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Landscape Design

Suggestion for tree in rear yard (pics included)

14 years ago

Hello, I would like some suggestions for a tree we would like to plant along the rear fence to fill in a privacy void.

We are Raleigh, zone 7.

I would like a non-evergreen tree for this application - with a canopy like my picture example.

This area is pretty shady... it may get some morning sun but not much.

Without tree

{{gwi:30289}}From Trees

With tree example

{{gwi:30290}}From Trees

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Comments (15)

foozed
Original Author
14 years ago
The tree shouldn't grow much larger than 20-25 feet also.
rhodium
14 years ago
Japanese Maple - coral embers
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I like the contrast between Limelight Hydrangea (which gets tall) and the Knockouts. I have several Knockouts and they are great plants requiring no care plus they bloom their heads off. I'd just suggest being careful of the Limelight in front of that window. How far out from the foundation will you plant it? Judging by the color of your car in front, your house is more grey than tan, right? So, in my opinion, you need more color contrast in the overall design. You might want to look at shrubs with different stem color or leaf color to stand out against the house. I wouldn't suggest specific plants unless I knew what kind of sun your front yard gets. Did I read your plan correctly --- there are lilacs on each side of the front entrance? Do you know what kind they are and how tall they grow? Lilacs are wonderful but can become huge. I know there are smaller, longer blooming varieties and wonder if these are what you have. I agree with the poster who said the beds need to be more substantial --- deeper.The peak on the left is quite tall and would be 'balanced' with larger planting bed in front of it. FInally, please don't plant a tree where it will block the view of the front door or the windows on the left. I think the inviting front entrance and porch are two of the nicest features of your lovely home! Molie
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Comments (17)
I assume the wall you are talking about is to replace the one that is in some places in the picture along the street, so the level of the property will not be changed significantly. When you put the wall in make sure you allow for the natural drainage, you do not want to create a lake in your front yard. My second observation is that if you take the tree out before you know what it is you may be making a big mistake. There are many Maples in MA and the states in that area are known for their fall color. You would feel like a fool if you take it out and learn from the neighbors that in the fall it was one of the most beautiful trees on the street. With the mature tree I would do my landscaping around it rather that take it out and plant a stick. The mature tree adds to the value of your home both from the pleasure of sitting under it and the money you will get our of it when you sell. I don't know how old you are but it is probable that you will never see the new the stick reach the size of that tree.
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Comments (6)
Just some thoughts on your plant choices... Loropetalum and Lavandula stoechas are at opposite ends of the water requirement spectrum, and Loropetalum wants to get 5 feet tall by across or more at maturity, you'll be pruning this a lot and losing the natural form to keep it in check. I never use Loropetalum chinense rubrum selections unless they have at least 6 feet of space to grow. Purple Fountain Grass is really more of a warm season annual than a reliable year round good appearance perennial in SF Bay Area conditions, and I only use it in my designs as an annual to be yanked when it starts looking bad by late December/early January. It seems to take forever to look good after winter is over, while it arrives early in the season from southern California greenhouses each spring, it may be mid June before one in the ground looks full again. I'd suggest sticking with plants that are more water compatible if it is all on the same valve. My personal bias would be to lose the Pennisetum rubrum and substitute with more of the Lavender or maybe some Tulbaghia violaceae 'Silver Lace' for a similar grassy foliage look and long bloom season/deer resistance. Adding something like a spilling Erigeron x moerheimerii would also relate to the Lavender. If you like purple foliage, I might suggest seeking out Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy' as an accent,(but this isn't a Home Depot type of plant), or maybe Sea Lavender/Limonium perezii for the long spring to fall deep purple blooms and low water needs. If you wouldn't mind adding some magenta/fuchsia flower color to the mix, Salvia chiapensis is another one that spills and drapes and has a nearly year round bloom period, or the newer hybrid Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' is quite nice as well. Some bulbs such as Scilla peruviana could also be an interesting addition to the mix, with bold color in March/April, and survives on rainfall alone.
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Comments (8)
Thanks for the replies, all. Marianne, it is nice living in the country. We love it and really dislike even going to Dallas or other large cities now! We're close enough to some towns to easily get our shopping done but not in the hub of activity. It suits us well. :) Melvalena, the oaks are pin oaks. And I do like oaks - they're really great trees. There are 8 or 9 in the front pretty close to the fence so there are a lot of leaves from them. Some of the roots are close to the surface and some peek through. I even trip on them now and then and I think roots are responsible for our walkway at the end by the gate breaking up and falling apart. That's yet another project - replacing that walkway. I'm considering some kind of ground cover all along that front fence line where the trees are. The roses and daffs there don't do much at all and might be better off moved to another spot and replaced with ground cover, even mondo grass. It might help cover the roots some and at least give it a greener appearance. I'm not sure which one to use and am researching several. The last two pictures show my spindly thin gardenia (hmm, what's wrong with her?) and the daffodils that are just about finished blooming. I'm considering using a mold we got for the walkway and using the same mold to create a circle in the middle of the yard. The mold isn't a small one and the interior of the circle is where I might plant some things for the cottage garden sort of feel. Maybe in well defined areas as you suggested. The area has some shade from those oaks but it's mostly sunny and yep, the leaves are an issue. I even thought about making a circle of sunflowers! I think those would grow there nicely and it would certainly take up some of the bare space! lol Jacquelyn, see above reply to Melvalena about the area where I'd like the cottage garden. The moss we have only was there because of the leaves, I think! Normally there isn't much moss around here though right under those pin oaks it stays pretty cool and often damp. Not in the throes of summer, though! About 3/4 of the area where I want the little cottage garden gets full sun in the summer from about 10 AM til about 4 PM. The other area, which is shown in the first picture gets no full sun because of the shade of the trees. That area is hot but not in full sun. What perennials might do well here? And what seeded annuals? I haven't much luck yet planting anything! What's there now is what was here when we bought the place.
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florah
14 years ago
Dogwood
laurell
14 years ago
Japanese maple "shishigashira" would also be a good option. Very interesting crinkly leaves that stick around for a long time.
Saypoint zone 6 CT
14 years ago
Amelanchier - Serviceberry?
jtmoney
14 years ago
Some type of flowering dogwood would look nice there.
rhodium
14 years ago
Wait...Wait... I want to change my vote!

