Ideas for a smaller upright front yard specimen tree zone 5

2 years ago

Live in zone 5 midwest would be in full sun. I live on a court so my front yard is pie shaped and relatively small, so looking for something that is interesting or eye catching with a width no more than 8-9 feet max (3 to 6' would probably fit the area neater) in the center of my front yard before spilling in my neighbors yard so it needs to stay relatively narrow. I dont care much about height. Was thinking some sort of conifer or pine or juniper. I saw a korean silverlocke fir at a nursery i thought i really liked but they get too big.

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Comments (14)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
A pic of the area to see how it would relate to the house and other plantings would help.

tj
Matt
Original Author
2 years ago

The area behind the fire
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What is that lolly-pop shaped plant by the front door? If it is a Ficus you need to pull that. It will crack your slab and sidewalk eventually. They have very large and aggressive root systems and are not good for suburban lots. Since the house faces north, there is going to be a lot of shade under that window so you will need shade or part sun plants. A tree may add more shade as well. naughtykitty is right, stay with a small tree or large shrub with a deep, well-behaved root system, and do not plant it too close to the house. I like the planter. The brick on it ties in visually with the brick in the stairs to the front door, and it looks to be in good shape. Considering the scale of your house, keep in mind that a large shrub limbed up will work just as well (if not better) than a tree. You don't have the largest front yard and a too-large tree is going to overwhelm the area. Another tree you might consider, though I like naughtykitty's suggestions better, is a strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo. (Not Arbutus 'Marina', since that gets quite large). In time it gets a beautiful red bark that would accent the brick. If the area under the window gets a decent amount of sun, say at least 5 hours, then you can't go wrong with 'Iceberg' rose. You can trim them with hedge clippers and they will bloom essentially year-round. I know 'Iceberg' is everywhere in Southern California, but it is everywhere for a reason--it is easy and beautiful. If it is shadier than that, less than four hours or so of direct sun, you could try a group of dwarf or dwarvish hydrangea such as 'Miss Minnipenny' or 'Endless Summer'. The new hybrids are repeat blooming and quite beautiful.
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If you're going to retain the gravel as the driveway material, then it would be good to install a band of something rigid to separate it from the turf. Since the space is large and wide open, it would look better to have a fairly bold edge to the gravel. I would suggest using a band of concrete that is about 15" wide (like a skinny walkway) at both the inside and outside edges. It should be perfectly circular, not faceted or irregular (so forming would be important) and nicely finished. It should sit a couple inches higher than the gravel, but flush with the lawn grade (you could add topsoil to make that happen.) You're not going to plant within 3' of house wall so lack of light there is immaterial. As far as what could be planted where I show blue flowers ... I envisioned it as a large perennial mass, 12" to 18" height (though bloom could stick up higher.) A color range of hybrid daylilies could be one solution. Possibly a shorter Veronica, if you can find such. Or Ajuga. Explore what grows there that would qualify. Maybe someone else will come up with a suggestion. Be practical and find something that will GROW well and is AVAILABLE. (Find a sunny place in your yard to grow some Russian sage as it is so pretty.)
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Based on your last picture, I would begin removing lower branches from the tree in an attempt to regain a view of the house and so that lawn can be maintained easily below the tree. To not remove lower limbs encourages the upright oriented limbs to become future trunks and compete with the main trunk. Not that that is bad in and of itself, if that's what one wants. But it often results in a trunk formation that is less attractive when trunks branch below the canopy. (Unless it's a multi-trunk tree and then it looks best if it "branches" at the ground.) It's already happened and when allowed to go too far, is too difficult to correct without maiming the tree's appearance. Also, the one low branch on what looks to be a weeping cherry at left corner of house seems odd and out of place. I would get rid of the white gravel mulch and replace it with wood-based mulch. Plan so that plants eventually cover everything and there is no longer need for mulch. In my drawing I'm showing an idea for creating a landing off of the stoop. It's not a finished plan, but you could create a workable plan that improves the approach to the entrance. I'm surmising that the slab continues behind the hedge, in which case, I'd get rid of the hedge and all plants in front of it and bring only grass to slab ... the purpose being to make a welcoming entrance instead of a secret, purposeless hideaway. It is not necessarily the case that ADDING plants is the key to improving your property. The large shrub left of walk seems too close to the walk. If you can't relocate it to in-line with the window (about 4' from the wall,) I'd scrap it and get another shrub for that location. I'm showing only groundcover around the weeping cherry. It looks a bit junky to have those other plants coming up under it.
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Christopher CNC
2 years ago
How about a Paperbark Maple, Acer griseum or are you wanting a conifer?

