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Shade

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The beautiful flowing branches of a weeping willow, the majestic sweeping boughs of an oak tree, or the sweetly ruffled leaves of a sugar maple, all of these are beautiful to behold as well as providing cooling shade from what can be an overbearing sun. A small patio, overhung with the leaves of a magnolia tree, their perfume scenting the air on a hot summer night, or a path to the house lined with scarlet blossomed crepe myrtle swaying gently in the breeze. What more proof is needed that shade trees can be striking, beautiful additions to any landscape?

In the summer, shade trees are also an excellent way to lower the power bill, with the shade they provide making it far easier to keep houses cool. Even just one or two trees planted close enough to provide shade on a roof can bring about a substantial drop in costs for cooling. Not to mention the less energy used in cooling, the smaller the impact there is on the atmosphere, and the less resources that are used. Even if you are not an active environmentalist, this can only be seen as a good thing, and the less of an imprint we leave now, the less we may have to worry about for the future. While ornamental trees can be pretty to look at, why would anyone want to spend so much on them, when larger shade trees are just as beautiful, with these added benefits? There are dozens, even hundreds of different trees that would be suitable for planting for shade while also providing a unique, customizable effect for any landscape. A walnut, pecan or chestnut tree provides not only shade for landscaped property, but also edible nuts when fully mature, while any one of the varieties of maple trees have leaves that change to brilliant colors in the fall. There are also the many varieties of fruit trees, each providing beautiful flowers before bearing fruit later in the season, and while it may not be a good idea to place an apple or pear tree very close to a home, mulberries, or cherries could be good choices.

There are also the possibilities of a willow, or sycamore, or ash tree, each one beautiful in its own right. Or if you prefer something that will produce flowers, there's the royal empress, dogwood, mimosa or even magnolia trees, each one covered with highly scented blossoms throughout the year. These are just a few of what is an almost endless list of possibilities for beautiful trees that are far more than just ornamental.

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