Alright, let’s talk about them fast-growing shade trees here in California, you know, the ones that make your yard nice and cool. I ain’t no fancy tree expert, but I know a thing or two about keeping things shady.
First off, you got that White Mulberry tree. Folk call it Morus alba, sounds all highfalutin, but it just means it grows fast and gives you lots of shade. Plant it where the sun shines all day, that’s what they say, “full sun”. It gets big, real big, so give it room to spread out. Don’t go plantin’ it right next to your house, ya hear?
Then there’s them Magnolia trees. Purty things, they are, with big ol’ flowers and leaves that look like they could fan you all day long. They ain’t just for lookin’ at, though, they give good shade too. Don’t know much about their fancy names, but I know they grow pretty quick and make your yard look nice.
Now, if you want something a bit different, there’s this Bald Cypress tree. They call it a conifer, but don’t let that scare ya. It ain’t like them pokey pine trees. This one drops its leaves in the winter, but boy, oh boy, does it grow fast and make a real purty shade in the summer. And the leaves turn all kinds of colors before they fall, kinda like them maple trees back East.
- Shade trees are important, y’know. They keep your house cool, so you don’t have to run that air thingy so much. Saves you money, it does.
- And them trees, they’re good for the critters too. Birds and squirrels and such, they like to live in them trees. Gives ’em a place to hide and raise their babies.
Speaking of keepin’ cool, there’s that fruitless olive tree. Yeah, you heard right, no olives on this one! It’s a tough tree, don’t need much water, and grows just fine in this California sun. Gets to be a good size, big enough to shade your whole backyard, if you let it. Keeps things nice and cool, so you can sit out on your porch and sip your sweet tea without sweatin’ like a pig.
Now, I ain’t gonna lie, sometimes trees need a little help. You gotta prune ’em, cut off them dead branches, so they stay healthy and strong. And sometimes, you gotta get rid of them whole darn trees, if they get sick or start causing trouble. I heard there’s folks that do that for ya, tree removal they call it. They even grind up them stumps, so you don’t trip over ’em. And there’s something called mistletoe, I see it up in the trees sometimes. Gotta get rid of that too, it ain’t good for the tree.
Planting one of these California trees ain’t just about shade you see. It’s about makin’ your place nice and comfy, savin’ a few dollars on that there electric bill, and givin’ them little critters a home. It’s about makin’ your little piece of the world a better place, one tree at a time.
So, there you have it, some fast-growin’ shade trees for ya. Go on down to the nursery, pick yourself out a few, and get to plantin’. You’ll be glad you did, come summertime when it’s hotter than a pepper sprout.
Remember, plant ‘em where they got room to grow, give ‘em some water when they need it, and they’ll take care of you for years to come.
Tags: [shade trees, California trees, fast-growing trees, White Mulberry, Magnolia, Bald Cypress, fruitless olive tree, tree care, tree pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, mistletoe removal, energy efficiency, ecosystem, wildlife, backyard shade, drought-resistant trees, full sun trees, deciduous conifer]
