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Help with tree selection for front yard

Posted on 2/12/26 at 7:42 pm
Posted by Crescent Connection
Member since Jun 2008
2355 posts
Posted on 2/12/26 at 7:42 pm
My front yard faces south-southwest, and in the summer, the sun is relentless as it swoops from east to west. Our front yard is approximately 1000 sq ft, and we're thinking about putting a Chinese Fringe tree near the right and by the front sidewalk in front of our house (near the mailbox). I also like the Chinese Pistache. Are there other suggestions that might look good and provide some shade to the front window/front door in the afternoon? We're willing to wait 5 years for it to grow and mature.

Disregard the letters on the house...I posted this same pic to ask where I should place an American flag (which I eventually settled on B).

Posted by Sir Saint
1 post
Member since Jun 2010
5482 posts
Posted on 2/12/26 at 8:30 pm to
Idk anything about the trees you listed but a couple thoughts. 1 - you can’t just plant any tree in front of your home - make sure it’s a dwarf variety that won’t grow 30’ tall. 2 - I think a tree near your mailbox will look terrible; grass won’t grow under it so you’ll need to mulch around it, lawn won’t be as pretty, curb appeal will suffer (your house will be hiding behind the tree), etc. This idea is a hard no imo. 3 - what kind of tree is already on the right side? Might not be a bad idea to match that tree and plant near area C
Posted by jojothetireguy
Live out in Coconut Grove
Member since Jan 2009
10599 posts
Posted on 2/12/26 at 8:49 pm to
I planted a Chinese pistache and sadly it died, but I'm kind of glad it did. The size that it can grow to was going to be to big for the front yard.
I settled on a Arbequina Olive Tree.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
23763 posts
Posted on 2/12/26 at 9:06 pm to
People cut down trees to have a lawn like yours.
Posted by FOBW
N.O.
Member since Sep 2016
438 posts
Posted on 2/12/26 at 10:47 pm to
[embed] Might not be a bad idea to match that tree and plant near area C[/embed]

1. Put some tint in those widows.
2. What this guy said, bring that front bed out and plant another American Holly about 10’ from the house. Or
3. Plant a sugar maple out in the yard.
This post was edited on 2/12/26 at 11:07 pm
Posted by Unobtanium
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2009
1874 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 8:46 am to
Yard is too small for a tree large enough to help with sun issues.

I planted maples in my front yard (about the same depth from sidewalk to slab) years ago - roots took over my flower bed and did a number on my sewer line.

Best solution (stated above) is to invest in window treatments to help with glare/heat load.

My opinion - free and worth every penny.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
12374 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 9:54 am to
Sweetbay magnolias may be an option.
Posted by Churchill
Member since Apr 2009
646 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 10:54 am to
A pine tree would jump up and filter shade for you, but they have there issues.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
47393 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 5:28 pm to
OPs yard is actually the perfect use case for a pine. It’s an attractive tree while young and grows fast and chubby providing instant shade, and when mature will be tall without being wide and grass will grow underneath it. Plus you’ll get free pine needles
Posted by GCTigahs
Member since Oct 2014
2476 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 8:12 pm to
I have a neighbor with a couple river birch trees that are really nice and have not outgrown his yard over the last 15yrs.

Little Gem Magnolia or Teddy Bear Magnolia in a pine straw bed in line with the window and midway to the street would look good.
This post was edited on 2/14/26 at 7:36 am
Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
10874 posts
Posted on 2/13/26 at 9:38 pm to
Although, won’t be a shade tree per se, but I agree that a sweetbay magnolia would like fantastic.
Posted by Citica8
Duckroost, LA
Member since Dec 2012
4008 posts
Posted on 2/14/26 at 5:30 am to
quote:

OPs yard is actually the perfect use case for a pine. It’s an attractive tree while young and grows fast and chubby providing instant shade, and when mature will be tall without being wide and grass will grow underneath it. Plus you’ll get free pine needles
I think pines can look good in a well manicured lawn, people aspire their yards to look like Augusta. There are also other types of pine trees than just loblolly and long leaf. Tannenbaum Mugo Pine tops out around 12-15 feet, and looks like a better looking Leland cypress, full and evergreen.
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