Suggestions Please! I want, need, must have a tree!

I have a rather small west facing yard. I need a tree which will shade the large family room picture window. When the evening sun is setting it gets unbearably warm. So, small tree, decent shade. I'm considering primarily Weeping Cherry, but any suggestions out there for a good alternative? I have done research, but I get confused and lose track of the wide variety of what I have looked at. Thank you.

Weeping Cherry is nice. So, you also like a flowering small tree. There is many to choose from. You might consider something native also. A Redbud, a Dogwood, Sourwood, a small Magnolia, Pawpaw. The list goes on and on, anyone else?

Will

Hello, there are so many small maples that could fit your bill. If you could afford to spend about $400-500.00 for a really nice tree there is a spectacular specimen at a nursery on ten mile just West of Millford road (South off of 96). It is a Acer Grissum hybrid, I believe the cultivar name is "Girrard". A lovely small tree with graceful proportions, it has beautiful trilobed leaves and bark simular to American Beech. The tree is currently about 12-15 feet tall and out in the shrub/tree area right behind the large perigola where they keep all the shade loving shrubs. It will easily fit into a small yard. I bought its match (there were two of them) three years ago and it is doing wonderful.They also have some other nice larger specimens that would provide you with instant shade in different price ranges. You will probably need to have it moved and planted professionally. Ask for Paul Raney. Tell him Pat sent you...

I was thinking of Redbud, also; or maybe a Stewartia? A bit unusual, and just gorgeous.

I like pagoda dogwood cause the stratified lateral branching lets you look out the window and still have the shade. Look here for interest http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1771/index.html This specimen costs about 80 bucks for a 6 foot tree here in montana and grows rather well to shade in 3 to 5 years. Good visibility "through" the tree to the area beyond.

This message was edited Jul 7, 2006 11:42 PM

Weeping Cherries (the Higan variety) and Redbuds are disease prone in the northern areas of Zone 5 and short lived compared to the Acer's. Do you want to look out through the canopy or look under it? Big difference. Magnolias and dogwoods are not fond of having their lower limbs pruned. Patrick3582 has an excellent suggestion. I'd stick with the Acer.

You guys have got me going now! Patrick, I do intend to take a look at the Acer Griseum 'Girard's' the next time I go visit mom in S Lyon - today maybe? lol The rest I have done searches on, and there are several I may consider. I'm now thinking that 2-3 trees could find a new home - my house! My landscaping was completely barren when I moved into this home, so I have had a blank canvas to work with the last couple years. It's been very interesting to say the least considering I'm a do-it-yourselfer, and I had never done anything but plant annuals previously. Now I am completely addicted to getting out there and tending to the gardens/yard.

Oh no Bloom you have gone over. You will never find Kansas again. You are in the early stages of "Plantaholic" lifestyle where you can never take a shower without planning a garden event. LOL

Bloom, If your mom lives here in South Lyon, you probably know the nursery Raney's; thats where the tree is. It is a faboo tree! They also have several other trees there that will melt your heart, in the $150.00-200.00 range, but I shall not give away any details least you grab something I am covetting! HA!

In case Paul is not there, the tree is behind (or next to, depending on your view) a large Cornus mas, also not a bad choice, but it suffered some damage to the trunk a few years ago so I would pass on that particular specimen. You could ask another Raney, Mike, and he should be able to show you where it is. Happy hunting!

You are so right Soferdig, I have gone over! I understand I can find the 12 step program in the Co-op forum - right? :)

Plantaholics have a 1 to 2 step program. Stay out of nurseries, garden magazines, and never work in your garden. Oh the 2nd step, divide, gather seeds, and use the trade forum. Just some color for this forum delphs in the garden

Sofergig: Showoff! Wow those are nice.

Sofer! What a pretty blue, matches your ...eyes..! I'm guessing, LOL.

Nope Hitler kicked out my family for not being Arien. We have hazle eyes. Like the helebore blooming in the woodland garden. Here in zone 4b! I'm so proud. Our oriental lillies are looking good today also.

That's mighty pretty, Hazel! You s/b proud. What is the plant to the left of the yellow lily pls? Is that some kind of JP maple? :0) ~ole green eyes

No it is one of my sumacs. Smooth sumac. It will grow to 15 to 20' and blanket the woodland forest underneath. I love sumac. This one shoots a few runners but I just whack them off. Look at the astilbes.

Oh good! I love sumacs too, I would love to get a Tiger Eyes, passed one up this summer, and it's haunting me, LOL. However, I think I only have room for Sutherland Gold sambucus.

What does that look like and what zone does it live in? My tiger eyes are beautiful. here is one starting between the Glacier Park group.

It looks similar I think, only smaller? 5-10 ft tall, zone 3. Here's a great pic I found.

http://www.tangledroots.biz/plants/sutherland_gold.htm

Beautiful Sofer!

Thanks PZgirl now I need one or two or three of those in my new woodland garden. Do they sucker? Here is another one. The delph goes well (I think) with the beautiful chartreuse.

Beautiful bloomers ya got there! The delphs really pop next to that sumac, and the astilbes look like cotton candy. They prob do sucker, but have no firsthand knowldege. Does your Tiger Eyes sucker?

Fine photos, soferdig.
What is the tree (?) overhanging the sumac two photos up?
Which astilbe is the red?

(hazel here, too, but not common in the family)

Astilbe Red Sentinal. And the tree is an Ivory Silk Lilac tree. You can see it better from this picture.