Edlincoln, I could send you some acorns for Chestnut oak ( Q. Prinus). As for the other trees seed/acorn propagation, should help with the no watering problem, unless there is a horrible drought, and the tree isn't drought tolerant as a baby. Taproots are a good thing to have in those circumstances, could be life or death.

georgeinbandonoregon: Naturally in warmer climates you tend to have more options. To complicate matters further, Pinus nigra and Pinus thunbergii don't survive at all in my area for other reasons...beetles. That's why I started this little research plan. The developer who owned my parent's land planted a lot of those kinds of pines, and they ALL were killed off by an epidemic of beetles. I just dislike thuja. I've been trying to plant Pitch Pine, Blue Spruce and holly so far as my evergreen choices Is crataegus crux-galli that salt tolerant? I'm confused by the hawthornes...ideally I want a rust resistant, salt tolerant native, but the species that are good from one standpoint aren't good from another. I'd been thinking of Washington Hawthorne or Cockspur Hawthorne. I'm not that familiar with Jack Pine...is it that salt tolerant? No one suggested that. Anyway, back to oaks. I'm getting conflicting information on what oaks are salt tolerant. Most sources seem to agree on Black Oak. I've heard some sources say Scarlet Oak, Chestnut Oak, Post Oak or Northern Red Oak are salt tolerant.

Anyone interested in a partial bamboo swap/trade in Seattle area? I live in Seattle and have been researching tall clumping or running bamboo. I have 16 large nursery pots (24 gallon) of mature Golden (at least 4 years old that have been split/repotted a year ago). I'm looking for something a bit more shade tolerant and preferably greener. I prefer green to yellow, black, or red, though I'm flexible. My bamboo needs (feel free to chime in if you have a species you think would work for this scenario): I'm trying to screen out a 3-story apartment building on the western border of our property. I am a little apprehensive about the use of aggressive runner bamboo in an urban area (even w/ rhizome barrier) but I've researched my options online and it seems the only very tall clumpers (which thrive here) are Borinda Boliana, or Chusquea Gigantea. The B. Boliana I've heard might not over-winter well and possible isn't upright enough to act as a screen. I'm concerned about using a timber bamboo like C. Gigantea since I'm not sure how manageable that size would be in our 5K sf lot. I'm looking for something w/ a very upright habit (maybe Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis, green temple bamboo) and maximum screening capabilities that will reach a height of at least 25'. Any recommendation for good bamboo screens would be very much appreciated. FYI: this bamboo would only have direct sunlight in the morning as the western apartment building would block afternoon sun. The soil is on the rich, loose side, though I'm not sure of its acidity. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

In my experience with many kinds of Phyllostachys in Zone 8, one doesn't see much growth in the first two years. After that you will see bigger shoots each year until the plants reach their maximum size. I can't tell you how big these will be in 3-5 years as it will depend on how big they are now and what particular species we are talking about...some get bigger than others and some grow faster. I have had Moso go from a seedling to 6' in about 5 years, and I have had other Phyllostachys that went from, say, 6' to double that in the same time. Your mileage may vary. However, it sounds like you are off to a good start with your prepping and with your choice of hardy, vigorous species I contain a lot of my runners with annual maintenance and rhizome digging, but I have put in barriers in some places to keep the rhizomes from going under my asphalt driveway and causing bumps, and to keep peace with my significant other and her flower beds. As long as you can stay on top of the maintenance and don't mind tearing up the lawn a little to catch a runaway, you should be good without having to put in barrier.