Shade Landscaping for Gardens

How to create or uncreate shade, working with the sun. Summer sun is high in the sky, winter sun is lower when you’ll want it for warmth.

Length of shade equal 1.5 times the height - taller trees farther from the house/building
Training the roots with watering father away from the roots.

Top Native trees for shade, why - low maintenance, water adjusted needs for your local area. Look for bonus qualities and benefits.

List of Native Trees For Shade

Northeast 
American beech (Fagus grandifolia): This tree features smooth gray bark, golden autumn leaves, and a delicate, graceful branching pattern. It provides dense shade but is susceptible to Beech Bark Disease.
Northern red oak (Quercus rubra): A handsome and stately tree that grows well in urban areas and tolerates various soils. It provides excellent shade and displays vibrant red or orange fall colors.
Red maple (Acer rubrum): Valued for its adaptability, this fast-growing shade tree offers vibrant red flowers in spring and brilliant orange-to-scarlet fall foliage. It thrives in a variety of conditions. 

Southeast 
Live oak (Quercus virginiana): An iconic, long-lived evergreen tree of the coastal Southeast with a magnificent, spreading canopy. It is durable, pest-resistant, and provides significant shade.
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum): This deciduous conifer tolerates both wet and dry soil conditions, with feathery, rust-colored foliage in the fall. It is a pyramidal tree that can be found in wetland areas.
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora): Known for its glossy, dark green evergreen leaves and large, fragrant white flowers. This tree provides good shade and is a classic of the region. 

Midwest 
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum): A Midwest favorite, this long-lived tree is prized for its spectacular yellow-orange and red fall colors. It grows large with a dense, rounded crown.
Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor): Tolerant of heavy, clay, or wet soils, this oak offers excellent shade and attractive peeling bark. Its two-toned leaves flash in the wind.
American basswood (Tilia americana): Also known as American linden, this tree features a dense, rounded crown of large, heart-shaped leaves. Its fragrant mid-summer flowers attract pollinators. 

Southwest 
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis): This heat- and drought-tolerant tree features fragrant, showy flowers throughout the warmer months. While smaller than a traditional shade tree, its light canopy offers filtered shade.
Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina): A sturdy desert tree with a wide, spreading crown and feathery leaves. It is a foundational species in the Sonoran Desert, providing excellent shade.
Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii): Found near water sources, this large tree has distinctive peeling bark and broad leaves, which offer dense shade. It is a common and important tree in the region. 

Pacific Northwest 
Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum): The largest native maple in the West, this tree has massive leaves and a broad, dense canopy that provides excellent shade. It is a staple of the region.
Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana): A slow-growing, long-lived, and drought-tolerant oak. It provides strong shade and is a cornerstone species of the Willamette Valley.
Vine maple (Acer circinatum): This small, multi-stemmed tree often grows as an understory tree in the shade. Its delicate leaves turn brilliant shades of orange and red in the fall. 

Western Mountains 
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides): Known for its striking white bark and golden-yellow fall foliage. Clonal groves of aspens create a shimmering sound in the breeze.
Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum): This sturdy evergreen offers privacy and wind protection. It is a tough, drought-tolerant, and slow-growing tree that is native to a wide elevation range.
Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa): A dominant conifer in many western forests, the ponderosa pine grows very tall with an open, spreading canopy that provides dappled shade. 

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