If you have to plant a tree 4' away from the house..

10 years ago

I know that it shouldn't be that close but if you want to plant one, which tree could that be?

I have a window facing north and I'd love to keep the blind open. But if I do, I face my neighbor's window. It struck me that if I have a tree in front of the window, I may be able to keep the blind up. I only have about 8' from the house to the property line. I'd rather not plant anything too close to the property line. I'd want it at least 4' from the property line. The tree should be at least 10' tall and 5' wide to give me the screen given the height and size of the window. Not sure any shrub will do the job. The side is north-facing and mostly shaded.

This post was edited by ttonk on Sat, Jun 1, 13 at 22:15

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Comments (13)

scotjute Z8
10 years ago
Might try something small like a Redbud.
There are several junipers commonly available that might be in the size you are looking for.
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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years ago
Japanese maple maybe. One of the billion arborvitae if you admit to yourself in a decade it will need to be removed. With the Japanese maple regular pruning could put off removal for a long time.
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Hey everyone....Thanks for all your tips and experiences... Larry....How are you? lol..You are too funny...I once almost hired a kid to water mine until he watered my fakes plastic ones too... Danielle..Congrats on that...If I meant away for a week and someone forgot to water my plants for just two days, many would croak..I've thought of having just succulents, but I can't seem to do away with my fragrant ones... Linda..Yes it has been a while..What's happening? I hope your fish made it this year..Boy it was brutal...All mine did. The water never froze because I kept it turbulent..Thanks for visiting and your ideas.. I'm sure you would do that for me. You are so kind:-))) Planto..Thank you so much..Yes, it is a bummer..It makes my heart heavy with sadness..Such a good guy and destroying his family...I hope he recovers. He loves my plants and the thought of taking care of them got him and I excited.. Purple...I am so glad you got to go away and came back to no issues...That's my plan...I hope you had a great time..You needed it I am sure.. Yes, being able to wake up and go to bed any time you want is something I have not done in years...Not to have to look at the clock is a luxery..I miss those days. I live in Northern Ma...Just on the border of N.H almost near the coast....So it can get cold here still by May which leaves me no choice except to wait until the end of May when all are safe outside. Ia m hoping to go to Florida..Far from here. I tried that stay home and relax thing and it did not work out. All I wanted to do was work on the house and more..Not good. I am talking about sleeping on a beach for days or reading a book on a chair at teh beach or by a pool, maybe Pugs house, Laurs or Patty's..lol I get up at 5 every day, run a cleaning buisiness, then work full time..Work out 4 days a week after work at 8 pm and then care for my parents about that. I also care for my home, feed the birds, cat, fish and plants...lol MIke
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This is not the right place for that question -) This forum is intended for discussions or suggestions about ways to improve the website. I would suggest you move it to one of the plant specific forums but it is just as easy to answer it here........there are NO plants that repel cats or dogs!! Or deer. There are some plants that can deter them from entering your garden or at least slow them down but 'deter' is a very different concept from 'repel'. These would be plants - like the barberry or roses or other thorny items - that you could put on your side of the arborvitaes, but that wouldn't stop the dog from digging or running on the other side. And to keep dogs out of your yard completely, you would need to plant a solid hedge of them all around your property. But then again, a fence would do the exact same thing. But there is no plant that just by scent or something similar that would "repel" dogs cats or deer.
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drrich2
10 years ago
A pair of Emerald Green Arborvitae, perhaps? Paired to get that width and then some. But they won't be 10 feet tall for a long time.

For that matter, why 10 feet tall? Unless you're on the 2'nd floor, I'd think all they could see over the tops of 6 foot trees would be a glimpse of your ceiling.

Richard.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
How about a fastigiate tree like Magnolia 'Golden Spire'?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
how high is the window...

and how much sun ... hours??

below is my thuja occidentalis de groots spire ... insure you get a single leader plant... that is how it stays thin ... if you look close at mine.. you can see a second 4 foot leader.. i really should cut out ... its right behind the blue conifer ....

and nothing really stops growing at some magical height .... and once established.. they grow about a foot per year .... in full sun....

plant a couple, three or so ... if it is zone appropriate for you ....

ken

ps: for the short term.. i just bought a window film ... to apply to the window.. so you can get light.. w/o nosy neighbors.. mine is a theme on the famous wisteria glass .. was that tiffany??? search lowes.home depot for window films ...

{{gwi:211252}}

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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ttonk
Original Author
10 years ago
I circled the window if this helps. I think the window is about 6-8' off the ground.

The red line is the PL and that area is often flooded when it rains heavily. :-(

That spot gets a bit of morning sun and late afternoon sun but is shaded for the most of the day...

{{gwi:380288}}

This post was edited by ttonk on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 10:24
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ttonk
Original Author
10 years ago
So I got recommendations on conifers:
Emerald Green Arborvitae
thuja occidentalis

And on deciduous trees:
Redbud
Japanese maple
Magnolia 'Golden Spire

All great suggestions!
Now I think more about this..
It's really not that neighbors are noisy or I'm concerned that someone will look into my window. It's a kitchen window so me washing dishes is not something anyone would be interested. I want to see the sky & some green but not feel like I'm watching my neighbors. You know when doing dishes, you're standing right in front of the window and looking out for a long time.

I used to have a huge arborvitae up against a 1st floor window in my previous house. Was great for the privacy but I felt as if the curtain is down all the time. I guess I want something more airy? My eyes are at the bottom half of the window. So if the tree only covers the bottom half of the window and the top half of the window is not blocked, it would be perfect. But I know trees don't stop growing at some height. :-)
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ttonk
Original Author
10 years ago
Ken, what is that small and wide tree? Second from the right.
And what is that "blue conifer"?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
can you download my pic and photoshop it..

the blue one is abies concolor 'compacta'

and the other .. i dont know which you mean ...

see link

ken

ps: most of what you suggest should NOT be planted over your a/c unit ..

Here is a link that might be useful: took me 10 mintues to apply it
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ttonk
Original Author
10 years ago
Hummm...
Never thought about the AC unit. Glad I posted a pic..
Window film it is then. :-)
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
the other one is Picea pungen St Marys broom ...

ken
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ttonk
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks!
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drrich2
10 years ago
This is concerning -

"That spot gets a bit of morning sun and late afternoon sun but is shaded for the most of the day..."

Choosing a tree for a mostly shaded location is a different matter than for a sunny spot.

You know, a large bird feeder outside breaking your line-of-site between you & your neighbors might be nice.

Richard.
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If you have to plant a tree 4' away from the house..

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scotjute Z8

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If you have to plant a tree 4' away from the house..

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