Whether your patio is next to your house or a little farther away, planting a tree can be an easy way to provide shade. “If the weather is hot, it can be 20 degrees cooler in the shade than ...

Dear Tom I moved to a new home this year which has a sloping garden with heavy clay soil. I would like to introduce some low-growing trees; what should I plant? – Laura Dear Laura I am very ...

That’s why adding shade to outdoor play spaces is critical. A 2023 study in B.C. found that adding shade to playgrounds increased toddlers’ thermal comfort. Why should we prioritize adding plants and ...

Even trees that can tolerate shade require at least some direct sun to grow. They'll do best in sites that receive partial shade, meaning four to six hours of direct sunlight per day.

Considered among the best shade trees for the backyard, the sugar maple can also serve as an ornamental tree. It’s no wonder this is an American favorite for the yard. 4.

Standard yaupon holly will grow up to 30 feet high. It can be pruned to any size and shape. The versatile plant has some shade tolerance but, in my experience, does best in full or morning sun.

When you see a very narrow columnar tree, you may wonder how it will provide much shade or privacy, but Buley says most will thicken out to between 8 and 15 feet (2.4 and 4.5 m). Crimson Spire Oak.