Shade trees are a wonderful addition to many yards, parks, and gardens, no matter where you live. There are a number of benefits to shade other than just protection from the sun, but it can be difficult to know which shade tree you should plant. You can start with asking which ones will grow the best in the area in which you live.
If you live in the state of New York, you have many options for great shade trees, but there are five that might be particularly good choices as they are good fits for New York’s temperatures, rainfall, and environment in general. The sugar maple, northern red oak, tulip tree, flowering dogwood, and white oak trees are great shade trees to plant in New York.
We have gathered five of the best shade trees to plant in New York and included pertinent details about each so you can learn about them all in one place. We are also including information about how to plant the tree and how to take care of it long-term, so let’s get started. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting in the shade of your tree.
Why Plant A Shade Tree?
Shade trees are good for the environment. This is particularly true of urban environments like large cities. If you can help provide some benefits to your area in New York, we want to help you navigate the process!
There are certain shade trees that fit well within spaces that are more crowded, while some need their room. That’s why we have a piece that tells you all about the 6 best shade trees that don’t cause root problems around other trees.
#1: The Sugar Maple
We kick off our list with a tree that is certainly a great pick for a New York shade tree because it is the official state tree of New York–the sugar maple! Sugar maples are a great pick for a number of purposes in the state of New York, so they might be the best fit for you.
Characteristics Of Sugar Maple Trees
Sugar maple trees have very sweet sap, according to Central Park in New York City, and that sap is used for a number of purposes, including syrup. Sugar maples bloom in the spring, and, in New York, that usually starts in the month of April.
Sugar maple trees have very colorful fall foliage, with leaves that turn yellow or orange, or red in the autumn. The leaves of sugar maple trees are also distinctive, as they have the points on the end that are characteristic of maple trees; sugar maples specifically have three main points.
Another defining feature of sugar maple trees is that they have silver to gray to brown bark that starts out lighter and turns darker as the tree ages. Lastly, like other maple trees, sugar maples have seeds that are samaras, the little helicopter-like objects that twirl from the trees down to the ground or the sidewalk each year.
How Big Are Sugar Maple Trees?
According to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, a sugar maple tree can grow to be as tall as 80 feet. This is an important statistic to keep in mind when you decide which size tree is best for the location in which you need to plant it.
The sugar maple tree’s canopy can get as big as 50 feet in width, so keep that in mind, too, when deciding how close you plan to plant your tree to the street, a house, or any other structure. You don’t want the canopy to encroach on power lines, the roof of your home, or the branches of other trees.
#2: The Northern Red Oak Tree
Northern red oak trees are great shade trees for the state of New York. These trees have beautiful foliage that turns red in autumn and can provide a lot of shade for most of the year.
Northern red oaks are tolerant of pollution and do well when planted near the street, so this is a good option for those of you who want to create a tree-lined neighborhood or sidewalk.
The Northern red oak is a fast grower, so it’s a great option if you want some shade and you want it quickly. This tree can grow up to two feet each year for the first decade of its life, so that’s a tall tree in just a few years!
How Big Is A Northern Red Oak Tree?
Northern red oaks grow to be quite tall, reaching a height of about 75 feet, and they have large canopies of about 45 feet when they are mature. These are large trees, so while they are great for shade, you have to think about their mature size when you are planting them as saplings.
#3: The Tulip Tree
Tulip trees are named for the shapes of their blossoms which, as you may have guessed, resemble tulip flowers. These are also fast-growing trees, with a growth rate of more than two feet every year!
According to Cornell University, the tulip tree has smooth bark when the tree is young and rough bark when the tree matures. The tulip tree’s wood is often used for building airplanes.
Size Of Tulip Trees At Maturity
Tulip trees are very tall, reaching heights of as much as 90 feet. Their canopy is somewhat smaller than the first two trees on our list though, maxing out around 40 feet when the tree is completely mature.
If you are looking for a taller tree that might not have as much of a reach with its branches, the tulip tree might be a great choice. For strictly the purpose of shade, though, you might be better off with a shorter tree that has a larger canopy.
#4: The Flowering Dogwood Tree
Flowering dogwoods are beautiful trees with iconic blossoms that, as their name indicates, flower in the springtime. Their colors can vary, with the most common colors being white and pink.
According to the University of Georgia Extension, dogwood trees prefer moist soil that is rich in nutrients. If you live somewhere with rich soil and a lot of rain, like the southern states, this tree might be perfect for your yard.
