Help in picking a tree.

This is our very first home and the builder left us with a very sad excuse for landscaping.

Anyway, they put in a Yaupon Holly tree where the focus of our flowerbed should be and this tree is just downright sad.

I am in Dallas, Texas (Zone 8) and I am looking for a replacement tree.

I would like something bright and showy and I do not like plants with yellow as the main show color.

My other problem is this spot is kind of up against my house, with a gutter drain above where the tree will be planted.

The gutter makes me worry a little as the tree there is doing so poorly and when I read up on basic causes for trees that look like this it was over watering.

We really do not get much rain here in Texas, it comes in, dumps a whole bunch and then the storm is gone in an hour or two.

I am currently looking at either a Pink Dogwood (I think this might get too big/tall for that area) or possibly a Jane Magnolia.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

This message was edited Sep 30, 2009 9:05 AM

ShadeWraith, the Japanese Magnolia (Jane or Susan, both have great color) would be lovely there, but I would suggest

1. Move the new tree forward a couple feet to clear the roofline. Determine the canopy size of the tree, divide that by two and add 1 foot. If a tree has canopy spread of 10ft, then set the tree at least 6ft from the roofline. This keeps the foliage off of your roof. Also, it helps keep roots away from the foundation.

2. Add a diffuser to your downspout (you can get them at any home improvement store) they just spread out the water flow to prevent washout

3. Create a slight rise for the tree (setting the tree a few inches higher than the surrounding area. This is called turtlebacking.)

Hope this helps.

4. Use weed block landscape fabric on the area to help keep the soil in place while the tree gets established. You can plant a few annuals like pansies or violas around the tree to help with this also.

themoonhowl.

Great advice.

I've never heard of turtlebacking. I suppose it makes sense though. I mean, I've seen the technique in action but I never knew it was actually called turtlebacking.

I would also have to agree with you about moving the tree out. If you are going to go through the trouble of digging up the old one, you might as well get it positioned exactly where you need it.

Great advice.

I can't find a picture of this plant you are talking about, do you have one? I'd really like to see what it looks like.

here are links for the JPs http://store.buckrunnursery.com/magnolia-jane.html

http://www.heronswood.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/Magnolia-Susan-New-for-2009/productID/7da0583e-42b0-42c5-8d6a-9312898cf746/categoryID/5d3c4959-f10a-4ebf-8e22-63abe16d9081

The turtlebacking just keeps the crown up a couple inches since the downspout is right there. Learned that term from soccer field grading....grin

These are pretty nice. Do they come in other colors?

Mike
www.outdoorlg.com

Pinks, purples and whites are the only ones I am aware of, Mike. Here is a link covering the magnolias in general
http://www.conifer.com.au/magnolia_list

Does Stewartia grow in your zone? I find it to be quite an attractive flowering tree.

This message was edited Oct 7, 2009 1:34 PM

Mike, are you affiliated with ODLG? Seems like a pretty nice site.

themoonhowl

Thank you, yes I am affiliated with them.

"Downright sad"? That species is one of the most incredible trees known to mankind. Because it's native to the Southeast, U.S. gardeners give it short shrift; I'm a huge plant snob and I put two Yaupons in my own yard last summer. Give it some time, watch it turn into a natural jumbo bonsai with zero disease problems, zero insect problems, great winter berries (if it's a lady), etc. They like living in dry-ish, sunny pine bluff areas here in Louisiana, so your lack of rainfall should not be a problem. Yours already has an excellent shape to it; I would just prune off the branch facing the house. The tree will very elegantly lean itself away from the house/gutter and then reach skyward in a statuesque flickering flame shape, causing passersby to crane their necks in awe.