Planting trees is a wonderful way to enhance the biodiversity of your garden, but they also provide your home with shade. Here are some of the best shading trees for your home.
Wild Olive Tree
The wild olive has become one of the most popular trees in South African parks and gardens. Scientifically known as the Olea Europaea Africana tree, native to Southern Africa, it is hardy and a frost-tolerant tree.
The wild olive can become large and broad as it matures over the years.
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Celtis Africana White Stinkwood Tree
This is one of our favourite large indigenous trees and is mostly common in the highvelds of South Africa. The stinkwood tree can reach an impressive size, it is recommended you plant it a few meters away from your house walls, as the root system can be large over time. The Stinkwood tree fruit is known to invite wildlife like birds and squirrels .
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White Pear Tree
The white pear tree is an evergreen plant with dense leaves. It is perfect for small gardens and you can plant them close to your home as its roots don’t pose a threat to your home’s foundation or paving.
White pear tree thrives in well-drained, compost-rich soil, however, young plants are relatively slow growing, but they will grow fairly fast as they grow bigger.
Cape Holly Tree
Known as the Ilex Mitis, is a magnificent, compact tree with an ornamental shape that can be a focal point in your garden. The Cape holly is a medium-paced grower.
It develops edible red berries and thus is very popular with birds during the fruiting season. The Cape Holly is also an evergreen tree, staying healthy for the majority of the year.
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Trees play a vital role in reducing your carbon footprint, so it is always a great choice to have a few in your garden. By planting more trees in your garden, you can also find ways to keep your home cool in summer.
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A version of this article was first published in Garden&Home Magazine.
