The only thing we would have done to it was getting too close with the weed whacker. And the only thing that has me questioning gummosis is the large ... ==>>> gummosis.. and the interior disease.. happen no matter what.. it endemic to the family of trees ... though it may have been weedwhip damage ... it could have been nothing on your part related to damage ... they just get it.. and ooze it out ... it looks like it was planted at least 4 inches too deep.. trunk are supposed to live their lives dry ... when they get buried.. and they stay dampish ..... stuff happens.. its call telephone poling... and it 'looks' like i see potting media in there [the red soil versus the black stuff]... i would not be surprised if you told us you bought it potted.. and planted at the depth it was in the pot.. so it was already problematic then ... it just took this long to 'show' ... i am lazy.. i didnt open all your links... use the HTML code.. and they would have all popped up in your post for us lazy folks ... if you decide to plant a new one.. or any tree.. come back for planting instructions ... ken

Sandy, I can uderstand how you came to your idea, but have to reiterate that I think it isn't ideal. Again, I would put a shrub, or several shrubs there in the corner, because a tree is going to grow into/over the sidewalk, blocking it with branches, and gnerally getting in the way. If it's a BIG tree, then it may well also grow long enough branches that it needs to be trimmed away from the side of the garage. A shrub in that location will maybe get wide enough to run up against the sidewalk or possibly the driveway, but the right one won't. With a shrub, you can know beforehand about how wide it will get, but most trees aren't so obliging - there are exceptions, but... If you want an evergreen shrub, do you want a tall one (4-8') or will a couple of shorter ones (2-5') do, or do you want both heights? Either, coupled with an tallish evergreen tree by itself in the middle of the lawn, would give enough visual mass to balance the addition. Me, I think I might go for a mix, maybe a small or medium evergreen to provide winter mass, and something like a butterfly bush to give summer interest. You can keep Buddleias trimmed to the size you want, and in fact, should trim them in summer after a bloom flush to get better reblooming. If you don't want to cut a shrub back hard in the spring, and a couple of times in the summer, then a crepe myrtle could be very nice. Since you can chose cultivars that range in height from 3' to 40', and colors from white, red, purple and pink, you have a wide variety to select from. A rhododendron or a camellia would also give you an evergreen, with flowers in winter/spring, with azaleas at the base for lower fill-in. Selecting for height and color could give a very nice effect with either or both. The camellia can be trimmed, if you really want a formal effect at the corner. For a taller evergreen tree, out in the lawn, I might go with a conifer - NOT a Leyland or something that will get 40-60' - but an interesting one with a good form or maybe a variegated or color selection. I would LOVE to have a weeping Atlas or Alaskan blue cedar growing in my lawn! You could also go with another magnolia, or with a holly - some of them can get pretty tall. There is certainly enough room for a tree in the lawn, unless, of course, you like the expanse of it and don't WANT another tree out there....

you can raise the canopy.. as high as you wish.. mine is at about 8 feet .... but you still havent defined why it can not have two trunks.. at that height ... i think mine bifurcates at about 5 feet .... mine is going on 12 to 18 feet wide... it would make no difference if it had two trunks at that height .. i can still stand under it .... can you favor me.. with a pic of the whole ... but be clear.. you can prune your tree.. any way you want.. what i am trying to express.. apparently poorly.. is that we usually have a goal as to what we want to accomplish ... and your goal.. SEEMS ... to be simply.. that you read it somewhere ... why do you feel that branch has to be cut off??? ken

Well, the nursery is right on all counts....but we wouldn't be able to plant anything if we avoided every plant with known problems. If I were running a garden center, I would 'probably' sell those plants, but I would try very hard to educate the customer. If you were to take a drive around my neighborhood, you might change your mind about the Bradfords. Many of the properties have well established pears that were obviously planted several years ago, maybe as much as 7 or 8 (or more). Most of them have begun the breaking apart process; and finding huge piles of Bradford Pear debris along the curb is routine. Unfortunately, people plant these trees as a focal point in the front yard, making them an eyesore and even a danger when the splitting begins. But, all of the plants you mentioned should be readily found at any of the big box stores or garden center outlets.