re: Favorite trees to have in the front yard?

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Bradford Pears are horrible. They are a mess and are one the most fragile trees ever. They break easily. I wouldn't suggest them. I really like Drake Elms. Grow fast, provide a lot of shade, don't make a mess.

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This

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DO NOT plant a magnolia tree or any tree that their roots really spread in your front yard, house or driveway.


Slowest growing tree I am aware of.

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I'm not a tree expert by any means, but I planted 2 Magnolias out in the open at my parents house in 1994 and they're huge now.

I wouldn't mind a tree that would grow tall, not shed many leaves, and would either bloom or stay evergreen. Something I can walk under, that wont get in my way.

Other than that, I'm leaning towards planting a live oak out front off-center and maybe a dogwood off to the side, closer to the house. I know the live oak doesn't fit my criteria, but it's a classic and it's also the same kind of tree that I cut down.

There's what looks to be a dogwood blooming around the corner from my house in BR. I'm certain it isn't a bradford pear, though.

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3 pin oaks

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Are you sure? Where do you live?

In this area, Pin Oak is used for at least three different trees, and La. isn't even in the Pin Oak distribution.

pin oak leaf



water oak leaf

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bradford pears are strictly ornamental..not fruit bearing.

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They do have small fruit:



The birds eat the fruit and then shite all over your car. They are about the worst tree you can possibly plant for some of the reasons outlined already.

Trees I like:
Maples - for fall color, grow quick, look good.
Sasanqua - nice fall blooms.
Japanese cherry - early spring blooms.
Dogwood - Spring blooms but not real easy to grow.
River Birch - Fast growing and I like their bark (don't do there).
Red-tipped Photinia - Evergreen with very dark green leaves and red leaves for the new growth. Fast growing.
Holly - Evergreen, fast growing, attractive berries the birds love.

Water oaks should probably be illegal in hurricane zones, I hate them almost as much as Bradford Pears because they are fairly short lived for an oak and don't stand up to winds.

dogwood, i guess, so i could see right when they are beginning to bud to remind me to go load up the freezer with crappie

It's been mentioned, but not only are Bradford's messy in the spring when all those pretty white blooms drop everywhere...they're a mess in the fall when all those leaves drop too. And I don't know of any tree that has the amount of leaves per sq in as a Bradford. They remind me of azaleas, except worse, in that they show out for a little while in the early spring, then suck the rest of the year.
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The proper way to prune a Crepe Myrtle is to make it look like a friggin tree. I hate when people commit crepe murder. Just make it look like a mushroom. Keep the bottom trimmed completely so it has only a trunk, and on top, round it off smoothly. I have some out by the road that I haven't even pruned since Katrina, and they do fine. They keep their shape, and haven't put out any "sucker" on the bottom in years. I have to keep the ones by the house pruned, though, to keep them off the house.
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I like river birch, drake elm, and crepe myrtles. But with crepe myrtles, there are different varieties. If you want large (20'-25' trees), get Natchez (white), Tuscarora, Biloxi, or Miami. The Natchez will get bigger than the rest, and have the most attractive bark IMO. But if you want purple/lavender, or pink, get one of the others. Plant any of these at least 8'-10' from the house.