Best shade trees, on the medium to smaller side?

[Major Nikon]

1. I suggest contacting your local gardening extension service

While I could certainly give you a recommendation for what I use in my local plot, this may not apply all that well to your situation.

Here's some of the variables to consider.

1) How much room do you have?

Consider the plant in its mature state. What are the height and width restrictions?

2) What zone do you live in?

This is part of what determines what kind of plants may thrive in your area.

3) What is the soil like?

Is your soil alkaline, acidic, or somewhere in between? What is the drainage like, or in other words is the soil sandy, clay, or loam, and is the spot on a hill or a valley or flat?

4) What kind of time frame are you looking at?

Do you want something that's going to provide quality shade within a few years, or farther down the road?

5) Do you want another evergreen, or is deciduous OK?

I suggest considering some of these factors before first calling your extension service so they can better assist you.