Neighbors CUT shade canopy from my West facing garden HELP

The neighbors have removed 4 mature deciduous trees bordering my yard from their backyard west of me, transforming my protected dappled and cool summer garden into full afternoon sun in one fell swoop, and now overlooked by most of south east Portland! Hostas, ferns, Oriental Lilies, pulmonaria, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Japanese maples, Nandina, nicotiana alata, tied together with annual impatiens are what were doing best before the slaughter. I suppose I will have to watch everything fry for an entire season before knowing what to do, but thought I would put this topic out there (being a new and inexperienced member of Dave's Garden) for any ideas on how to begin to transform a garden from half shade to full sun.

HI! Welcome! Eeek! What a shock that would be! It looks like it's a beautiful garden otherwise. :) It's probably good that they cut the trees this early so the plants can adjust a little better than if it changed overnight in August. The Lilies, Nandina, and nicotiana should be fine, and the rhodies may do better than you think-we've been discussing this in a different thread just recently, in fact. I've only had hydrangeas for a year or two, so I'll let someone else who knows more about them chime in. Hostas- ooh, well, yeah. A sunburned hosta is not a pretty thing.

Somewhere there was a thread a year or so ago about someone who lost their shade and they put up umbrellas. Maybe a trip to IKEA to check out their spring umbrellas to hold you for the season? If it's temporary, at least IKEA won't set you back as much.

Do you have any kind of CC& R restricting or governing fences or trellises? Maybe put up a 12ft trellis?

Such a pretty garden and it's so well cared for that it's a shame your neighbors have changed it.

Until you find a solution I'd put down a great deal of compost as mulch to keep it damp.

Good luck!

I had to take down a tall Grand Fir last year about this time, as it had been hit by lightening & was deteriorating rapidly. It provided mid afternoon shade for many of the same plants you listed that are planted in the area affected by the loss of the Fir.
I realize that last summer was very cool, but my shrubs & shade perennials were all in full sun & exposed: they never showed any adverse signs.
I monitered the moisture content, especially around the Rhodies and Hostas, but other than a few times watering, I never had to fuss with them.
Perhaps some lightweight shade cloth would help on the hottest days, unless you have umbrellas large enough to provide adequate shade.

Hi Knownasnancy - I also live in SE Portland (near 34th and Hawthorne) and have belonged to DG only a few months. I moved here last October and this is the first time I am taking care of a garden by myself and I don't know very much about it! DG has been a great resource.

I hope you find a solution to your dilemma! Your garden looks lovely.

Knownasnancy, what a pain!! I'm so sorry you're going through this. I do so count on the trees. I second what Sue said. For the hydrangeas it will really depend on what type they are. Some like more sun - others, not so much. You might check in the hydrangea forum.

There are nurseries that specialize in larger trees - it may cost a little bit to have a couple put in, but you'd at last have some shade from the very latest sun of the day, which is the worst. Maples do well here and grow quickly and the vine maples (trained to grow upright) are not so expensive as the Japanese maples. And then you get that beautiful fall color.

Put in an arbor is another option that may allow you to keep parts of the floor dry.and "hide" your Hostas and Pulmonaria.

Good luck and keep us posted. Oh, and you might also try posting to the Garden Design forum. Lots of good ideas come out of there.

Kathy

What a shame for such a beautiful and well established garden!

I agree with those who said that several of your plants will be just fine in the sun as long as they are adequately watered. I grow several hydrangeas, nicotiana, oriental lillies, hostas, impatiens, ferns etc in close to full sun and they do just fine as long as the soil stays moist. Then again, there are a few of my hostas and hydrangeas that didn't like that much sun and it was quickly obvious.

A greenhouse type shade cloth would definitely help on the sunniest days, as would some kind of trellis or fence if that would protect the garden from the afternoon sun. My mother has a solid split bamboo fence (comes in a roll kind of like a bamboo shade) behind her shade garden and it is a lovely backdrop as well as protection from the afternoon sun.

Hope you find a solution that works and doesn't detract from the beautiful garden you have created!

Hi, knownasnancy, and welcome. What has been said so far sounds like great ideas.

Hey, pirl, good to see you!

Hi Jan!

