This thread got a second wind. This summer We put up our first fence after living in the house for 18 years. It is lattice and about 16 feet long and affords us some privacy on the patio. I'm still surprised to see it when I drive home. And I still find it has somewhat unfriendly feeeling, even though I chose to put it in! Without fully thinking it through at the time, the fence is part of a larger plan to make the patio usable. It is very very hot out there and inhospitable to lounging. The glassand iron table, iron cushioned chairs and large umbrella just don't meet my criteria for relaxing. Eating a meal, but not reading a book with a drink in my hand I would like to redesign the space and plant a tree for shade then I really could lounge out there...and appreciate my privacy For those who read the earlier posts, the horses across the street still get out. Last week I drove by neighbors (unfenced) yard and there was "Bella" (I think of her as Big Fella Bella) chomping on the lawn. When I couldn't find the owner's telephone number, I went back up the street, took her bridle and led her home. It was daytime and I was afraid if I told her to go home, she'd dawdle in the street and cause a car accident. Not bad for someone who 's only ridden horse at one birthday party back in the dark ages. People's answers were very interestingl. Here only one neighbor has a 'real fence. It is fancy iron and part of a plan for keeping up appearances (and surpassing the Joneses) It is the biggest butt ugly house and totally inappropriate to the neighborhood's age, history and style. Everyone who comes to the neighborhood for the first time asks about it, rolling their eyes. Yes, it needed a fence: an eight foot solid one to spare the neighbor from seeing this ostentatious eyesore. Next, finally getting around to screening our neigbor's white aluminium shed which is on an elevation, and right on the property line (totally illegal now) But he's such an old sweetheart I don't want to appear unneighborly. We often meet over the water faucet up there; he lets me hook up to his well water for summer irrigation. Love thy neighbor, love his shed. Marie

You could put up a trellis/lattice along the side of the balcony where you want privacy and plant vines in pots, either evergreen perennials or annuals, or a mix, as a temporary measure, for 3-4 years. Any tree that will give privacy quicker than in about 2-4 years in that situation will cost BIG bucks to buy and plant - you would have to buy one that started out about 15' tall, as trees usually need a year to settle in and begin to get taller. Most of the trees that are that tall, and are reasonably priced are young and relatively sparse on top. It's going to cost to cut down the pear and get it out of there, and get it cleaned up, anyway, so why spend a lot more? If you don't want Leyland cypress in pots, any other moderately sized evergreen in pots will give you the privacy at once, although the pots may take up too much room - I don't know how big the balcony is. An espalliered pyracantha, if you can find one hardy for your area, could work also, as could any other evergreen shrub. A Franklinia will mature at about 24' in 40 years, and has white flowers in the late summer/fall, with red fall foliage. It will take moderate shade. Koelreutia, golden rain tree, will mature a little taller in 40 years, flowering in summer with pendulous yellow blossoms - it has no fall color to speak of. It takes light shade. Redbud may be too slow growing and too wide, but it will be the height you want and will take shade. Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, might do for you as it tolerates shade, matures to about 18', has yellow flowers, may have fall color but it does have berries that drop early. You may do better, as Quirkyquercus suggested, to chose a fastigate, foliage tree that will take shade, like the hop hornbeam (although it does grow, very slowly, to a greater height than specified), and provide your color with a shrub or vine, whether in pots on the balcony, or below in the ground.

Jim, I just cant see you diging up really old posts, going on and on about it, with out some type of goal. Exactley what are you trying to prove??? Go to my site, All the ipe projects have 116 on them. As you can see they are not Red or Redwood or anything close to that. Saying it is makes me Mad clear and simple. Now if you put 116 on say preasure treated,garapa or any light color wood then Yes its going to come out a different color than 116 on ipe. This is basic 101 wood finish. Any of the resin base twp products can be mixed together to come up with a different color. I have used combos like that when puting finish on Garapa and other woods. I put cedar tone natural on ipe one time because the Wallet asked for it the result was bad but I did what they wanted however for ipe its most always the 116. Ipe itself is not one color it ranges from almost black to a light tan 116 levals out the differances but the result is not Red. Any color chip you get from Any finish store is going to be different on another kind of wood other than the wood used on the chip you cant expect them to have samples of finish on every kind of product. Just get off it Man. Its up to the Customer to know if one finish is the right one for them. There is no way twp is showing product online / samples / or color chips that dont match up with what they sell. You might not agree with what they call it if so just pick another name for your self and call it that but it Defentley is what they say it is and what they say they sell is what they sell. The JonMon has been a little tense latley after a long term project was real hard on me. This is a mixed site if I could I would edit my last response but O Well. J.

First of all, that is a clean ZTR for that age and that is a good price IMO. But (and this is coming from someone that just ordered a new Cub ZTR) if you need to pull a trailer or use implements, I think you know that you are better off with a conventional tractor, maybe with tight turning. It seems like it is much easier to find a used garden tractor than a ZTR in decent shape for a reasonable price. So if you have the room, your plan for a second tractor might be feasible. However, two tractors would take up a lot of room and you would have the added maintenance to deal with. Still, one tractor would be the most practical answer with two being a luxury.