What kind of shade tree should I plant next to the sidewalk?
Question:Our house is really close to the sidewalk and we lost a big maple that provied a lot of shade on the 2nd story. The sidewalk is 5 feet from the road and our house.
Answers:
I would try growing another Maple tree. Most maples grow fast, but it would be quite a few years before you got shade for the second story. Silver or Red Maples would be a good shade tree.
Im a fan of Lilacs I like the greenery even when the flowers arent in bloom I also love the scent.
If you want something that grows quick and is a great shade tree go with a Honey Locus :)
Magnolias are nice but I'm not sure of the grow rate of them. Nice huge 5 and 6 inch flowers annually once they do flower...But A quick inexpensive shade tree is A NON bearing mulberry tree..cheap and grows about 15 feet a year..WARNING ..Do not get a BEARING mulberry for they are the messiest trees around, black fruits like black/dewberries... and solid cant park a car near them when fruiting...birds swarm thickly when fruiting and your car will be solid black/purple.with white spots of bird evidence all over it...
You can take a look at various trees at henryfields.com. Whatever tree you decide on, as it grows prune off lower branches.
Cool looking and fast growing is Catalpa--I would not recommend a new maple, I have one at one of my homes I will be cutting down because the roots are getting into the sewer line.
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