Advise on front yard tree

Hi - Would like to know what tree should I plant and when in our front yard. Our old tree which was quite young died this summer. I live in Charlotte, NC. Would prefer a tree which will grow to 15-20 feet with a lot of shade and if possible no dead leaves during fall.

Then when is easy. Fall or early winter. Like right now. Perfect. The tree has all winter to begin developing new roots. (Water when it gets dry even in the coldest weather.) People in your area are the ones to recommend specific trees. Your master gardener organization or your county agent should have a list of appropriate trees including the mature height and other information. No dead leaves? All trees exchange out their leaves at some point unless you want a conifer. You're not going to get a lot of shade from a 15 or 20 ft. tree unless it has a very wide canopy. Please don't let people from Washington State or Arizona advise you on a tree suitable to your climate and soil conditions unless they are familiar with Charlotte and its environs.

little gem magnolias grow best in your area, but it will take time for tons of shade. Many mags, do great in NC, start real big to start you on your way, but if your looking for lots of shade, no leaf drop and inexpensive your out of luck, a plant like that is called an investment.

Conifers lose their leaves, too.

Could do a search for your area on arbor day foundation.
http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/advancedSearch.cfm

gee, claypa, thanks for the info. about conifers dropping their leaves. I think link........ was referring to deciduous trees with broad leaves that drop them more or less at the same time. As most everybody knows, the modified leaves,usually called needles, on conifers, are exchanged out more slowly than the leaves on say a red oak tree, and they don't completely cover a lawn, as the leaves from a large oak can.

Yes, I understood link28226's post, but I was referring to your statement that seemed to imply that conifers don't shed their leaves . I don't know about what most everybody knows, but White Pine (Pinus strobus, common in the east, but not Texas) needles are about to cover part of my lawn, same as they do every year. You can hardly see the grass for all the needles. Some other pines do that as well. And conifer foliage can correctly be called leaves, too.

Also, some conifers are deciduous, and lose ALL their foliage, every year. I have a Metasequoia that will soon turn color and lose all its leaves. Ginkgos, cypress (Taxodium), and larches are other deciduous conifers.

I humbly defer to your expertise.

This message was edited Oct 11, 2008 10:04 PM

I'm sure that this information from a world-renowned plant expert will not be convincing, and that's all right..........


"In earlier classification systems the Ginkgo tree was placed in the class Coniferopsida, because it is thought to be more related to conifers than to any other gymnosperm, but the two groups appear to have evolved independently.
Although the Ginkgo is more like a conifer than a deciduous broadleaf tree it is neither, it has a unique position. Recent research suggests a much closer relationship to the cycads than to the conifers."

Ok, I defer to the anonymous world-renowned plant expert. My point was that some conifers drop a lot of leaves, and some are deciduous.

link28226: Are you looking for a tree to provide shade, or one for a shady location?

edit: dp72's quote is from this site (copyrighted by Cor Kwant, who appears to be interested in credit for his intellectual property):

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kwanten/thetree.htm

This message was edited Oct 12, 2008 5:31 PM

Anonymity on public sites such as this is the only sane policy. There are a couple of nutjobs EVEN ON DAVE'S. I suppose when you speak at symposia all around the world, you are introduced as "claypa."

I suppose your suspicion and sarcasm will ruin this poster's question and have this thread removed like the other one was.

There are some sane plant experts here who use their real names. And they know that conifer needles are plentiful on lawns at certain times of the year.

Since you don't use a "real name," the only conclusion that, according to your comment, makes any sense whatsoever is that you are neither sane nor a plant expert. You feign concern that this thread will be removed, and yet you won't let go of your absurd position that conifer needles are every bit as bulky and presumably pervasive as the leaves from non-conifer decidious trees. Suspicion is one of the main symptoms of paranoia, according to a world-renowned psychiatrist. You are such a stranger to sarcasm it's understandable that you don't recognize it when you read it.

lol

Wow, hey guys tone down the hit and runs. There is no way to type in every question everything that there is on a subject, some stuff is left out. why argue over a subject matter? You're both highly intellegent people with great ideas now go to your respective corners for 5 minutes!

kitten, you're a wise peacemaker. I'm afraid we both have been ungentlemanly. Blame it on testosterone.

isn't it always to blame, but with the switch of a sharp object i can take care of that, I'm a professional!

I'm staying clear of you, kitten! Thanks, REALLY, for interrupting a pointless exchange that just took up webspace.

but it was entertaining, my kids are outside so this is like having them under my fingers while typing. I do like that you tell people to be careful of where people are giving them advise from. A lot of times we get carried away and forget this most important point. I also think a lot of these questions can be answered if one just does a little research be it by searching the web or by asking the Ag. extension service.

Hey, If we are back on topic now, lets get to the question. Some cities governments have a preference for certain trees. Some of them will tell you to remove certain kinds of trees when they are planted street side. You may want to check that. Otherwise, take note of older specimens in the city that still look good and haven't cracked the sidewalks nearby. If you don't know the name of the tree and stopping to ask is not an option, there are folks here at dave's that can identify it.

perfect point!

Whenever I see a chat-room tussle, I just KNOW who I will find ruffling feathers! DP, and you were doing so well for a while! LOL

britbrighton, have we met? I don't recall your moniker.

You forgot me so soon! I'm crushed!

early onset ALZ, advancing FAST. please refresh what's left of my mynde.

dp72

*highly sarcastic
*oftentimes condescending
*low tolerance for novices
*most always rubbing someone the wrong way....

remember now???????????? LOL

britbrighton, your observations are highly subjective, and you might want to reflect on your motivation(s) for posting them. The LOL's seem a little odd in the context of your comments.

All observations are subjective-don't you agree? Motivation? You should know well, the need for purging that ever growing itch of sarcasm. LOL was my sarcasm; sarcasm over your alleged ALZ. I like it. That is a great way out of a sticky situation. Too bad I am not in an ALZ generation :(

Of course you like it. You are quite pleased with your cleverness, and, I would expect, everything you do and say. You are more than welcome to the last word in this little tete-a-tete. I suspect you are accustomed to ALWAYS having the last word.

Surely, you must be referring to yourself!

Would y'all just can it! This is in public! Use D-Mail

Sorry Nan! I'll be quiet now....

It is depressing and irritating to look to see what info can be gleaned from the thread titled "Advise on front yard tree" and finding an argument instead. There is D-mail for that stuff...

And I've noticed the original poster has not returned. What will they think of Dave's when they do return?

I, for one, wish to apologize to them. This is not how most of us act.

If I get slammed for this, then so be it.