In developing an outdoor living space, shade is a crucial part of the design. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls gives advice on selecting, planting and caring for your tree.
“What I usually do is I look at is where the sun is rising and where the sun is setting, those different parts, because then that way it tells you where the shadows are going to be cast. Some cases you don't want a patio directly right underneath a tree. You want it off to the side because in the heat of the day, the tree will be shading it and the angle of the sun will be casting the shadow on your patio. So not necessarily, you don't want a patio directly underneath a tree. Maybe off to the side is what you need. But these are the best times of the day because this is when you really, really want good, good shade. It's one of those things where we're just coming off where the days are getting a little bit shorter, but the sun has still got a lot of power and shade is very necessary.”
“The main part of anything is the soil. Make sure you have good, well-drained soil. Plant your tree high enough so you see the root crown or the root flare. And when you plant that, make sure that it's in well-drained soil, the tree has been compacted enough so the soil is firm enough to where it's not going to get smushed. Plant the tree in an area where there's great drainage, making sure that the root flare is visible. Make sure to mulch around the base of the tree, and I am a big believer in putting mulch around a tree rather than having turf grass or anything else underneath a tree. Why is that? When you put turf grass right directly underneath a tree, the turf grass is in competition with the tree.”
“Any tree can be actually a shade tree. It's not just a locust or a maple or an oak. In fact, there's some ornamental trees that get big enough to provide enough shade. So, a lot of it is just where you plant it and where you place it within your landscape, within your yard, to provide the shade.”
When you choose a location, be sure to look up and look down. Look up for things that could obstruct the tree in the future and look down by calling 811 to identify things in the ground before you dig. Power lines, gas lines and cable and internet lines can be buried anywhere in your yard. If you have questions for Erik Helland, send them to: [email protected]. He may answer your question on-the-air during the South Dakota Home Garden segment, Wednesdays on SDPB Radio's "In the Moment."