How about a castor bean tree? Mine got over 12 feet tall last year and offered quite a bit of shade. They just laugh at the Texas sun as long as they get water.

You're going to be hard-pressed to get something that will thrive in the summer we're about to move into - it's hard for plants to establish in that kind of heat. What about putting out some big tropicals in pots? A tree-form hibiscus, an upright trained plumbago, a big bougainvillea - those guys love the heat, as long as you can keep them watered, then once you get your tree in you can move the potted tropicals.

You can a chemical treatment to help break down the stump faster. I think it may be called liquid stump grinder. How big was the tree you lost? What's your soil like?

That said, fountain or pampas grass does make a good filler, and I love the combo with the sweet potato vine. Do you have a picture of your yard?

Argentine Senna also laughs at our summer heat, and it grows super quickly and doesn't get too big. The grasses and sweet potato vines would fill in quickly. What about an autumn sage? I know you're looking more for annuals, but it would grow in quickly and distract from all the SPACE.

When this happened to us several years ago, we put a small table and chairs right out front over the spot where the tree had been. I also had some antique plant stands that I set around to help keep anyone from staring too long at any one place until we could figure out the rest of the landscaping and plant other trees. Now we've got 2 pines, a kidneywood, a vitex, a red oak and a pond cypress out front - somebody stop me!

You could also throw out a variety of sunflower seeds - It's not too late, and I think it's so pretty to see several heights and colors clustered together. They'll also pull any lead you might have out of the soil, which is a nice bonus.

Thanks for the suggestions. It is a small front yard - very. My backyard is where I REALLY garden - it's sort of a combo of woodland and cottage styles... but the front is pure suburbian conformity - you know, square holly shrubs all along the front, a crape myrtle on each end... blah blah. Narrow two story brick. The HOA is picky about the fronts, so I just go with it. The back is a jungle.

I thought I would capitalize on the "bed" that has been left where they ground out the stump... but just until I put new trees in. The tree I lost was VERY large - taller than the two story house.

I am thinking of putting in a redbud and an upright "tree" variety white crape myrtle in place of the one large tree. I know redbuds are not long lived, but the front could use something kind of sweet and softening. I have a crape in the back like I would like to use - it has a HUGE canopy, white flowering (Natches?), and beautiful, beautiful leaves in the fall. Bona fide tree.

Every front yard around here has a Bradford Pear. Never.

Just wish I could find something fast growing that gets fairly bulky and large. Then I can mix other smaller plants around/along it.

A fast growing ornamental would be my choice too. Your slower growing large tree will look good even when it outgrows it(understory redbud)and you'll have shade quite a bit faster. PJ

I like the castor bean! Does it die back permanently? DFW area..

Just remember, the seeds of the castor bean are among the most deadly seeds on earth.

yes It does die back permanently in my part of Fort Worth.
It is toxic but easy to manage.
Integrated management strategies
Castor-bean poisoning is rare in North America. Animals seldom consume seeds from mature plants, even though they are available and other forage is scarce. Remove seed clusters from ornamental plants before they are mature to prevent consumption and poisoning by pets. Feed containing castor-bean seeds should not be fed to livestock

How about 'Fire Dragon' shantung maple for it's famous red fall color? It is fast growing tree. It grew a little over 3 feet last year and already almost 2 feet this year.

I actually have 6 shantung maples (don't ask... They are just great trees growing in caliche soil). This is Fire Dragon (one of 3 I have)... And they turned red for me in my area...

{{gwi:1352688}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Shantung maple

I forgot to mention that the picture was taken yesterday to show the reddish new growth in hot weather. The mature size is unclear at this time but lets just say 30-35x30-35 in 10-15 years. I have seen about 28 feet tall that has been in the ground for 8,9 years (planted as 15 or 20 gallon sized tree).

Well, now I'm paranoid about castor bean - I have teens that obviously won't bother it (or even look at it, for that matter) and two cats... don't envision them eating any of it - but you never know... No real wildlife except for the usual suburban squirrels, but I'd hate for anything to hurt them - though that would keep them out of the attic! j/k

The Senna is beautiful too. If I don't start soon, it won't matter anyway! Maybe I can just bear one summer, then plant a tree(s). The Shantung looks like a great choice for replanting.

When I moved to texas, I asked someone on this forum about whether I could bring bearded iris bulbs. Well, they said yes, and they were right. With help from this forum, making the bed was really easy. I recently wrote a poem about this for our HOA newsletter. Iris beds grows easily, and by the time you need to break-up the bulbs (about two years), it should be time to replant a tree...and maybe leave some iris' behind. Here's my poem.

The Iris Bed

The Iris sits up from his bed, a purple beard on stately head,

His needs to grow are very slight, not too much water and lots of light,

So plant him in a sunny spot, and worry not if it gets hot,

HeÂll bring with him sea of green, and rise in Spring just to be seen.

An easy way to build an iris bed is the abbreviated Lasagna MethodÂshave away the Bermuda sod, create a raised border, line the bed with cardboard, put in 4 inches of Landscape Mix (low nitrogen), and set the bulbs very shallow, exposing their" backs".

Since it is temporary how about a trellis/arbor something you can put one of the fast climbers on and not feel bad later when you need to remove it?

All great ideas. A little bench with an arbor type covering would be nice - would have to have some kind of covering over it if it were to ever be used for actual sitting! That spot is just sweltering. But if I position it right, a tree could be planted later while leaving the bench in place...

Just have to find/afford one!

Anyone got any great advice for places (not too $$) to buy this sort of thing in DFW area? I'm in Coppell, by Lewisville. I mean, I know the usual - Walmart, Garden Ridge, Costco - but is there something good I don't know about?