Another thought crossed my mind. Gardener's Supply used to have it but last I saw they said it was out of stock but, hopefully, the photo remains. It was a shade gizmo that was triangular in shape. I'm sure most awning shops could make something similar and you could rig it up on poles. If I find a link I'll add it here.

Hurray! Here it is: http://www.gardeners.com/Patio-Shade-Sail/PatioLiving_Cat,37-180RS,default,cp.html

First of all I am just delighted by all of your friendly input, and great ideas! Posting on a forum felt like going out on a limb (no more "limbs" in my neighborhood boo hoo) and so it is so neat hearing from all of you! I din't see that there was also a garden design forum, which sounds like a good one to check out. Besides the sun burn problem, there is also the loss of privacy and height, but I am starting to feel (after two weeks mourning) that I can begin to tackle the remaking process....thank you for welcoming me to this lively gardening community!

Nancy, this is definitely just the beginning. DGers are a friendly and supportive bunch on pretty much every forum.

And many of us have been in this or similar situations. :-(

The only price we exact for our "free" opinions is pictures, pictures, pictures - like you posted at the front. Especially in the spring, when we're all going crazy to get outside. Pictures of other people's gardens keep us going . . .

Beautiful garden Nancy. Hope you find a solution you like.

Hi Nancy - Yikes! It always amazes me that neighbors can sometimes be so thoughtless about things like this. What could yours have been thinking, or I guess I should say, NOT thinking?

Anyway, If I were you, I'd look into planting some fast-growing trees along the back of your border that would provide some privacy and some dappled shade. You might think about something like Birch trees. They will become tall and have a more slender form, they grow relatively fast if provided with plenty of water in their early years, and they won't form a dense canopy cutting off all of the light. They probably won't provide much protection this year, but if you get them in the ground this spring and keep them watered, by next year, they may be big enough to provide some shade and screening.

Good luck, and welcome to the PNW Gardening forum.

Birch trees are a great suggestion - I have one and can see it from one of my bedroom windows. Everything about it is beautiful!

Did the neighbors tell you ahead of time that they were doing this or was it a complete surprise? I would have given you time to plan for the big change - after all, it changes the whole ecosystem in your garden!

I just saw this thread (Hi Pirl!) and wanted to suggest planting your own trees, but Jamesk beat me to it! I completely agree. The height and dappled shade of those trees was part of your garden, as well as the screening they provide. I wonder why your neighbors did such a thing? So thoughtless.
Birch trees are great. I think I would do a little research, though, about some other trees as well. Around here, many of our birch trees get hit fairly hard if we have ice storms in the winter. They are brittle and tend to break off. They also drop little branches all the time. It's a small price to pay for such a lovely form, though. And the leaves are excellent for the soil. There are some forms that are better than others. I believe Dan Hinkley strongly recommends Betula utilis as his favorite birch.

The other idea I had, which may have already been expressed, is that if you don't wish to put in trees, how about a large and sturdy arbor that runs the length of the fence? You could plant a nice deciduous vine such as Wisteria (the american version is a little less rampant and more delicate) , perhaps mixed with a nice early grape. You would then get the same sun in the winter and screening in the summer, with fall color.

Hi Pixydish! Along the lines of your thought here's a photo by HollyAnn taken at a flower show.

Birches aren't long lived here either but the bark on so many of them is so beautiful and so worth it. I also love the shade they give.

I guess it would be easier to see if I posted the photo!

Good Gads, that is breathtaking. Is there a birch in there somewhere?

No but we could make believe, can't we?

LOL ^_^

My oh my, the things they can do at shows!! That is truly beautiful.

More ideas on arbors and trellises: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/947352/

Pirl, that's exactly the idea I had in mind! How beautiful, and the arbor is a perfect combination of form and function. Can't you just see grapes hanging beneath it?
I concur about the birches. They really are the most graceful trees. The one in my backyard has been damaged many times, I guess, because the trunk was growing all out of whack when we moved in. Half of the tree is rotted, but I just leave it until it really goes. I figure it's good for the wildlife, and then the birch leaves are lovely for the soil.

