I put heavy duty black plastic bags over them. If they can't photosynthesize, they can't live. Not pretty, but it works. ==>> but this wont work as well on trees that can sprout along the roots . i suppose there is a name for that .. but it is escaping me right now ... so if you did that on that type of tree.. you might have sprouts for many dozens of feet along the shallowest root ... they dont technically need to be cut flush to apply the killer... a foot or 2 wont make a difference.. and you can cut the stump a year down the line if you want. .. this years growth should be easily hand prunable.. fill a container like this with undiluted round up or stump killer.. snip a trunk.. drip the killer.. and keep going until you get them all ... if you need.. leave one tree for the site line block.. but dont waste all your prior effort letting them all come back.. ken https://duckduckgo.com/?q=plochman+yellow+mustard&t=ffsb&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Also - I didn't mention SW Creamy. It is slightly less yellow than Alabaster and leans toward peach. If you really want a "white" you may consider it. This is just a mock-up - your lighting in your space will affect it considerably. It still seems a little yellow to me (especially with the photo on the right), but it may look different in your home.

Amazingly I got notification in my email that she wrote back. Of course, I can't access it on houzz, but I CAN access it through my email. I am running out but she said she will post in a bit- she said she just landed back in Israel and once settled a bit will reply. She thanked everyone for asking about her. I don't have much more to add but I am so relieved to hear from her. I guess she'll be posting here one of these days soon. :)

Judi, thanks so much. I don't think I want shades, not that they would be great to block the McMansions going up, but our trees block pretty well for three seasons and I do love the light. I do appreciate the thought nonetheless! Come to think of it, they could be great for cooler evenings come fall and even if we have a mild winter which is often the case recently. So thank you! Matinca, I grew up with a screened porch, too. Such delightful memories. I am living the dream! Thank you-come east and you can relive your childhood along with me! Thanks, kitchenwitch. I am pretty happy with it. ;-) Carol, Thank you! It is just right for us and I like having room for relaxing and for dining. jab, yes, it is so restful. We have lots of birds, so I sit out there and read and listen. A balm for my soul. As to painting the floor-never under consideration.-you are right about the chipping. With a 90-lb. lab mix and three granddaughters (5-year old and twin 3-year olds, a painted floor would lood awful in about a week! Ha. It is Millboard (outlive.info). Needs no sealing, refinishing or anything. Just wash with soap and water maybe once a year or as needed. Good for two old people who would never keep up with lots of maintenance. I was considering painting the posts and rafters. The consensus here seems to be leave them as they are and I agree they are not intrusive, so I will go with the majority opinion. Yay. My husband, however, has painted the supporting posts under the porch black and the wooden parts of the steps black (the treads are the same Millboard. It looks fine. I remember someone here way back when suggested black and it does pretty much disappear (sort of). The black sets off the plants I have started putting in next to and under the porch. I will try to get a photo tomorrow.