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Maximizing Air Circulation
Farmers are well aware of the wind-reduction properties of trees. For countless generations they have planted rows of towering trees to act as windbreaks, protecting valuable crops. In smaller gardens,…
Minimizing Root Competition
Some trees, such as maples and elms, naturally produce a great mass of surface roots. Other trees that are normally deep-rooting will often produce quantities of surface roots when planted…
Pruning for More Light
There are two basic methods of pruning, thinning and heading back, both of which are usually necessary at some time in the life of a tree. Thinning means to take…
Modifying Shade
Shade is a desirable element in the garden only up to a point. If your garden feels dark and dank because it is too heavily shaded by overgrown trees, you…
Smaller Trees
Besides the trees described below, consider Acer palmatum, Acer circinatum, Cercis canadensis, and appropriate Cornus species, all discussed in the Plant Selection Guide section as small trees suitable for use…
Shade Trees
Few people would disagree that trees provide the best and most beautiful shade of all, but not everyone has the patience to wait for a small shade tree to mature….
Evergreen Vines
Among the great number of evergreen vines, here are a few of the best for shade structures: Bougainvillea species and varieties (Bougainvillea; Hardy in Zone 10), once established, are fast…
Deciduous Vines
Here are some of the best deciduous vines for shade structures: Actinidia chinensis (Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwi Vine; Hardy to Zone 8 grows rapidly to 30 feet, forming woody stems. This…
Vines for Shade
You have probably already begun to think about how vines might be used to soften your garden structure and create more shade. Vines also add their own individual beauty to…
Garden Structures
Shade structures in the garden are nothing new. Mesopotamian pergolas and Egyptian, Persian, and Oriental pavilions offer evidence that structures have been a part of gardens for as long as…
