We've been warned not to plant Leyland's because of bagworm problems in our area. Our neighbor has a small one right by the edge of their front porch, though. And I see them for sale at the local big box stores. Our landscaper was going to have Green Giants installed in ours but I didn't want any that big. We ended up planting several Emerald Green Arborvitae. They are wonderful so far. I just finished cleaning out their base to breathe better. They are thriving, and bright green. They have become my husband's favorite evergreens. They grow to about 15' in height and about 3-4' wide. I have them in the shaded areas, and full sun areas. So far no problems whatsoever.

Well...I purposely didn't say because.....I use cactus soil! But you could mix in some regular potting soil, say 25%. Or just add a bit of compost. You are goign to have to experiment a bit. If I were doing it I would ask a CA native plant expert. The folks at Cal Flora come to mind.

I wouldn't want the liability of someone removing it from my home. What if they drop the heavy top on their foot or damage your floors? Unless you're getting new floors? I think $500 to $800 would be a fair price. Another option would be to donate it to Habitat For Humanity Restore if you have one in your area. Get the write off on your taxes. And they'll do a pick up from your garage. If you are getting new tops, ask your fabricator what they would charge to remove it and place it in your garage....if you don't want to lift it off....or have the manpower.

If it's over 20 years old, just replace it. If it's a cheap builder-grade uninsulated door you might appreciate a better quality door. Without seeing a picture of your house I can't tell, but I wonder if this is actually the right style door for your house. When you buy a garage door they come in various colors factory finished. If one of those colors works for you, you will have the ultimate durable finish. All I can tell you is that the people who bought our house two years ago painted the fiberglass garage door and the paint is already peeling off. I know they're not DIYers, so they paid for it. Maybe someone else will come along with recommendations on how to correctly paint aluminum or fiberglass. DH maintains that any surface when prepared correctly can be painted.