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Best Trees to Plant for Shade this Summer

By Advance Tree Pros
Shade Trees

Florida has been deemed “the sunshine state” by many for quite some time, and it is for good reason. Florida is one of the hottest states in the whole country, and the temperature seldom falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are even hotter, and Floridians experience scorching heat as the temperature rarely dips below the 90 degree Fahrenheit mark during the day. It’s why locals and visitors try anything and everything to escape the sun and heat, and planting shady trees is quite popular among Florida homeowners. When it’s time for new trees, Central Florida’s residents turn to the professional team at Advance Tree Pros to handle the work for them.

Shade Trees for Summer Planting

Shade trees have a pretty self-explanatory name – their primary function is to provide shade from the sun because of their canopy and crown that spread across a vast area. With the advancement in science and continuous research, more and more detrimental effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays are coming to light, no pun intended. If you’re thinking of planting a shade tree in your garden or backyard this summer, an added benefit is not having to worry as much about these strong, harmful rays. Additionally, shade trees can help shade your home and therefore reduce electricity bills, in some cases significantly, because of the lowered stress placed on your home’s air conditioning system or systems. Here are some tree varieties that you can easily grow in your backyard, as long as you plant them properly, even in Florida’s seemingly endless summer sunshine:

Palm Tree:

Recognized by their long and bulky stems with arching branches making a crown on top, palm trees can be an important asset to your Central Florida garden. As long as you follow the proper instructions, you’ll find planting and growing numerous types of palm trees anywhere in Florida to be easy and rewarding. A total of 12 types have been identified by arborists as Florida-friendly, with some being over 100 feet tall, while the shorter ones growing only to a height of 20 feet. Among these varieties are the dwarf palmetto, needle palm, Bismarck Palm, and saw palmetto, among others. The beaches of Florida won’t be the same without their characteristic coconut palms. Some native palms are cold-sensitive and cannot withstand the low temperatures of the northern parts of Florida but are frequent in the gardens and backyards of South Floridians. Examples of such palms are silver palm and royal palm trees. These palms grow in a container and can be planted throughout the year. However, the ideal conditions for planting a field-grown tree are frequent rainfall and warm soil, which is why any expert arborist will encourage you to plant them in the early summer season. Palm trees need some time and space to mature, but once they’ve grown into tall towering trees, the only regret you’ll have is going your previous summers without having planted them!

Other Trees for Summer Shade

Don’t give up just because you can’t plant many types of shade trees in the summer; there are still many types of trees that you can plan to plant in other seasons and enjoy in the summertime. The Southern Live Oak tree is a perfect example of a shade tree best planted in early spring with the potential of providing substantial shade in the summer months. Growing to a height over 60 feet in many cases, this evergreen tree can provide shade to future generations when properly maintained. Florida elm and hophornbeam are other popular examples of shade trees planted and grown in Florida, and having a southern magnolia in your backyard offers plenty of shade too. This tree also produces beautiful white flowers that have a fragrant, pleasing smell when they bloom.

Natural Shade From Orlando Trees

Are There Reasons Trees Shouldn’t Be Planted During Summer?

We just discussed how perfect summers are for palm trees, but not every shade tree is a palm tree. Florida’s summer is a nightmare for almost every other shade tree, and planting during this time could eventually result in the tree’s death. The best planting conditions of Loblolly pine, for instance, are in a temperature range of 35-70 degrees Fahrenheit. During Central Florida summers though, daily temperatures fall in a range between 80 and  90-plus degrees Fahrenheit, and these conditions could cause seedlings to dry out, wither, and die after planting. You can plant small shrubs and some vegetables in late spring and early summers as they can tolerate the harsh conditions, but most shade trees struggle for survival if their seedlings are planted during summer.

Conclusion

The options for shade-bearing trees are endless. While planting can be limited for some types in the summer, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever benefit from trees to keep your home and backyard shaded and cool. The tricky part is making the right choices and taking care of your trees as they grow. This is why it is important to have a team of professional tree care specialists that you trust like the experts at Advance Tree Pros. You never know when you may need to call them for a simple tree pruning or difficult tree removal. Give us a call today for all of your Central Florida tree care needs!