whats the best shade tree?

Question

i live in missouri and whats the best time to plant one

Answer 1

I'd have to say the good old fashioned Pecan Tree is among the best when it comes to shade. They grow tall and have a very large canopy of up to 150 feet. I have a pecan tree in my back yard and it shades nearly the entire area. It is also like a giant umbrella when it rains. Elms are also another good choice for the same reasons. They are very dense and very majestic. They look cool in the winter as well.

Pecan:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dpecan%2Btrees%26sz%3Dall%26ei%3DUTF-8%26ni%3D20%26fr%3Dks-ans%26b%3D41&w=500&h=322&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F1304%2F1317962054_59dff4faa3_m.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fninapix%2F1317962054%2F&size=167.3kB&name=1317962054_59dff4faa3.jpg&p=pecan+trees&type=jpeg&no=42&tt=4,168&oid=2bd440e4bbbfc0d2&fusr=ams26&tit=Cows+Amidst+the+Pecan+Trees&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fninapix%2F&ei=UTF-8&src=p
Elm:
http://landscaping.about.com/library/graphics/elm.jpg

Answer 2

Absolute best for your area: White Oak, Quercus alba. But they are hard to find in nurseries, because they quickly grow a deep tap root. My second choice: Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum. Stay away from the "fast growers". Most of them end up weak-wooded and falling apart, or with some other unforseen downfall that makes you hate them. Tulip Tree (sometimes called Tulip Poplar) is the only "fast grower" worth a flip and it is not really that impresssive in shapeliness or shade or leaf shape. Avoid Silver Maple, Siberian Elm, Bradford Pears, true Poplars and hybrid Poplars like the plague. Believe me, the good trees that grow "slowly" will be really big before you know it. One other thing: If you do not have a big estate-size lawn, do not plant Pin Oak, Willow Oak, or Southern Magnolia. They need enough room to skirt their branches clear to the ground to really be beautiful. Otherwise, you are constantly cutting off the lower branches, fighting these three trees' natural growth habit. But there is nothing more beautiful than a huge estate-size lawn with a Southern Magnolia or a Pin Oak skirted all the way to the ground.

Answer 3

i'm in western MO. i have had pretty good luck with tulip poplars, fast growing, huge interesting leaves, but maybe brittle as it matures.

our department of conservation website can help you determine what trees do best here and offer a lot of suggestions of trees that are native to our area.

i have had about the same success from planting in the fall as spring planting, the only problem may be availability of the trees you want at this time of year.

Answer 4

Maple trees are great but slow growing. Pear if you have them where you are. go to your local nursery and ask them also. Fall is the best time to plant the sap in the trees has gone down to the roots for the winter. good luck.