The pic didn't come through, Mel. In general, Holmstrup would take much longer to add height and be wider so I would go with the DeGroot's Spire.

tj

Holy cow is this ever wrong!

This is currently one of my favorite arbs ever ...
Thuja occidentalis Primo™

I have a Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire', which is now about 20 ft tall. I actually had two, and both developed multiple leaders, though when bought they had single leaders only.

Bernd

Wow those are some old Degroot's Spire. Do you have a pic?

I was going to say that arb looks exactly like ‘Zmatlik' and sure enough it was a seedling of that cultivar.

That sign is likely for a 10 year size

i would start by coming out into that lawn.. and putting in some bulletproof small tree .. like a redbud ... and completely break up the facade ... from the curb ...... is that an option in your z4?

what is the huge monster on the left???

there must be a walkway from the garage to the front door ... and under that window will be a tough planting area.. presumably not very wide ... is that the hydrangea spot ... ???

too many peeps.. try to jam a thin TREE in a small spot.. for lack of any better ideas .... i dont quite understand where you want this tall thin TREE ... right or left of the garage door???

since its a rental.. who is going to maintain all this stuff ... dont over plant.. to your tastes ... go minimal .. imo ...

you are correct you need a vertical .... but i am thinking.. you might better need it on the tallest part of the house ... not the far end of the house ... what about between the 2 windows on the second story ...??? .. out into the lawn not up against the house ....

trying to think outside the box you are already standing in ....

ken

I guess my description wasn't well written. Yes, the hydrangeas are under the big window on the main level, behind the walkway from the garage. The arb will go on the end of that bed, to the left of the garage.

I am not planning to put anything to the right of the garage because I know it will be neglected, given that it's a rental property. The arb and hydrangeas I'm putting in will be as much as I'll do, until/unless I end up with a longterm tenant who I know will take care of whatever is installed. The northern strain redbud is an option here in zone 4, but not for this property. It's too expensive, will not be cared for and it has to be planted where it can be protected from prevailing winds, which this house simply cannot provide. Here in MN, they are not bulletproof. They are something you only see in very well tended gardens. Not "landscapes" of rental properties.

The monster on the left is, you guessed it, a silver maple. Since it's on the south, it creates too much shade for almost anything to go on the 2-story section of the house. The current tenant has asked if she can put hostas in that area. I told her she could try, but expect them to be mowed flat by rabbits.

I think I"m going to go with the DeGroots Spire, planted out away from the eave so it doesn't end up growing into the gutter. I figure we can make sure another leader doesn't grow in when we're there to check gutters for leaves.

Thank you everyone!

House sure would look a lot better without exclamation marks at corners.

I agree Em..... But it's a rental. So I have to do what tenants will take care of. Here in MN, people pile massive amounts of snow on the corner of the garage, so that's out.

And the left side is such deep shade and root competition for. The maple and pines in neighbor's yard, there's an way I'd get anything to grow there.