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Selecting Shade Trees

Because of their permanence and importance in the landscape, shade trees should be selected with great care.

Trees provide shade, help shelter us from wind, and may screen undesirable views or enhance beautiful vistas. Trees make our environment more livable.

Some trees provide colorful or fragrant flowers. Others produce attractive fruits and lure birds and other wildlife. Leaves in summer vary in color of green and texture. In autumn, they may become brilliantly colored. Trees also offer interest in patterns of branching, forms and bark colors and textures.

What makes a good tree? Winter hardiness and freedom from serious insect or disease problems are important. Fast-growing trees are often weak-wooded, short-lived and subject to storm damage. Select a tree that creates a minimum of litter of faded flowers, messy fruits or seed pods, leaves and twigs. The shallow root systems of some trees may create problems with nearby gardens, septic systems or pavements. Other trees may create so much shade that grass will not grow under them and pavement will dry off slowly after rains. Where de-icing salts or other pollutants may injure trees, select from among those trees that are tolerant.

When selecting a tree, analyze the site carefully. Some questions to answer are: How much space is available? Is the soil fertile or must it be improved? Is the site poorly drained or subject to drought? Is the soil acid or alkaline in reaction? Is there a restricted root-zone area?

There is no perfect tree. Each kind has its special environmental requirements and/or tolerances.

Recommended shade trees generally fall into six general groups:

1. Maple--Silver and Amur

2. Hackberry which is native to North Dakota.

3. Ashes--such as Dakota Centennial, Prairie Spire and Prairie Dome

4. Honeylocusts--Imperial and Skyline varieties are seedless and thornless

5. Among oaks, Bur Oak is generally the best

6. Lindens--Greenspire and Redmond are selected varieties with good form and an improved branching structure

If you have further questions, please contact your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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