Dogwood trees are very popular as ornamental trees in front yards or gardens, but they also work well to provide some shade to sunny spots. If you have an area of your yard or garden, for example, that needs some coverage for plants that do not tolerate full sun, a dogwood tree is an excellent choice.
How Big Are Flowering Dogwood Trees?
Dogwood trees are the smallest trees on our list, coming in at a top height of around 40 feet for a true flowering dogwood. There are also smaller varieties of dogwood that are only up to about 25 feet tall, so those might be good options if you are looking to provide a small amount of shade in a smaller area.
Dogwood trees are somewhat slow growers, but if you are not looking for a very large tree anyway, this might work out just fine. Dogwoods are a great size for patios, small gardens, pathways, and areas of your yard that do not have a lot of room but where you want something that provides shade and visual impact.
#5: The White Oak Tree
The white oak tree is a majestic tree with a hardy trunk and branches that can withstand wind, temperature swings, and a number of things. They are a great choice if you want to plant a legacy tree that will grow big and strong and live for a very long time–as long as 200 to 300 years!
According to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, white oak trees do not grow very fast, but they do have leaves that sometimes stay on the tree through the winter, so there is even more shade potential with this tree. If you are looking for a canopy that might last longer than some trees that lose their leaves in the fall very quickly, the white oak tree is something to consider.
How Big Is A White Oak Tree?
White oak trees are among the larger trees on our list, growing to heights of up to 80 feet. Their massive size also comes into play regarding their canopies, which can grow to a huge 80 feet width when the tree is mature.
This is a massive shade tree that has the potential to shade all or at least a big part of your yard or even your house. If you are okay with waiting a while for the tree to grow, the white oak is a beautiful and impactful option.
Tips For Growing A White Oak Tree
White oaks, like many trees, prefer to grow in full sun or partial shade, so this tree needs at least four hours of sunshine every day. But if you can plant it in complete sun, that is even better and will probably help it grow faster.
The white oak tree grows best in soil that is well drained, so, when choosing your planting site, watch out for standing water or areas that collect rainfall.
How To Plant A Shade Tree
Planting a shade tree is no different from planting any other type of tree except that you have to consider the exact location of planting based on what area you are going to provide with shade from the tree. So before you do anything else, go outside and find the exact perfect spot.
The distance of planting from what you want to shade is going to vary based on how large the canopy of your mature tree is going to be, so use the information we have provided about various types of shade trees to determine how much space you need to give your new tree to provide for its canopy size years from now. Also, remember to include space for the growth of the tree’s branches and even roots.
Once you have determined the right location, you might want to consider again the growth rate of the trees, as a faster-growing tree might provide shade sooner but it might not meet all of your other criteria. Check the chart or information in this article to help you make a good decision before you buy and plant your new seedling or sapling.
Preparing The Planting Site
Start by clearing any debris from the area where you are going to plant your tree. This includes litter and trash, of course, but also any leftover gardening fabric that prevents weeds, weeds themselves, rocks, stones, pebbles, insect nests, roots from old plants, and anything else that isn’t just the tilled soil of your planting site.
Next, use a spade or shovel, depending on how big the hole needs to be for your new tree, to start digging.
Digging A Hole To Plant Your New Shade Tree
The general rule is to dig a hole that is about twice as big as the root ball of your new tree. Then make sure it is deep enough to completely cover the root ball but not so deep that the tree is too far below the surface of the ground.
You can usually determine the depth of the hole just by looking at the tree and estimating based on what you see, but you can also lower the tree into the hole as you dig (while leaving the tree in its plastic pot or burlap wrapping) to judge whether you need to dig more and add some soil back in.
Once you have dug the hole, it’s time to prepare your tree for planting. Gently remove the tree from its plastic pot by squeezing the plastic all the way around to loosen the soil or by cutting slits in the side of the plastic pot so that, when you remove it, you don’t have to pull too hard, as this can damage roots and branches before you even plant the tree.
Planting The Tree
Lower the tree gently into the center of the hole you have dug, then hold the trunk with one hand while you start to loosely replace soil in concentric circles around the trunk of the tree. Once you have replaced enough soil so that the tree can stand on its own, you can let go to make the process go faster.
Start by replacing the soil gently then start patting it down to remove air holes and make sure the tree has a solid surrounding of soil. Replace soil until the ground is level.
Once you have replaced all the soil, it’s time to complete the last step in planting, which is to water the new shade tree.
Watering Your Tree
It is important to give your new tree a thorough watering on its first day in the ground. You can accomplish this in a number of ways.
