So what are the best trees to use to shade your house?

[LaydeeBug]

I don't have a basement, and my water pipes run through my front yard.

I wanted some suggestions or recommendations for trees that will shade the house without growing too big.

I have a small, one and half story cape cod. Zone 7

I love you guys.

[hollysmom]

1. do not even thing about a willow

they love pipes - if you know where your pipes are, you plant somewhere away from them.I know where my pipes are tha the trees are not neat them.

I love my trees, I have several over 100 year oaks and they give great shade in the summer, I almost never use air conditioning unless it is over 100 for more than one day, a fan usually does it for me.
If you need something that grows fast, I think people use poplars for that.

Maples are in betweens, but chestnuts have these huge nuts that damage cars, so you don't want o use that either.

is this one or two stories?

[LaydeeBug]

2. two stories, zone 7. I have a HUGE elm tree that shades the front...

but we got a new roof and I want to plant trees accordingly.

[hollysmom]

3. elms are lovely, but pretty rare around here after Dutch Elm disease

Oaks can get pretty big, I have one that is almost 50 years old and it is about 30 feet right now, the 500 year old tree is much higher.

this should give you some visuals for choices, along with growth rate, et al.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20355714_20762166,00.html

[Curmudgeoness]

4. That is a pretty good source

to see what a tree will look like when it is grown. And since they are fast growers, this would be good for someone who wants shade soon.

My favorite from the ones shown there is the tulip tree.

[LaydeeBug]

5. Thank you for this link!!! (And my handle could be Hollyssister) nt

[hollysmom]

6. you came from the same litter as my dog?

[LaydeeBug]

7. No, but I have a sister named Holly. nt

[hollysmom]

8. I was just joshing you. bad bad sense of humor. I knew what you meant.

good dog though

[ginnyinWI]

9. don't forget about pines.

We have a lot of white pines around our house and they are nice companions. Green all through the year and the birds like to hide in them and pop out for seed from the feeder in back. They grow about a foot a year, as all evergreens will. They provide a screen on the side of our deck closest to our next door neighbor and there are no leaves to rake up. They are maybe 20 years old so they are as high now as our two story house and do provide shade. We trim the lowest branches as they become too big for the space. The person who owned our house before us planted a cluster of them--I think maybe 8-10 of them so they are like a mini pine forest.

[LaydeeBug]

10. Tha's a very good idea. Thank you. nt