Hello, this is just great! All these great ideas! I am thinking about a tall wide and deep arbor; annual vines for some privacy this year, maybe covering with some really outrageous rambling roses over time. I have always felt inspired by the John Singer Sargent painting of two girls lighting lanterns in a lily garden, but couldn't grow roses very well under those trees. I also like the idea of birch trees, as the garden is something of a Moon Garden, with Japanese painted ferns, pulmonaria, all those white lilies...I saw the most beautiful small grove of birch trees in an open garden last year; he called them Himalayan Birch.

I will have a lot of plants to move.

Wow, that arbor setting is glorious! I could just walk through the garden show displays all day long and not be bored. What fun it would be to design your dream garden with whatever flowers you wanted all blooming at the same time, regardless of the season...sigh...


Nancy, I love the birch idea...we have one at our EWA house and it is glorious. Your description in your last paragraph triggered a memory from the weekend that you may consider as an iteresting option. We visited Dragonfly Nursery this weekend, and Heidi had a glorious stand of trees that all three of us drooled over. They had white bark, the new growth was purpleish red, and the long leaves were almost a light grey color. We asked, and Heidi said that they were Eucalyptus(sp?) that she had grown by seed. They would be a stunning addition to a moon garden, and she says that they grow incredibly quickly. She said it was called a Candle Bark Gum. Just thought I would throw it out there...it was beautiful enough that I am going to find myself one...or at least some seeds!

knownasnancy, it would've have been nice gester if your neighbors had told you of their plans at least a little in advance. As a temporay fix, a few structures lined with shade cloth might hold you over until you can move things around. Though since your garden is so full, and you don't have the luxury of time. It might be a good time to contact a Landscape Architect or a Garden Designer. They can draw the plans, organize the job, and build any outdoor structure. The Association for Landscape Architects is here in Portland, I've always admired their profession. And their are some that will allow clients to get their hands dirty.

Good Luck,
Kristin
Kristin4smilely

Hi Kristen4 - another fellow Portlander! Welcome!

I love that picture! What a great jumping off point for the garden, and I love how you are embracing the idea of growing roses and other plants you couldn't grow without sunshine! I have a climbing rose called Sombreiul ( hope I spelled it correctly) that is the most beautiful shade of white.

Rarejem, thanks for the info about Heidi's tree. She does have the coolest things growing in her garden. I'm going to google that tree and take a look. I love eucalyptus, but some of them get really big. They are very cool trees, though and I'd love to have one with that description. Was she selling them?

Pixy--Yes, Heidi has some wonderful stuff! Her gardens were stunning, and she is a wonderful wealth of information. The only reason I am able to eat this week is that it was raining and really cold the whole time we were there! I missed the time you guys all went a month ago, so we went on a drive up there this weekend. She was selling some Eucalyptus that she said would grow into those that she had growing, but the ones that she had for sale had the silver dollar shaped leaves. I KNOW she knows what she is talking about, but I have a 4 year old eucalyptus that has the dollar shaped leaves (the way it is supposed to beaccording to the tag) and it hasn't changed, so I just couldn't get the concept through my head that round leaves would change to long ones. We looked it up in the Western Garden Book when we got home, and OMG are there a lot of varieties of Eucalyptus!!! So some do start with round leaves that turn into long leaves...so I guess my answer to your question is that she might be selling them?????? Just can't get that whole leaf change through my head... Anyway, I will say that they were one of the most stunning trees that I have seen in a long time, especially with the color they had this time of year!

This might fit in here. I just went to a talk yesterday by Sean Hogan on his new book "Trees for All Seasons". There's lots of cool things in it-including some Eucalyptus (he's a good speaker, too.) Lots of smaller trees/large shrubs, and he's careful to mention how they fare over winters as well. He's careful to point out why he finds things interesting-foliage color, shape, size, whatever. I think it's going to be a good reference.
http://www.timberpress.com/books/isbn.cfm/9780881926743/trees_all_seasons/hogan

