Best shade trees for North San Antonio
By Ron Geltman
Owner & resident yard expert
I love a good shade tree — mostly for the afternoon of relief it buys you in August. If you're planting for the long haul in North San Antonio, plant natives that shrug off our thin, rocky soil.
Top picks: Live Oak (the king, but mind oak wilt timing), Cedar Elm, Texas Red Oak, Chinquapin Oak, and Bur Oak for a big canopy. Mexican Sycamore grows fast for quick shade.
Skip the trees that struggle here — Bradford pears, Arizona ash, and anything that needs rich, deep soil and constant water. They look fine for a few years, then split or die.
Plant in fall so roots establish before summer, water deeply the first two years, and don't volcano-mulch the trunk. Ron's crew can help you pick the right tree for the right spot.
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