Because there are hundreds of possibilities, perhaps you might narrow your requirements down a little. For example, do you prefer evergreen or deciduous? What is the largest (mature) size your property can manage? What kind of soil do you have: sandy, clayey, well drained or not?

Well we used to have 20+ trees in our backyard. Several were over 50-60 years old. Most of the old trees were Northern Red Oaks. SO they were tall with high canopies. We also had 2-3 40-50 year old hickories. We could handle 2 shade trees in the back. My dad is old and stubborn and decided to cut all the trees down...much to my opposition. He now realized just how ugly it made our house look...and since i was the one that didn't want him to cut them down in the first place...now I am responsible for picking the trees to fill up the backyard. Our yard isn't huge but there were many trees back there. All we have is a split trunk southern red oak and a southern magnolia in the front yard. The magnolia is maybe 20 years old and the Oak is more like 60 years old.

I want 1 or 2 shade trees for the backyard. Preferably ones that can become great specimens. Easy to manage trees that he won't cut down due to tons of maintenance. I'd like a deodar cedar to even out the front yard. Maybe a dawn redwood as well as some other more native trees in the backyard. In the back I also want some nice lower canopy trees. Our soil is quite clayey, but since there was alot of trees there at one point there was a lot of organic matter left that left it with good drainage.

If it were up to me I would plant as many trees as I can, but I know it just won't work now. Nature does it best and I need some advice.

Also can you guys answer some of my questions about good nurseries in the area, and the best time to plant trees. I thought it was best to do during the fall. Thanks :)

bump please?!

since noone else is answering... i recommend broadwell's and/or old stage. both are down off old stage rd about 10 mis south of garner. do a search- there's been a number of threads about trees and the nurseries. they will have basic stuff and soem more choice at very cheap prices. if you're looking for really choice large specimens, i've heard good things about architectural trees. there's also a place down 70 towards clayton that carries large natives, but i can't recall the name. i know ratgirl aka carla knows- you could look her up & email her.

my heart ached reading your story. our idiot next door neighbor did the same thing, and while i've gotten used to it, i still mourn the trees he clearcut. still looks like a gash where there used to be forest. jerk.

when you say maintenance- do you mean leaf raking? because i can't think what other maintenance a forested area would really need other than occasional branch trims to take out dead ones. in my experience, the most maintenance is on the ground, keeping it relatively weed free and/ or encouraging the types of understory growth we want. the trees themselves are pretty carefree and self mulching- you really don't need to rake for a forest. so, if that's what the issue was, maybe you consider something with small leaves you won't have to mess with. or evergreen, with fine needles. it's too bad your old stubborn dad took away something you'd have enjoyed far longer than he, and was probably a lot less work than what you'll deal with now. :( good luck. tammy

For specimen trees I'd recommend white oak, American beech, and bald cypress. I don't think anything can beat a white oak or beech that's been given enough room to spread out. Good native trees are always hard to get although I think they're the best trees to have. The NC Botanical Garden has had 3' bald cypress trees for sale; you can also contact the NC State Horticulture Dept., the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, and the curator of the Coker Arboretum at UNC to ask where they get their trees.

Thanks for the help. Today is the big day. We'll see what we can afford to get.

Architectural Trees in Bahama (North Durham) has really cool trees. Sat 8/18 from 1 - 5 I hear they are having a clearance sale-- which they had a few years back and I got some really nice 'B; grade material for next to nothing.