I'm glad to be in Portland, I love that We have 4 definate seasons here. I joined DG a few months back and look forward to learning more about gardening and seed germination, etc. I'm a transplant from San Diego, CA (about 8 years ago) where Eucalyptus are a signature tree, I believe about 50 varieties. The postives being Eucalytus are very very fast growing, and have wonderful scents and attractive bark colors. Though the negatives are much stronger and I think eliminates this group. *Since they grow so fast, they also have brittle branches, and create a lot of mess. *The wind and snow here in Portland would keep it from growing more than an understory tree, with protection say on the side of a house.. Also, *Eucalytus suck up all the nutrients from the ground so that the surrounding plants are starved for food. *They don't like hardly any water, and thrive on neglect and poor soil.
For a similar look birch trees work well, many kinds. I've a Tulipaflora 'Tulip tree in my yard, insignificant light green flowers, and leaves shape similar to a maple. Portland Nursery is one my favorite places to get ideas, and Seven Deas. Also Garden World in Woodburn has large trees. And countless other nurserys.
I only know of one Garden Designer on the Westside.
A complete change to a sunny garden would be a big change, but you could grow plants that you haven't grown in your backyard, I believe that ws part of another post too.
I love grape arbors and wisteria vines those would be super fast growing on a pergola. I look forward to watching your tread.

Good Luck,
Kristin
Kristin4smilely

Eucalyptus are common in southern California. The long leaf varieties are used as wind breaks on farm land. I had a few of the silver dollar trees and the leaver are always the round shape. One of my favorite trees - the leaves make a nice rustling sound in the breeze.

My neighbor (SE 34th ave near Hawthorne) is an excellent garden designer, and a really nice person as well. She has been so helpful to me. She gives great advice and is very into using plants that you may already have. Nancy, if you would like to talk with her send me a Dmail.

I posted this on another thread, but here's a great site I just heard about today on the local public radio station - it has tons of information about planting with natives and
even some garden plans:

http://green.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/

Nancy, Wow, it's only been a few days since first the post and already; loads of info to go on. I do hope you get your yard looking the way you want. Your current yard is so beautiful. I'm sure the next will be too.

Judy, sorry, didn't mean to step on your tree (so to speak) past or present tree. I was generalizing, and with a large plant family, that's probably not fair. It' sounds like you had more direct experience than I.

Nancy, I've some Calla Lilies hercules if you want to have them when your new yard is taking shape, and Siberian Iris. These bulbs are in my planting areas now, I had planned on taking these out anyway. Callas do well in pots too. Do you want to trade for some shade plants? I've plenty of room for shade plants and just learning about since I've 2 new shade planting areas.

Thanks so much,
Kristin
Kristin4smilely

Rarejem, there are some eucalyptus that start out with the round leaves and then as they mature the leaves take on a different shape. I know, it's a wierd thing to get one's head around. You can end up having both kinds of leaves on the same plant, I guess.

susybell, that's a great reference. I knew he had a new book but had not seen it yet. Is he as good a speaker as D. Hinkley?

Kristen - I was actually posting my response at the same time you were posting yours. And I don't disagree with your comments. Please, no apology necessary!

I relocated here from San Francisco and I, too am loving Portland. What area are you in? It is such a lovely and fun city.

Pix - those mutating trees are like halibut, which mutate from having eyes on both sides of their heads and then the eye migrates through a neural tube so that both eyes are on the same side. I couldn't eat it for a long time after my marine biologist son told me that.

Pix, Wish I could tell you, but unless it was more than 10 years ago and I've forgotten, I don't think I've ever heard Hinkley give a talk. I plan to go to the Portland one this spring, though. Regardless, I do think you would like this book.

Kristen, what part of Portland is z6b? Are you out toward North Plains, or out east towards Sandy?

Judi, there's something considerably more creepy about mutating fish eyes than multiple foliage forms to me....but, then, I am a plant addict....lol :)

Judy, funny how these things happen. after my last post I was thinking of more of trees. I just love the sound of rustling leaves through an open window, and looks good too. It's good to know that these trees can be brittle to, I'll be cafeful where to place. My neighbors out back have a pool, and don't want to cause a rif with them.
I live the Woodstock area, very quaint old neighborhood. Though do plan to move to the westside soon,
I'm partial to the West Linn area.
I have seen those halibut at the Seaside Aquarium a couple of years ago, crazy eyed fish.

Anywho, trees, good research is important. I'm so glad to have signed up with DG, I just love plants, and talking with all you folks. Everyone is so nice & knowlegable.

Bye for now,
Kristin
Kristin4smilely

I'm enjoying this thread and learning about changing fom one type of area to another.

Kristin, my DIL grew up in West Linn. Her folks then built up in Happy Valley.

I agree with you about meeting the nicest folks on DG.