My uncle - living in Georgetown - has a few 'bloodgood' maples planted on one side of a small pond, beneath two elms and a sycamore tree. Saddest pair of maples I'd seen. Of course, this summer's winds were brutal...everything seemed to have dry leaves. One thing I noticed: water was fairly cheap (compared to my California standards), and yet folk seemed bent on allowing their plants to struggle in an attempt to "toughen them up." I just didn't get it....in fact, I was actively appalled by the practices... If I had a plot of land in Texas (that wasn't hard calcium), I'd start with mulch and low-growing plants to help lock moisture in the soil. I'd build up from there, with Chaste trees and crape myrtle and persimmon, et cetera, and bald cypress on the corners of the plot. Once I had a bit of shade to play with, I'd plant some of the tougher maple varieties - then I'd plant other, more delicate maples below these. Josh

I am west of Austin in the hills above the Pedernales river. I would not do Japanese maple unless you want to gamble with your money. The shade is the only place to put them out here. Sandy loam means you have a lot of drainage so you will be pouring that water on it in the middle of the summer. No flame leaf sumac is not the same as a Japanese mapple. How about Bigtooth maple ( Acer granditentatum) but make sure that it comes from the lost maple or fort Hood maples. They are indigenous to Texas. They will end up a big tree. They like alkaline sandy loam and can put up with the drainage. They might loose their leaves in a harsh summer if watered with too much salty water. They will grow large and can do sun and partial sun. Chinese Pistache and even Texas pistache are good trees too, for color.Escarpement black cherry (but protectit while small from the deer). Redoaks are good for color but pick them out from the store when their leaves are turning because some just turn brown. Shumard Oak might work in your sandyloam if you have some depth to it (I am jealous of your soil). Smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus)might be a very nice substitute if you are looking for an understory collor and they bloom. These come in many varieties with differing colors, Like the variety Grace. The native variety will be tougher and remain small. If you haven't bought it, you need to get: Native Texas Plants; landscaping Region by Region by Sally Wasowski. Then make sure you deep water the tree twice a week not once a week during the summer because of the drainage factor. Usually they say once a week and maybe that will be alright for you. I am on the top of the hill on limestone rubble and I need to do it twice a week. I also needed to do it this summer to 6 year old trees and I didn't and they died. Oh, I was told another trick and that was to dig Square holes. The roots will hit the corner and be forced to pierce the hole wall. Odd theory but it makes sense. Then the roots don't end up going round and round.

What I'm looking forward to is the double cropping. Fruit from primocane and floricane. I've got plenty of space in my backyard and just wanna test them. I've got 3 plants from walmart that were mislabeled as black raspberry. You could plainly tell they were blackberries by the leaves and that they had no thorns. They are growing like crazy. I think they might be black magic or black satin. So don't be afraid to shop at big box stores next season! They've sometimes got some good stuff. I'm gonna extend my patch and add some raspberries too. I think I got a little sun scotch on my brazos and ouachita plants, but it's pushing 100ð everyday here lately. Since Natchez are supposed to be able to grow in the same climate as apache (from what I read), I think they'll be fine. There's a lady down my street that's been growing apaches for years.

East of the highway, Madrone and escarpment Black cherry are not for you. Are you North or south of Austin? You should ask this also on the Texas forum. You will get lots of advise and many more ideas. Mesquite, Persimmon, wax myrtle, tootache tree, Carolina buckthorn, Anacho orchid tree, Acasia right, acacia berlandieri,Possumhaw, Yaupon, rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Eve'sNecklace,Retama, Waffer ash, South of Austin, there is Mexican olive and Is a beauty. It is good in a protected spot if you are inside the heat dome of austin but if out side, It might die on a cold winter. OH OH OH, arroyo sweet wood is a beauty that is just now caching on.. Huisache is an interesting one for a short flash of color in the spring. It is the first tree to burst and it burst in orange fragrant blooms.. SO many choices.