Give us some pics of how the yard looks. Whats your soil type, how much sun do you get? Are you into flowering trees? You need to give more info and provide us with some pics.

Sorry I can't do pics yet since the area is still (unfortunately) covered with snow due to our snowy and cold March. Soil is clay but not too heavy. We have done a lot of landscaping and haven't had an issue with any plants due to soil or light requirements. The trees before were both crab apples. I don't mind flowers although they usually don't last too long. The ones we had would leave a lot of white petals on the sidewalk. Then in the fall we would have the small crab "apples" to deal with and try to keep the dog from eating.

Both areas get direct sun starting late morning through the end of the day.

If flower petals and small crabapple fruit bother you, maybe you should look into plastic trees like on the movie "The Lorax"

A little snarky maybe, but all trees make litter including all the ones you listed.

Snarky - yes. I am fine with leaves and they don't bother me at all. The flower petals would drop all at once after it rained and so the trees only looked pretty for a very short time. Otherwise they were nothing special. It is more the fruits that would get squished by the car that was the most annoying. I'm sure I'm not the only person that doesn't want to track squished fruits or berries into their house. I didn't think this was such a strange question.

snow wont stop us from looking at the spot.. in regard to tree placement ...

ken

If you wait until the snow melts to take a pic, it shouldn't hurt your timing too much since the ground has to be workable to plant your new babies anyway.

Might look into cercis canadensis 'Rising Sun' while you are waiting. Might be a good tree for spot #2.

I hear conifers grow well up in your neck of the woods. Are you open to them as well, or only deciduous trees?

John

edit: there are some narrow ironwood cultivars that might be perfect for spot #1 if you like those, too. You should google parrotia persica 'Ruby Vase' and 'Vanessa' and see if you like them

This post was edited by j0nd03 on Wed, Mar 27, 13 at 17:17

What nursery are you looking at and do you plan to go with what they have? I know all the local nursery stock better than the nursery employees themselves in SE WI.

...and just so flowering crabs don't get too badly bashed, what "you", by which i mean that hypothetical person who is interested in planting an ornamental tree type, want is a crab variety with "persistent fruit". These types hold onto their crabapples well into fall and often winter. In the best cases, these fruits are still hanging on the trees when hungry migrating birds come through, like what is happening in our neck of the woods now.

Then too, of course, disease resistance is the other crucial attribute to select for......specifically to apple scab and fire blight.

But of course, you don't have to replant crabs. Just saying.

+oM

And there are some crabs that don't make any fruit!

Whaas - so far only talked to someone at Johnson's but plan to check with other places. With this cold March it seems like all are late to have info. Would love ideas on places to look. Not opposed to mail order but for a tree usually they only have small ones.

I will check out the trees suggested but keep the ideas coming if you have more. I will try and get pics as soon as I can although figuring out how to post will be a challenge for me.

One of the crabs we had developed some disease and we were getting it treated regularly to keep it healthy. Then one morning we walked out and it was broken off at the ground laying flat on the ground. So not a great experience with crabs I guess.

John - forgot to add I am not opposed to a narrow tall evergreen. My initial thought process though is to duplicate the look we had with a deciduous tree and the underplantings. Conifers do well although heavy snows and winter winds can be rough on them if we get a bad winter.

The cercis canadensis "Rising Sun" and parrotia persica "Ruby Vase" look very nice. I will look into these at local garden centers. I don't think we have the best tree and shrub selection around here.

I don't think we have the best tree and shrub selection around here.

That is an ultimate understatement!

Johnsons has top notch quality but is the most expensive nursery in the state of WI for most b&b. Two options that they should have at reasonable prices are Homestead Buckeye, Korean Maple and Spring Snow Lilac Tree. Good options for tree 1. Homestead would be my number one choice as its very difficult to find but its one of the premier selections out there. It just isn't the type of tree you limb up though.

I'm a fan of both the native muscle wood and ironwood. Paperbark and Triflorum are fine choices as well.

Go to Minor's for these selections, less the Triflorum. Johnsons is the only one I know of that has Triflorum at a hefty price might I add. Minors should have their printed 2013 availability at their store. Has all the pricing which is a beautiful thing.

Since you mentioned Johnsons in the falls this might be a hike but Paul Swartz Nursery has SOLID pricing on special order trees from Bailey's and JF Schmit. Only difficult part there is that you browse those two catalogs and most stuff is not available. You'd have to pull the trigger within a week or so if you go that route.

I like that 'Vanessa' suggestion as well. You have to start small on that one. Whitman farms has 1 gallon plants for $18. Their about 3' tall.

Lastly if you start getting into trees and needing more Cambridge Tree Project is a nice contact to get quality 5 gallon trees. I picked up 6 or so 2 years ago from him. Very nice species selection. He gets them from an IL source...forget the name.

whaas - any nurseries you would suggest? I just talked to another one (not the one I mentioned above) and he suggested/said:
Bradford Pears are great and hardy
Tricolor Beech only gets to be 15 high by 10 wide
Ironwood can get 50-70' heigh and wide
Above is very different from info I have seen so not sure I would want to go to that nursery.

Just for the record. We have both Paperbark and Triflorum Maple in full sun. Both are EXCELLENT trees. Ours have averaged about 2'/year growth. Not bad at all. Got the Triflorum as a 2.5-3' tree from and online supplier. Didn't grow much the first year, but is not ~7.5' tall three years after starting to grow. LOVE THEM BOTH!!!

Just a little southern feedback,
Arktrees

whaas - thanks for the info. Sorry I missed your post when I was posting about the nursery with what appears to be (to me at least) bad info.

I've been waiting for Minors and Milaegers to post their 2013 info. They both seem late or maybe I am just anxious.

I will check out Paul Swartz too. We are in Waukesha county not far from West Allis so that isn't too far.

What about Garden of Eder? Any experience with them.

Have you ever seen Parrotia around here?

Thanks.

"What about Garden of Eder? Any experience with them."

I have, but its been a few years. I got a 5 foot Pinus koreansis 'Morris Blue' from them and have been totally happy with it. It may fill your tree #2 needs. I'd agree with arktrees on Paperbark Maple for Tree #1.

tj

Wow, can't say I agree with much of what you where told by the nursery. Which one is it?

Bradford pear...avoid like the plague.

Tricolor beech...slower growing, but there are specimens much larger than that at the Milwaukee county zoo and the Milwaukee botanic gardens.

Ironwood...in the forest they might get that size. Typically a landscape specimen will mature at 30'. They are fast when young but really slow down with age.

Minor's is probably my favorite "local" nursery for diversity and pricing. Not all that service orientated like Johnsons though. I occasionally pick up nice stuff from Steins and Jungs believe or not.

It was in Mukwonago -Garden Mart I think. After that I checked them off my list. He also said Japanese Lilac Trees had pink flowers even when I mentioned the name Ivory Silk.

We lost 2 Bradford's to wind (different times) so I knew that they are not a great tree.

I've found good things at Steins too at times. Will be interesting to see how the Hawks change to Steins will go. We've bought from Minors quite a bit too although it is not as convenient for us. We did a lot of landscaping so hit quite a few in the area.

Great to see so many SE Wisconsin people here.