Acer griseum - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)
Matt
Original Author
2 years ago
I like those but they sound like they might get big I might keep it in mind for my backyard to replace my ash. I was leaning toward conifers bc I think something rugged would look good with the brown and against the woodsy back yard or something unique and eye catching but I'm open to other suggestions.
Christopher CNC
2 years ago
In conifers to get that narrow form you will be need to look at less known cultivars. Maybe this Dwarf Japanese White Pine would work.

Dwarf Japanese White Pine (monrovia.com)
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
To go with your tall windows, maybe Picea glauca ’Pendula’.

tj
gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
2 years ago
flowering crab
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
Since 8-9 feet is the max width, I take it not all we see on the right is your property?

tj
3onthetree
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Looks like a cul de sac pie shape. If I were your neighbor to the right, I would be thanking you that you are not a typical person who would say screw them and plant a common maple specimen that would cover my drive, house, and yard.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
conifers are trees.. and frankly .... never stop growing in your lifetime ... aka.. tree time ... nothing is going to stop at 8 or 9 feet ... thats not how trees work ...

at best.. you could find some shrubs pruned into tree shape.. that might fit.. but we arent talking about those here ...

z5 is half the US... how about big city name ...

i would go with a weeping conifer... maybe a larch.. train it to your magical height.. and then let is weep down .. where you can prune it to take whatever space you wish to allow it ... the skirt.. the part on the ground.. usually ends up the coolest part ...

july and august are not tree planting time in the midwest ... nothing will trigger a week of 100 degrees.. like planting a tree ... lol ... see section one at this link:

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

that does not mean you cant tag or take delivery now.. and hold the plant until the proper planting time

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=weeping+larix&t=ffab&iax=images&ia=images

ken

take a look at some of these.. and see if they strike your fancy ... understanding ... these can be pruned.. and most of these pix probably arent ... and btw.. they are deciduous in winter ... even cooler looking than when green

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=weeping+larix&t=ffab&iax=images&ia=images
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
Ken, the 8-9 feet restriction was width not height

tj
plantkiller_il_5
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Bush's Lace engelman spruce would be very nice

ron

and fit
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
with a width no more than 8-9 feet max (3 to 6' would probably fit the area neater) in the center of my front yard before spilling in my neighbors yard

==>>>

i understood that junkie ... but that width demands something that is prunable .. in an aesthetic manner .... and that was my point ...

killers BLace recommendation above ... once it gets established and growing to expectation .. is not going to stay 3 to 6 feet as preferred.. and though you can prune is.. shear it.. its just not going to be a good looking plant.. especially once its taller than you can effectively work on a ladder at height ...

and i also am thinking.. with the pie shaped wedge.. you dont really want just one potentially huge tall tree out front.. even if you can make it so thin ...

ken
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
2 years ago
Aesthetics aside, a Picea glauca ’Pendula’ would stay under 6 feet wide for 3-4 decades…at least all the ones I’ve seen in the Midwest have.

tj

Ideas for a smaller upright front yard specimen tree zone 5

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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

Matt
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Christopher CNC

Matt
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Christopher CNC

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

3onthetree

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

plantkiller_il_5

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

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Ideas for a smaller upright front yard specimen tree zone 5

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