Use A Garden Hose
One method is to literally just stand there with your garden hose and water the tree. This might take more of your time, but it is the most simple method.
Make sure to keep your garden hose on a gentle spray setting if you are using a garden hose head, as one that provides too much water pressure can damage the tree or disrupt the soil around your newly planted tree. You can also just take off the head of your garden hose and lay the hose at the trunk of your tree, allowing the water to just flow gently onto the roots for a while.
You can also use a soaker hose instead of a regular garden hose, which you can coil in circles around the trunk of your new tree and allow the water to gently soak into the soil for part of the day or however long it takes to thoroughly water the tree. Soaker hoses can be great investments for trees, which sometimes require a lot of water during hot, dry summer weather.
Use A Sprinkler
Another way to water your tree is to set up a sprinkler to water it throughout the day. You can simply attach a sprinkler to your garden hose and turn it on, but then you have to remember to turn it off.
Automatic sprinkler systems are a great option if you think the investment of time, money, and effort will pay off in the end regarding the watering of your trees. If you have multiple trees in your yard that need water, or if you have a grass lawn, and you live somewhere that does not get much rain, an underground sprinkler system can be a worthwhile investment.
If you do not have a sprinkler system installed, another option is to purchase a timer for your sprinkler on your garden hose. These simply attach to the hose and can be set to turn your sprinkler on and off at whatever times you choose.
Keeping Your Shade Tree Healthy For Many Years
Try using a fertilizer made specifically for trees, like Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes for evergreens, which are, just as the name says, formulated specifically for evergreen trees and therefore perfect if what you chose as your shade tree is a pine or spruce. Spikes are also a great choice for people who do not want to deal with messy fertilizer granules or with having to spread them around the yard.
Or, for an organic option, you might be interested in trying Espoma Organic Tree-tone 6-3-2 Fruit and Shade Tree Food, which is made specifically to provide the nutrients needed especially by shade trees. This organic formula appeals more to people who also prefer organic produce.
Summing It All Up: Choosing A Shade Tree
Now that you have considered some different options of five great shade trees to plant in your yard if you live in the state of New York, you might want to be able to quickly review the differences between them. In that case, here is a reference chart that sums up some of the characteristics of each of these five shade trees.
Now that you know the details, you can use this chart if you need quick reminders along the way as you plant your new shade tree.
| Type of Tree | Pros | Cons | Recommendation |
| Sugar maple | The state tree of New York! Beautiful fall foliage (yellow, orange, or red); great shade; hardy growing tree. | Can be damaged by disease; produce sticky sap. | A versatile tree that works well in yards, parks, or along streets. |
| Northern red oak | Dense leaves in the canopy; beautiful fall colors, usually red; fast growing; unaffected by pollution. | Attracts wildlife that you might not want near your home, like turkeys, rodents, and raccoons. | Great for yards in New York as well as for lining streets and adding beauty and shade to parks. |
| Tulip tree | Fast growing; lovely yellow fall foliage; pleasant fragrance. | Can grow too fast for small yards; can be messy. | Great for larger yards or parks. |
| Flowering dogwood | Provides beautiful leaves and flowers year round; good shade trees for yards or streets. | Does not tolerate drought well; grows somewhat slowly. | Will not bloom if grown in the shade, so plant these in full sun in your front or back yard. These also look great in parks and along streets. |
| White oak | Beautiful fall foliage, usually red; long-living (up to hundreds of years!); branches are very strong. | Somewhat messy, especially in the spring; very sensitive to changes in the soil. | A great shade tree for a larger yard; wonderful for parks. |
If you are interested in learning more about great shade trees that grow quickly but may not be specific to the state of New York, check out our post on the 19 Fastest Growing Shade Trees For Large Yards. This will help you learn more about shade trees that can contribute to the shade you need faster than some other varieties.
Don’t worry if you have a small yard, though, we also have a piece about the 12 Fastest Growing Shade Trees for Small Yards.
That’s A Wrap!
Now that you have learned more about the different types of shade trees you can plant in the state of New York, you are ready to choose a type that is best suited to your yard, plant it, and help it flourish.
Enjoy the shade!
References
Akbari, H. (2002). Shade trees reduce building energy use and CO2 emissions from power plants. Environmental pollution, 116, S119-S126.
Akbari, H., Pomerantz, M., & Taha, H. (2001). Cool surfaces and shade trees to reduce energy use and improve air quality in urban areas. Solar energy, 70(3), 295-310.
