). That might be more appropriate and less apt to turn into an extensive mistake five years down the road.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[digitS']

What Pat said . . .

Your extension service probably has a list and, hopefully, someone who can advise on suitable choices for your specific location and the space available.

I see that the empress tree gets quite a bit of promotion in the mailings. After being "pestered" about it by a relative, I learned that it is unlikely to survive a zone 5 winter so that made this tree out of the question for her property.

I did learn that it is considered invasive in some states . . .

Now, I've gotten in trouble advising folks to the south of me on the merits of Russian olives . . . only to learn that Utah and other states are spending huge amounts of money trying to keep that tree from creating a thicket in every canyon.

Here, a Russian olive is kept in check, apparently, by the winters. It doesn't seem to be an especially fast-growing tree.

Here's a University of Kentucky publication (20 page pdf) on trees and other plants for the Kentucky landscape. Maybe it will give you a starting point.

Steve

edited: the empress tree (Paulownia) isn't on that UK list. However, the state tree, the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), is and so are many, many others.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I looked at that list, thanks for that. I did a bit of searching, and read somewhere about the Arbor Day Foundation. Don't know why I hadn't thought of that before. Anyway, on their site, they have a 'tree wizard'. Basically, you input what you are looking for, growing conditions, height and spread, etc. etc., and it gives you a list of trees available (from them) that fit your needs. So now I have a whole list of trees to choose from :/

Can anyone help me decide which one(s) to plant?

I know that, whatever I choose, I'll have to use shade cloth or whatnot at first, but I am wanting to get something that is a relatively fast grower, but something that is not going to keel over in 10 or so years. Of course, it also needs to be non-toxic, so it won't kill the dogs if they decide to eat the 'fruit' from it.

Here is a link to the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Wizard, in which I have entered the requirements of growing conditions and such. Please check this out and tell me which you think would be best

I would like to get some that are 'flowering' or 'ornamental' if at all possible, instead of just another tree in the yard Thanks!!

If you would like to help me in my search, I am looking for something that is medium to fast growing (preferably more on the 'fast' side), does well in full sun, clay soil, and is drought and flood resistant (gotta love KY weather ). Thanks for the tips given so far, and thanks for any additional help you can offer

ETA: I was thinking of vines, but I would think that would block the little bit of breeze we do get in the summer, and cause the dogs undo discomfort from being too hot

 

[patandchickens]

ETA: I was thinking of vines, but I would think that would block the little bit of breeze we do get in the summer, and cause the dogs undo discomfort from being too hot

Just grow them on a sturdy arbor built over top of the kennel. It will be FAST, you can hang shadecloth on it until it is well clothed with vines, and will be both shady and breezy. It is not difficult to build an arbor.

Sorry, but your Tree Wizard link is not working for me -- it takes me to the first page of the process and then wants all the info input. Any chance you could copy and paste the list of trees they recommend, so we could see them directly here in a message?

Pat

 

[digitS']

That's a useful "Wizard," Shelley. Maybe it would even keep me from suggesting a Russian olive for Utah .

Your link didn't come thru so I just used a zip from Henry County Kentucky . . . my family lived there during the earliest settlement days and Wendel Berry lives there now (gotta go with something ).

Japanese Flowering Cherry came up and that sure is a pretty tree. It may be a bit small and not as fast-growing as you'd like, tho'. I was stuck outside a medical building the other day as a part of my frequent waits for whatever it is that goes on inside . . . Long after the blossoms have dropped, the flowering cherry has really lovely leaves and shape.

The Purpleleaf Sand Cherry was also listed. That may be closer to the growth you were hoping for altho' it isn't a very large tree and you'd have to decide if the color fits in.

A couple of Hackberries were growing in my yard when I moved here. I had to take them out because one was too close to the house foundation and the other too close to another tree. I've felt badly about this :/. They seem like a good alternative to an elm. The large leaves are entertaining in a breeze .

Do you think the location would be too high and dry for a River Birch? I'd wondered about a birch from the time I saw your original post but I sure wouldn't go for the Paper Birch. I know they are attractive trees but I see so many and know property owners that have them and it's almost like a death-watch with the darn things around here :/. One major branch or another is dying at any given time. Corkscrew willows seem to have the same problem. Sometimes the drastic pruning to rid the tree of these branches take away any attractiveness, anyway.

Lindens look like an ideal tree to me but I've never had one. I'm happy to see so many being planted along the streets in my part of the world .

Just my 2 . . .

Steve

 

[Sylvie]

Lindens are a gorgeous and useful tree.
I dry the flowers for teas and the seeds for Christmas holly berries arrangements. I know its relative in Europe is the lime wood so highly valued for carving. I'd like to try our Lindens, being a woodcarver myself.

It doesn't strike me as a particularly fast growing tree but maybe is in your area. I consider it one of the classiest trees native to NE Ohio. I see it in park squares as a phenomenal specimen with little limb drop.
It takes walking traffic beneath it and spreads for good shade coverage.
Please let us know which tree you have decided upon.