Trees can be a Wonderful Thing
Trees are a wonderful addition to any home because of the many benefits they offer. The production of oxygen and shade, and of course the enhancement of the home’s aesthetic appeal.
If you have a small yard and are looking for the right tree for the job, a shade tree might be the best option for you to go with. An excellent shade tree can make your outdoor space feel 10-15 degrees cooler. This is what differentiates heat that can be tolerated from heat that is just miserable. Here are some of the recommended and best suited trees for Middle Tennessee.
Red Maple

Red Magic
Red Maples have smaller leaves than most maples, but they are a thick and full tree that can compete with the best trees for shade coverage. Although their leaves are smaller, red maples are one of the best shade trees. When fully matured they can reach heights of 65 feet, making it an excellent addition to any yard and providing beauty throughout the year. Because of the breathtaking display of dark and light reds that they put on in the autumn, the area is known as “Red Magic.”
Sugar Maple
The sugar maple is the most well-known and widespread member of the maple family. They are not only one of the best and easiest to care for shade trees you can get, but they are also well-known for their ability to produce delicious maple syrup. Sugar maples have the potential to grow to heights of more than 80 feet and can cast a shade of up to 60 feet, making them an excellent choice for the area around your deck or patio. They will take your breath away with their brilliant yellow, red, and orange tones during the fall season.
Bald Cypress
This is the classic tree of the Southern swamps’ but can be planted in most Middle Tennessee homes with the right soil. It can grow to a height of between 50 and 70 feet and has a spread of approximately 30 feet. Its natural growth form is a conical shape with horizontal branches. Because the bald cypress is a medium-sized tree that grows between 13 and 24 inches per year, you need to ensure that it has plenty of room to grow and spread out.
Weeping Willow

weeping willow
The weeping willow is one of the most regal-looking species of tree you will ever come across. It can reach a height of 30–40 feet and a width of 35–40 feet during its lifetime. At any point during the day, a canopy of shade is produced by the long, drooping branches of this tree. If you have a yard that is relatively large, you should consider planting this tree. Because of the potential for the tree’s roots to cause significant damage to nearby structures, you should take care not to plant this tree in a location that is too close to your house, pool, or septic tank. If you want to get rid of that pool of stagnant water that just won’t go away, planting weeping willows next to a pond is a good idea because they are native to wetland and swamp environments and grow naturally there.
Sycamore
When it reaches its full maturity, this colossal tree can reach a height of up to 100 feet. It produces fruit in the summer and fall, which draws in a large number of different kinds of wildlife, and it blooms with bright red flowers in the spring. The sycamore tree is a fast-growing species, capable of gaining up to 1 meter of height per year. The sycamore tree should be planted at a distance from other trees due to its height and rapid growth rate. It has the potential to become taller than most trees and consume all of the available sunlight.

Sycamore
Eastern White Pine
When fully mature, eastern white pines can reach heights of up to 80 feet and spread out to an incredible 40 feet across. This makes them one of the evergreens that are likely to grow to be the tallest in our recommendations. It does best in soils that are either acidic, moist, well-drained, or dry, as well as in full sun or partial shade. It has some drought tolerance, but you shouldn’t let it go for too long without getting a good watering. The needles of an Eastern white pine can grow to be as long as 5 inches and are distinguished by their length and slenderness. They have a natural tendency to grow in a pyramidal shape and are favored as a food source by a great variety of birds and other animals.

Eastern White Pine
Japanese Maple

Japanese Maple
This is one of my favorites. They prefer ‘dappled sun’ which is perfect for our yard with limited sunlight. It’s bright red leaves give nice contract to the darker plants around it.
Littleleaf Boxwood
This little shrub grows leaves that are dense and oval-shaped all through the year. It is ideally suited for the climate of Tennessee, which allows it to thrive here. Littleleaf boxwoods thrive best in soil that is moist, cool, and well-drained. It does well with pruning and does will require full sun. It is also resistant to damage caused by rabbits and deer. Small white flowers that bloom in the spring produce a scent that is fleeting but pleasant, and these flowers are a welcome sight.
There are several types of trees that are not well-suited to have in your yard for many reasons. They include:
Bradford Pear Trees
In the spring, this gorgeous tree is covered in flowers but all of this beauty comes at a cost. It smells like the putrid odor of rotting fish.
Black Walnut
The black walnut tree emits a chemical known as juglone, which causes some plants to die and deprives other plants of their nutrients. Because of this, the tree is an unwelcome neighbor for vegetable gardens, especially ones that contain potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.
Norway Maple
This invasive species casts a thick shadow, which prevents other plant species from receiving the sufficient amount of sunlight they require. In addition to this, this tree has fibrous roots, which are capable of absorbing all of the nutrients in the soil before any other plant has the opportunity to feed.
Sweetgum Trees
Because of the tree’s unusually large surface roots, your home’s foundation may be in jeopardy if it remains in this location. Anything that is in close proximity to a sweetgum tree, including your lawn, pool, and patio, is at risk of being damaged.
There is a wealth of resources out there including
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests.html
https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide

Red Maples