How to Choose Shade Trees for Residential and Commercial Horticultural Areas in Pasco, Pinellas

Lawns, trees & shrubs are mainstays intrees susceptible to storm damage. Some trees
residential and commercial landscapes, maintainedcannot tolerate wind storms, while others cannot
by horticultural service providers who take caretolerate winter conditions. There are cases when
of applying fertilizer and pesticides. In suchsome trees can tolerate mild winters for as long
horticultural landscapes, trees are valued not onlyas they are in bright sunlight and are sheltered
for their aesthetic contribution but also, and morefrom the wind. Otherwise, the loss of moisture
often, for the shade they provide to residentialfrom strong wintry winds damages their foliage.
and commercial areas in Pasco, Pinellas andThe location of the tree and its exposure to
Hillsborough.sunlight should also be matched with the needs of
Don Janssen, an extension educator at thethe tree. Janssen points out that while some trees
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, wrote an article atrequire full sun, others thrive better when
the UNL website on how to choose trees forsheltered by taller trees.
shade. He reminds us of the factors to take intoAnother factor that Janssen recommends
consideration when choosing trees. This couldchecking before making a choice is the tree’s
mean substantial savings in the long run sincesusceptibility to pests vis-à-vis the presence of
trees are quite expensive. Trial and error is not asuch pests in the area. Some trees are more
cost effective option. Proper research, on thesusceptible to certain insects and diseases than
other hand, will help in making wise decisions withothers.
long term success.The type of flowers and fruits borne by the tree,
When doing research, Janssen says it is vital toas well as its leaves and bark, should also be
learn the Latin names of trees indicating theirdetermined beforehand. Some people may not be
genus and species. This will ensure that yourable to cope with a tree that sheds too much
information pertains to the right tree and you willflowers, fruits, leaves and even bark. Some fruits
not be confused with informal names that mayare staining and are, therefore, avoided by many.
be given to some trees in some locales.In a residential landscape, any allergies of residents
The mature height of the tree needs to beshould likewise be considered.
determined so that it will be proportional to theFor aesthetic purposes, the color and texture of
house or building it will be shading. The shape ofthe tree’s leaves and bark may also be good
the tree is also an important factor. Trees can beto know.
narrow, round or oval and the branches mayFind out the rate of growth of the tree. Some
spread wide horizontally or stay close to thetrees are fast growing but do not have long lives.
trunk. The amount of shade needed and theSuch trees can be used in combination with slow
space allotted for the tree should be correlatedgrowing trees that live long. The fast growing
and matched.tree can, therefore, provide the necessary shade
The conditions in the site for the tree should alsowhile the slow growing tree is still being
be determined so that the tree chosen will beestablished. By the time the fast growing tree
compatible. What kind of soil is there? How muchdies, the slow grower would have reached its
moisture and sunlight is available? Most treesmaturity and can take over the shading task.
prefer well drained soil. Various types of treesJanssen does provide good information for
have varying soil preferences – from sandychoosing the right tree for shade in residential and
soil to moist soil. These should not be mismatched.commercial horticultural areas in Pasco, Pinellas and
Weather conditions are crucial, too. A storm-proneHillsborough.
area, for example, should not be planted with