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Started By
Message
Suggest trees for my backyard
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:31 pm
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:31 pm
I had a few oak trees removed from my yard last year. They were all aging and some risked falling onto my house. I would like to plant a few new trees. I want the trees for scenic reasons, to fill in the yard.
I’m looking for relatively quick growing trees. I won’t be living here for the next 20 years to watch an oak tree grow. They don’t have to be fast growing, but I want something that will show growth in a couple of years.
I have room for a couple far away from the house with no risk of falling on the house when they grow.
And I have room for a couple near the house, so I’m thinking of something like a crape Myrtle. Definitely not something that’s going to grow and fall on the house.
Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
Edit: live in the Baton Rouge area.
I’m looking for relatively quick growing trees. I won’t be living here for the next 20 years to watch an oak tree grow. They don’t have to be fast growing, but I want something that will show growth in a couple of years.
I have room for a couple far away from the house with no risk of falling on the house when they grow.
And I have room for a couple near the house, so I’m thinking of something like a crape Myrtle. Definitely not something that’s going to grow and fall on the house.
Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
Edit: live in the Baton Rouge area.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 3:39 pm
12
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:34 pm to 3BlockUber
Where do you live? Climate matters for these suggestions.
Does your yard drain well or does it pool water and stay moist most of the year?
Do you want low maintenance?
Do you want flowering?
Will you still want to have manicured grass underneath it or do you not care?
Does your yard drain well or does it pool water and stay moist most of the year?
Do you want low maintenance?
Do you want flowering?
Will you still want to have manicured grass underneath it or do you not care?
Posted on 1/9/24 at 3:39 pm to CatfishJohn
Don’t care about maintenance or lawn. The area is well draining.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:01 pm to 3BlockUber
You can plant Live Oaks, as for slow growing, that’s mainly because they don’t fertilize. I’ve planted some using 13-13-13 and Ironite, you can have some nice oaks. Other varieties of oaks grow faster, but plant what you want.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:38 pm to LSUDad
generally a live oak is not a good backyard choice.
the OP might not have to deal with it but someone eventually will
shumard oak
willow oak
cow oak
all better choices
for faster growing non-quercus- drake elm, river birch, swamp red maple, or just a good old pine
the OP might not have to deal with it but someone eventually will
shumard oak
willow oak
cow oak
all better choices
for faster growing non-quercus- drake elm, river birch, swamp red maple, or just a good old pine
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:52 pm to 3BlockUber
Throw some southern magnolias in the area far away if you don’t care about grass underneath.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:53 pm to 3BlockUber
Drake elm for all around option.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 4:56 pm to 3BlockUber
Varieties of maples or hollies might be nice. Are you looking for deciduous or evergreen? Lots of good deciduous trees. Evergreens might be pines, holly (some are evergreen some are deciduous), cedar, magnolia, etc.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 5:45 pm to 3BlockUber
Maple trees
Posted on 1/9/24 at 6:17 pm to 3BlockUber
Not sure if Big Leaf Magnolia grows that far south, but it is one of my favorite trees.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:34 pm to 3BlockUber
Large tree…sycamore or Princeton Elm
Small tree….Chinese fringe, crape, redbud (forest pansy)
Small tree….Chinese fringe, crape, redbud (forest pansy)
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:24 pm to Geauxld Finger
Chicken tree. Plant one on your fence line and you’ll have a forest in 3 years.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 8:04 pm to MDB
Isn’t that an invasive species from China that threatens our local forests?
Posted on 1/10/24 at 8:10 pm to cgrand
I’m liking the drake elm, red maple, and magnolia suggestions.
Posted on 1/11/24 at 7:15 am to 3BlockUber
I like the Autumn blaze maple, it's fast growing and has beautiful fall colors. It's a hybrid of the red and silver maple. Also as others have said the drake elm is a very fast growing and nice looking tree.
Honorable mention:
Nellie Steven's holly
Thuja green giant
Murray cypress (improved Leyland cypress)
Honorable mention:
Nellie Steven's holly
Thuja green giant
Murray cypress (improved Leyland cypress)
This post was edited on 1/11/24 at 8:00 am
Posted on 1/11/24 at 11:20 am to 3BlockUber
Of the suggestions, my favorite are the Drake Elm and the various red oaks. I would be against Sycamore and Magnolia for the leaves alone.
And while tallow was most likely a joke, I have had a single one in my last two back yards and gotta say they have been fantastic as a single tree. The shape is perfect for shade and I get lots of birds eating the seeds. Hate my backyard maple.
And while tallow was most likely a joke, I have had a single one in my last two back yards and gotta say they have been fantastic as a single tree. The shape is perfect for shade and I get lots of birds eating the seeds. Hate my backyard maple.
Posted on 1/12/24 at 8:58 pm to 3BlockUber
Swamp red maple
Shumard oak
Little gem magnolia
Shumard oak
Little gem magnolia
Posted on 1/13/24 at 6:35 am to 3BlockUber
Close to house get a Louisiana Satsuma
Posted on 1/13/24 at 5:46 pm to 3BlockUber
quote:
Isn’t that an invasive species from China that threatens our local forests?
Yes, of course, big pest.
The chicken tree or Chinese Tallow was brought to Louisiana in the 1920s-30s around Elton. It took over southern Louisiana by the 60s and jumped the basin around 70s-80s and flourished.
Its everywhere. I pull up a few every year in Baton Rouge. It’s only positive is that it has pretty leaves in the fall. Otherwise, a bane.
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