Shade Trees

A shade tree does the most good on the west or south side of the house, where the sun hits hardest. These are the trees Valley yards use to shade a patio, a play area or a hot wall.

Desert trees like Desert Museum Palo Verde, Chilean Mesquite and Ironwood get by on little water once rooted. Fruitless Olive and Southern Live Oak keep their leaves all year. Red Push Pistache and Sweet Bubba Desert Willow drop their leaves in winter.

Give a big shade tree room. Most of the large trees here are spaced about 20 feet apart. Fall is the best time to plant, and a new tree needs regular deep water for about its first three years.

Water slowly at the edge of the canopy, not against the trunk, so the water soaks 2 to 3 feet down. Move the drip emitters out as the tree grows.

What to look for

• How wide will the canopy get? Check the mature width on each page against the space you have.
• Do you want leaves all year? Look for the Evergreen badge.
• How much water will it need once rooted? Check the water box. Desert trees need far less than Southern Live Oak or Evergreen Elm.
• How cold does your yard get? Hong Kong Orchid Tree and Jacaranda list 27°F in the cold box. Most desert trees here handle colder nights.