Hey everyone! I have a south-west facing front garden in the south of England, and I've noticed that the heat on the front of my house can get pretty uncomfortable during the summer. I'm thinking about planting a tree to provide some shade over my ground floor living room windows. I prefer not to have an evergreen tree so that I can enjoy some solar gain in the winter. Can you suggest some fast-growing trees that won't invade my space with their roots? Ideally, I'd like to plant the tree about 7 meters from my house, but closer would be even better, and there's a waste pipe along one boundary that I need to keep in mind. Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
Honestly, a tree might not give you the shade you’re looking for. In summer, the sun is really high, and you might need a tree to be very close or really tall for it to block the sun. You could consider adding awnings or external blinds instead.
Silver birch can create some nice dappled sunlight, but keep in mind you might wait around 5-10 years for it to really provide shade. On the flip side, hybrid willow grows quite fast, but it might not be the best choice for a front garden.
Have you considered planting a fast-growing hedge like beech or hawthorn? They grow quickly and shed their leaves in winter, providing shade in summer without staying too massive in your yard.
I had an amelanchier outside my window, and it created a beautiful dappled shade. You might also want to check out the RHS's list of trees for smaller gardens for more options.
Have you thought about Paulownia? It grows quickly, has large leaves, and can be pollarded every year to control its height. Plus, it's quite a unique plant that will stand out in your garden!
True, but keep in mind that silver birch produces a lot of pollen, which can be an issue for those with allergies.