Trees for a Front Yard With Southern Exposure

Tree Types

• Unless you live in a tropical climate, evergreen trees are not the best choices to plant on the south side of a house. Evergreen trees block sun rays in winter, usually a time of year the fleeting sun is welcome to warm the home through windows. If an evergreen tree is desired, plant it far enough away from the house so shade is not cast on the home in winter. Deciduous trees offer greater variety in leaf sizes, shapes and textures to plant in a south-facing yard. They cast shade in summer to cool the yard and house, but allow the sun to warm the soil and home in winter to help reduce heating costs.

Plant Tolerances

• South-facing yards often experience over eight hours of sunshine daily, and any trees must be sun-loving species. To best inform your decision in what trees to plant in a south-facing yard, evaluate the soil conditions to learn of the texture, moisture content and any pockets that have different growing conditions. In a yard that currently has no trees, the soil becomes very warm in summer and drier, especially if on a slope. The first trees installed in such a site should be drought- and heat-tolerant trees for your climate. They will need the least amount of care to excel and grow to cast the initial shade in the landscape. If you have irrigation in the yard, there is less concern about stress from seasonal drought on plants.

Tree Features

• Take time to research trees hardy to the local climate, as well as grow to a size and shape in scale with the yard. Avoid trees that are hard to grow or marginally hardy in your area, or grow too large and will cause future problems such as surface roots lifting driveways or sidewalks. Depending on the amount of space available in the yard, choose tree species that naturally are more upright and narrow in their silhouette if you still want some sun in the landscape, or you want to have views of the house's facade. Upright-shaped trees lend a more formal feel, while open or spreading trees present a more casual, informal landscape design. Once tree size and habit is considered, enjoy finding a tree with ornamental features you like, such as spring flowers, peeling bark, fall foliage color or other pleasing characteristics. Keep in mind some trees may drop litter -- twigs, fruits or leaves -- that you find messy and problematic.

Recommendations

• The United States is geographically large with great diversity in climate and soils. One tree may work well in a south-facing yard in one part of the nation, but not be the best choice in another. Contact your county cooperative extension office and ask about recommended shade and flowering trees. The extension service provides information from the state land-grant university that helps homeowners more efficiently select plants for their needs. The extension should have a publication that outlines different trees suitable to the area and provide basic growth information to help you compare and contrast the best possible tree choices for your yard. A trusted local plant nursery may also assist you in this way.