Question
Hi Marc!

I own a raised brick ranch 28 foot by 40 foot house with a garage in the basement. The garage in the basement of the two story side of the house faces the west. The front and east side of my raised ranch home looks like a one story ranch. The south side has part partially exposed basement wall.

The evening sun from 5 PM till sunset bakes the brick on the house. When I walk within 5 feet of the house just after dark, I can feel heat radiating off the brick walls. The bedrooms on the west side of the house don't cool down till well after midnight due to the brick wall heating up so much during the day.

There is a paved parking area that is the width of the house and 39 feet in length from the house on the west side. This puts the lawn on the west side of the house 39 feet away. If I plant some deciduous trees say 10 or 15 feet off the paved parking area so roots don't get under and buckle the pavement, that would put the trees 50 to 55 feet from the west side of my house.

I have a maple tree that is a bit taller than the house, but is 55 feet from the house on the southwest corner. The shadow of the top of the tree does not shade the second story windows above the garage in summer due to it being so far away and being on the southwest rather than the west side of the house.

What can I plant on the west side of my house in a deciduous tree to deal with the blazing evening summer sun? How close can I plant the trees you recommend to the 39 foot paved parking area?

On the southwest corner of my house, a 4 inch plastic pipe comes out and goes around the back of the house to the left side of the house. What should I plant on the south side of my house whose roots will not try to tap into my sewer line and yet provide shade for the south side of my house? How close should I plant the trees to my house? There is only yard on the south side of my house and a small porch in the middle of the south side.

Many Thanks!

Mike

Answer
Thank you for your patience, Mike.  I was reviewing your question, and it sounds like there are two questions imbedded in there:

1.) What kind of tree can you plant to assist in lowering the heating of the west side of your brick house?
 a. How close can you plant it to the 39?apron that is on the south side of the building?
 b.How about roots getting under this apron?

2.) What can you plant on the south side that will shade and not intrude into your underground pipes?  Trees/Shrubs, avoiding a porch, and in a yard area.

So, here are some plant suggestions (depending on your USDA Hardiness zone ?PLEASE go to http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html )

Ash
Honey Locust/ Robinia
Linden
Zelkova
Sweetgum
Elm (Many varieties to choose from)
Oak (Bur, Northern Pin, and others)

All of these have tame root habits, so you can plant them up to 5 feet from the edge of the apron, without concern for damage.   If you are VERY concerned about your 39?apron, install a root barrier (Many manufacturers: deeproot.com, rootbarrier.com, centuryrootbarrier.com) Not tough to install, and it will give you peace of mind.

Generally, you抮e not going to get a deciduous tree taller than about 50?at full maturity, except a few varieties like the Tulip Tree (to 70?), the Dawn Redwood (to 60?), or maybe an Ash (depends on species).

As far as being able to shade directly adjacent to the building on the south side, consider evergreen shrubs, such as the Thuja, Dwarf Spruce, Holly (Ilex), or any of the larger Junipers ?all of which also have well-behaved roots.  

If you are looking for larger trees, see the basic list above.

There are more varieties available to you, if your USDA zone is above an 8+ or so.

Google any of these plants to see what they look like, OR if you are looking for a plant selection guide, just look up your State抯 Agricultural Extension office at http://www.oneglobe.com/agriculture/extnsion.html
Most have guides with local plant selections.

Hope it helps.  ~Marc