7 Fast-Growing Trees That Won't Mind A Mid-Year Start

As you sit in your cool, air-conditioned home and look out of the window at your garden, you realize that you could benefit from a lovely new shade tree that you can languish under during this warmer weather. Or, you might just want an attractive specimen tree that you can admire for its form and color. While you may think that you'll have to wait until it's cooler, there are actually fast-growing trees that won't mind a mid-year start in your garden, as long as you provide them with the right care and choose the species wisely. Many of these are shade trees that can handle high temperatures and cool down a yard.

During the heat of summer, it's best to visit your local nursery or garden center and take a look at the trees sold in containers or those that are balled and wrapped, as these will have the best chance of survival. When planting your tree, make the hole twice as wide as the container and water the tree well before taking it out of its pot. Of course, when making your tree selection, you want to focus on choosing drought-tolerant species that can handle the heat. Fast-growing varieties are also your best choice because they'll be quicker to establish themselves before the cold of winter, giving them a greater chance of survival. Some great options include crepe myrtles, southern magnolias, and American arborvitae.

It's most likely that your local nursery will have a selection of crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) in stock during the warmer months of the year, as many will be blooming. While there's a vast array of different cultivars to choose from, with some growing to a height of 20 feet, 'Red Rocket' is one of the fastest growing, putting on an impressive 3 to 5 feet of growth per year. It will do well in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10 and is drought-tolerant. 

The American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a stunning evergreen tree that can be planted in summer, as long as you provide it with plenty of moisture to help it get established. These trees grow well in zones 3 through 7, and prefer a sunny spot in your yard. One particular cultivar, known as 'Green Giant', can grow a massive 5 feet per year, with a mature height of up to 60 feet. As a bonus, these magnificent trees provide nesting sites for various songbirds.

Don't let the hybrid name 'Little Gem' fool you because this magnolia can still reach heights of up to 20 feet in its first 20 years of growth. This is a stunning tree with deep green, glossy foliage and large, fragrant white flowers in summer. It can grow in zones 6 through 9, but does like to be planted in moist soil. In fact, it's a good idea to water it a couple of times a week until it becomes established, after which it will be drought-tolerant.

For a truly hardy and versatile tree, you may want to grow a common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). This tree establishes quickly, so you can plant it in summer. It will grow happily in zones 2 through 9, and, if you give this tree enough water until it's fully settled in, you could expect it to grow an impressive 8 feet in just one year. As it grows, the common hackberry turns into a beautiful shade tree that is drought-tolerant. As a bonus, this is one of those fast-growing trees that will make your yard a pollinator haven.

If you're looking for a highly attractive specimen tree, you might want to consider the 'Emerald Flare' Tianshan birch (Betula tianschanica 'EmerDak'). This tree has a gorgeous pyramidal shape and stunningly colored foliage in the fall. It does best in zones 4 through 6, and, as long as you buy a potted tree, it can be planted in summer. Unlike many other birch species, this particular cultivar will start growing in the first year once planted and is regarded as a medium to fast grower.

The northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) enjoys hot weather, and although the ideal planting time is late spring or early summer, as long as you give it enough moisture and select a container plant, it should do fine when planted mid-year. It grows best in zones 4 through 8 and is drought-tolerant once established. This impressive shade tree grows quickly when young, but will slow down its growth once it becomes more mature. It can reach an eventual height of 40 to 70 feet. You'll find that hummingbirds love this fast-growing tree and all of its benefits. 

If you have a large yard and want a beautiful shade tree, you might want to consider the thornless honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), which can grow 3 to 4 feet per year. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, this large tree can reach a height of 70 feet with a majestic spread of 50 feet. It's a hardy species that's perfect for planting in the middle of a lawn as it provides lovely, soft, dappled shade with its spreading crown and small leaflets.