It looks like the neighbor has his/her own screening material on the opposite side of the fence. Apparently nobody in your neighborhood likes to look at each other ;)

Let his screening grow in and plant something else like besides a screening tree like a garden bed visible from the patio.
spazzycat_1
14 years ago
Halesia (silverbell)
foozed
Original Author
14 years ago
Good catch rhodium!! And you are correct!
Our goal is to fill in a little gap in both of our screenings.. the way it is now when we are at our pool or firepit we have a clear view of each other on their screen porch which they frequently use for dining etc.
We want to block them out! :-)
(yes.. we really are neighborly!)
catkim
14 years ago
Is there any way to use the slope to your advantage? It looks like the last thing you need is another tree by the fence. Is it possible to plant a few large flowering shrubs beyond your firepit and retaining wall that would be just tall and full enough to screen the gaps by using the higher ground? I don't know what specific shrub - rhododendron? Then when/if the neighbors screening fills in you could move/remove/prune them.
grullablue
14 years ago
I WANT your fire pit!!!!
diane_9
14 years ago
A nice big piece of decorative ironwork would be cool. Or it could be wood, but I think iron would be less obtrusive...Put it on the outside of the low wall (I'm assuming some sit there for fires? You could plant a fragrant vine to cover it or you could even just string twinkly lights over it and that would confuse the eye at night.
reyesuela
14 years ago
eastern redbud
flowering cherry
Japanese magnolia (admission: I have a SEVERE weakness for these!)

My ornamental plum grew in the shade in NM, but I think that's because it was NM....
mjsee
14 years ago
I like diane 9's idea of a trellis with a vine...Clematis armandii is evergreen, grows quickly, and will flower with less-than-full sun. AND it smells good. Logan's may have one.

Or MAYBE a Trachelospermum jasminoides (confederate jasmine)...but I'm not certain about the sun exposure/wind exposure in your spot.

If you really wanted a tree...a Japanese maple would be nice...Bloodgood or Emperor I should fit the bill...

Here is a link that might be useful: NC State Fact sheet on Clematis armandii
gatorinfla
14 years ago
"* Posted by spazzycat_1 z7 NC (My Page) on
Wed, May 6, 09 at 14:01

Halesia (silverbell)"
=============================================================

Agreed, a nice addition with some color.

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