I am looking to buy 16 acres from a family friend in the near future. It has a nice hill (where the house will go) and slopes down to a dry creek bottom (where I will eventually build a tank) but there is very few trees on the property. What would be some good trees that would provide some shade as early as 5-7 years? I plan on planting some Oak trees also but I know it will take just a few years longer to provide some really good shade.

location?

fast growing shade tree= weak wooded

La Vernia, It's kinda East of San Antonio. Mostly a red clay on that place.

I knew that faster = weaker wood but I don't think these trees would be very close to the future home site. I was planning on saving the Oaks for that.

Our red oak is growing pretty fast.

Use the following website to determine your best options.

Note, a fast growing shade tree is not always your best option, i.e. Cottonwood, as I found out 20+ years ago!

http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/

On no, no, no. I already know about the horrible cottonwood tree.

By the way, cool tree selector link.


[This message has been edited by scottyk4886 (edited 11/8/2012 2:32p).]

Am liking the Lacebark elm that came with my house. A monterey oak may grow fast enough for you? Not shade trees but nice to plant where you can see them - vitex, redbud and dogwood, as "understory" trees. My next tree will be a vitex.

Arizona Ash... If you dare.

my favorite shade trees, not necessarily fast grower

Bur Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Chinese Pistache, Cedar Elm

in the Waco area at least the fastest growing shade tree is Arizona ash...I seriously have seen people buy land and plant a few and build a house and have partial shade at windows within 2 years.

That said my husband considered only oak trees and did try a pecan but hit bedrock that wouldn't support the pecan's taproot.

VIP...if this is your forever home don't plant oak trees too close to it...we have roots growing into our septic drains.

Not sure how well they do in SA, but I think Bradford Pears grow quickly. I am not a fan of the tree however I think they will work for what you are trying to do.

Do not go with bradford pears as their too brittle and major branches get snapped off very easily in high wind storms when the trees reach mature sizes.

I've seen numberous bradford pear trees damaged and eventually removed due to storm damage over the years in our neighborhood and area. Several neighbors across the street have had at least 5 damaged and removes as such.

They look awesome in the fall with the change in colors but that's the only good thng about them.

If you plant an Arizona Ash, be sure to burn it with fire!

Those things suck! Plus, they usually die within 30 or 40 years! Crazy amounts of leaves.. limbs that snap. Do yourself a favor, and go with a Red Oak.

Yes this would be my permanent home. Thanks for the input, it looks like I will be planting some Red Oaks when I do get this land purchased. Keep em coming!!

What ftworthag02 said

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Bur Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Chinese Pistache, Cedar Elm

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This

I like my chinese pistache.....they have some amazing fall color and grow pretty fast

What exactly is the problem with Cottonwoods? I know you wouldn't want one in your back yard due to the leaves falling off, but in this application where the trees are planted away from the house, who cares?

Never understood the Cottonwood hate. Somebody please educate me.

Keep in mind that, while fast-growing, the Chinese Pistache is considered an invasive species by the state of Texas.

I think there is a type, probably the male, of chinese pistache that does not spread. I would assume this to be true if agrilife extension reccomends it.

I think we have a case of mistaken identity here: It's the Chinese TALLOW tree that is invasive and (I believe) illegal for nurseries to stock/sell in Texas.

I don't have first hand experience with the Chinese Pistache, but the Ag Extension board raves about it as a top shade tree for Texas... clearly it's not a problem species.

Simply put, I'd go with a native tree over any non-native tree. They are better adapted to the environment and you don't worry about spreading seeds outside your yard. I love hiking and finding nandina, china berry, tree of heaven, etc. invasives to try and dig up while at work. I deal with invasives almost on a daily basis.

Cottonwoods are dangerous and fall over in high winds if they are very big...on another thread about them I mentioned a field day at local park surrounded by cottonwoods...a child was killed when a large limb randomly broke off the tree and hit her.

I will also add if these trees are close to the house make sure they don't shed leaves...we have all kind of oaks and the two trees that lose leaves are by the front door and garage door!!!

quote:

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I don't have first hand experience with the Chinese Pistache, but the Ag Extension board raves about it as a top shade tree for Texas... clearly it's not a problem species

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Clearly it's not a problem species...

http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4

Obviously, this is just a case of mistaken identity.

[This message has been edited by Throwout (edited 11/14/2012 8:32a).]

Word of advice: if you see a chinaberry anywhere on your property PLEASE remove it immdediately. There is one growing along our property line but mostly on our neighbors side and it is pushing against our garage and it hangs over our patio and it drops berries, twigs, and flowers all year. The berries germinate everywhere. I'm going to have to have a sit down w/ the neighbor.

Word of advice: if you see a chinaberry anywhere on your property PLEASE remove it immdediately. There is one growing along our property line but mostly on our neighbors side and it is pushing against our garage and it hangs over our patio and it drops berries, twigs, and flowers all year. The berries germinate everywhere. I'm going to have to have a sit down w/ the neighbor.

http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=MEAZ

The chinaberry will fall down on its own eventually anyway. Hopefully it won't take out too much when it does.

Get a fall/cedar elm. They're strong trees and provide tons of shade. We never had a problem with those falling over or dropping limbs, but get a head start and get one that's already fairly large. I've picked them up from Milberger's in San Antonio for about $1,000 installed for a tree that's 25 feet tall or so. If you have it put in during winter it'll start to fill out the following year, and then really pick up the year after that but all transplanted trees are like that to a certain degree.

Get a Monterrey oak. They grow fairly quick
Cedar elm is good but loses its leaves in winter

Hackberries are just a giant weed and should be cut down immediately

Cottonwood trees drop....'cotton' which blows in the wind, and for people with allergies can create problems. Also fast growing, but weak trees that may die off quicker than others that grow more slowly. I heard that landowners planted them after Dustbowl Oklahoma' times to help hold the soil down. Dunno if true.

Gotta prop the Burr Oak as well. I planted one in my front yard 5 yrs ago and its about 15 ft tall now. It was about 5-6 ft tall when I planted it. Grows pretty fast IMO.

Scotty-I have a cheap tree guy in New Braunfels if that isn't too far of a hike to take trees once you get moved in.

How much would one expect to pay for a red oak? Also, besides the New Braunfels guy the previous poster speaks of where is another good place in the Bastrop area?

Thanks.

Mexican white oak or Cedar Elm