Yeah, sycamore are easy to come by. They are, however, very sturdy trees. I just like drought tolerant annuals because I don't have to water them (I can't afford a sprinkler system, plus it would be a hassle to install), and begonias specifically because they keep blooming without the need of deadheading. Here is one of my flower beds with begonias, variegated liriope, and a boxwood topiary:

That does look very good for a front yard I will think about planting one since are front yard is big.

Annual beds add a wonderful pop of color during the summer, and are a wonderful addition to any foundation planting.

Logan, why no mulch?

"Logan, why no mulch?"

1. It's near the house, and it may attract pests

2. It costs money

What pests would be attracted by mulch?

You can make your own mulch if you don't have a large area to cover.

Termites, Wood Beetles.

How would you recommend making my own mulch? I have thought about doing such, but do not have a woodchipper.

Termites and Wood Beetles need something more substantial than mulch to make a home. They will make a home in a mulch buried log or stump, but not in the mulch alone.

You can make mulch out of compost. Do you compost?

I have a small compost pile, which is how I get the darkened soil for this bed (I mix the compost with topsoil), but it doesn't have any woodchips.

"Logan, why no mulch?"

2. It costs money

The difference I've noticed in the growth of my plants/trees after using mulch, I came to the conclusion that I can't afford to not use mulch. jmho.

Triple or double shredded bark mulch will not have termites or wood beetles. You get get for $15-$20/yd, much better and cheaper than bagged stuff at Lowes.

Just the water I save by not having to water as often pays for the mulch.

What pests would be attracted by mulch?

Voles! I know that from personal experience.

Hi everyone here is the progress after topping our tree how much it's grown before and after photo.

Wow, that's really come a long way! :-) Thanks for posting.

I still don't see how someone could think that this looks better than it would have if it was just left alone? Just isn't natural.

But it looks like it's going to make it. :-)

I know it was a mistake we are first time home owners so we really did not know how to do yard work but now we do.

It's coming along. Did you mulch it like I suggested?

Logan well I did not instead I planted some more grass seeds because it was getting a little bare around the tree because of the heat we have had.

We have had a heat wave as well. About 2 weeks with 90+ degree days and little rain (of course, it had to rain today, because I was at the farmer's market). The mulch will help the tree. Even a ring around the tree without grass would help the tree. I won't be home tomorrow, but Thursday I will take some photos of my mulch rings as examples.

It never rains here until the winter since we live in a desert. I will probably use mulch around another tree I have in the backyard.

That's unfortunate. The mulch helps to preserve moisture and keep the root zone cool. You'll see a big improvement if you mulch.

I water the grass everyday so the tree is getting water everyday as well but I have a fig tree in the backyard that would probably benefit with mulch.

Also does anyone one how much water a pomogranite, peach, and mulberry tree need?

==>>> no one can tell you how to water.. in your location.. in your soil type ..... with your ambient weather ...

ergo .. you insert your finger three to 4 inches .. to get down to the root level.. AND FIND OUT... how much moisture is in the soil.. then water accordingly ...

if you cant do that.. then take a hand trowel.. and dig a couple small holes per tree .. AND FIND OUT ...

ken

Hi guys I just have a quick question ever since we topped the tree the leaves it's been growing are very huge is this a normal size for a California sycamore leaf?

Hello again Mario. The roots just have more nutrients than the tree has leaves to take so you are getting rapid growth.

Thanks for keeping the thread updated. It is good to see how things turn out.

also why are some of the leaves turning brown and falling off even though they are being replaced very fast?

It isn't surprising that your tree should start losing some brown leaves at this time of year, especially since you say you live in a dry area. What is surprising is that it should be replacing them with new growth at this time of year. Do you really mean that it is unfurling new buds? Or is it just that it still has green leaves from earlier in the season?

Btw outsize leaves are common on hard pruned planes, as they are on many other woody species.

i have no clue what the sycamores were.. on the street i grew up on ... but they were planted in the 1950s ...

and that is not an uncommon size for the leaf ...

and.. crikey.. they dropped leaves all year long ... as well as little twigs .. fuzzy seed balls ...... etc ... im pretty sure .... they are know for the litter they drop ...

and if one in the family is a slob.. its wouldnt surprise me.. that others are ...

i think youre just observing trees more than you ever did before .. and that is approved ....

ken

Yes floral it's still producing new leafs since trees around this area don't loose it's leafs until late October early November until a good days of cooler weather arrives. And also since I water my lawn 3 days a week it's receiving plenty of water for a mature tree.

There's a difference between producing new leaves and not losing existing leaves. Trees don't lose their leaves here either until late October/November but they don't open new buds that late in the year.

Anyhow, I don't think you have anything to worry about with this tree.

Thanks everyone for the help I'll keep you guys updated.

Here is a late August update tree leaves still gowing. July photo and August photo.

i think we're talking at cross purposes here. Yes, those leaves are green and growing. That is normal for this time of year. What I was trying to elicit was whether new leaves are still unfurling from buds. That would be odd.

Well there are new little leaves growing from some of the branches remember this tree was topped heavy and it did start a little late growing leafs than other peoples trees.

The new growth may not harden off before fall. Not sure that would be an issue in your climate, though.

Yea Logan I don't think it will be an issue because most of the days its over 100 degrees or in the 90s.

Hi guys back with a question the tree this year did not produce any fuzzy seed balls this year is it because it was topped?

Yes.

Do you think they will start growing next year or is it going to take a couple of years?

seed growing is variable over the years ... usually culminating in what they call mast years ...

when yours will get over the stresses its dealing with.. is frankly.. unknown ... but for sure.. it will happen in tree time ....

it will happen.. when it happens ...

what confuses me.. is it sounds like you want them .. lol.. most peeps would be doing a happy dance.. not to have to deal with them ....

ken

I would say that it was putting its energy into growing instead of flowering which would result in fruit. How is it looking now?

It's looking good Logan I think its getting ready to drop it's leaves. Ken I just wanted them because its part of the charm of the tree and the looks but yeah it can be messy to pick them up. I will post a photo today showing how it looks before it sheds any more leafs.

Here is the photo it is still surprisingly green for November.

Well you guys the tree lost all of its leafs right on time its looks really wired without its leafs but it should have more leafs and branches next year hopefully some sycamore fruit as well because there was none this year. My neighbor decided to top their tree too looks like they liked the way our tree looked lol.

Looks like a good amount of new growth. I think you are "out of the woods" so to say and have a tree with a healthy root system.

Its growing pretty fast and may encapsulate the wounds but note how the wood near the pruning cuts look this year and compare every winter. If any look to be rotting maybe we can help you find someone who can orune it back to safety and properly.

I love updates btw. Thank you.

I love updating and will update again once the tree wakes up in the spring again.

Hi guys I am back with a spring update tree has lots of buds some are green but still no leaves while mostly everyone else trees have leaves now.

Give it a bit of time. Would it be possible to get a photo?

Sure I will post one trunk and main branches looks very green but still looks bad without leaves.

Wow! thanks for posting the after photos! It gives me hope...our poplar has been recently topped and I am deeply saddened. Any research I've done about topped trees is negative, yes they might grow back but the life span is shortened also the tree is much more susceptible to disease and insect infestation. I would love an update on your tree.

P.S I would cut off the big branches from the side, without them the tree looks alot more natural.