A favorite nursery of mine is in Cherokee County, just north of Roswell. It is called Buck Jones and I'll provide a link here. What they don't have in stock they are usually willing to get for you (as long as they normally stock it). They do list all the oaks I mentioned in 2 inch caliper sizes (good sized B&B trees that need about two guys to plant it). They also have 2 inch caliper Tulip poplars.

Another good tree that is totally underused is Yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea. I know Buck Jones has had it in the past.

Here is an interesting page on tree roots (by the way, oaks are divided in the red oak and white oak groups).

Here is a link that might be useful: Buck Jones

I love Buck Jones for many things, and I hear they have great trees.
Here's a link below that might be useful too. It's the suppliers for Trees Atlanta.

Here is a link that might be useful: Trees Atlanta Tree Suppliers

as for a tree recommendation, if you want shade in the summertime, i would personally plant a GA native, the Tulip Poplar. in addition to having the ability to grow quite rapidly, it has huge leaves that will provide abundant shade. it gets a bad rap as a 'garbage tree' from some people because of the leaves, but i personally find them to be no worse than any of my maples. the flowers in spring are great.

for the 'ornamental', if you want a slow grower that is really showy in spring but will eventually get bigger and more showy over the years, i really like the Susan Magnolia. certainly, the first time you see one in spring that's blooming, you'll fall in love.

you can hit Google Images and look up pictures of both...

if neither work for you, it would be good to know the approximate end height you are looking for in a tree, slow/moderate/high growth rate, decidious or evergreen, flowering or non.

btw - it's hard to tell from a distance, but the six green plants look like ligustrum (variegated privet) which seems to be the "lazy contractor's favorite". yours look like they could use some trimming back based on the first picture - you can literally cut them down to a cubic foot square, and they will grow back to their current state in less than 12 months (even if you take the leaves off). they're veritable weeds IMHO. :)

Thanks for all the help so far. I am thinking the tulip poplar would look great in the azalea section. As for the front I love both the yellowwood and the susan magnolia. I am wondering if I can squeeze two in there up front. I think that one will look off, since we are at the end of the cul de sac and it is a narrow ront to the property.

How much spacing do I need for either tree if I want to put two. I have about 12 feet, which I dont think is enough. If not any suggestions on how to proceed. I think a tree right dab in the middle with the house directly centered behind it will ook "funny"

In regards to the tree in the front, I know you wanted one for shade but, now that you think about it, perhaps it is just not the right spot for a big tree . Instead you could put two smaller ones so that you have a balanced look.

There are lots of small trees to choose from. If you are interested in deciduous magnolias (like Susan), then start researching smaller ones that might work in that space.

And don't worry, gardening is very much an iterative approach!

Here is a link that might be useful: One article about deciduous magnolias (with sizes)

Tulip poplars are fantastic trees but need attention. They are subject to a lot of insect damage due to relatively soft wood so keep that in mind, and keep it away from your house. They can topple in wind.
However, nothing beats the unusual flower of the tulip poplar. Floating in a bowl of water, they are sensational. The green and orange "snow" created by the flowers is spectacular in the garden when the flowers fall, and in the winter they form a nice craggy "haunted house" style of tree. They grow fast and look old quickly!

I plant to plant a few to replace the one I lost...but plan to keep it as far away from the house as possible!!

GGG

You're right, I think for the front space I am looking for more ornamental than shade. By the time the sun is in the spot where that tree would provide shade, I have these huge evergreens lining the property that do that, as evidenced by the shadow being cast on the house in the pictures.

So does anyone have recommendations for smaller, native ornamental trees that don't need alot of spacing?

If the tulip poplar is prone to being blown over then I don't want it in the azalea spot because it would eventually be a house hazard. Maybe an oak then. Of the oaks you recommended do any of them really stand out, and will grow moderately quick.

In addition to the flowers, the leaves are uniquely shaped.

Scarlett oak would be the one I'd pick. I've never had a tulip poplar blown over, but choosing an oak instead still gives you a winner.

Native ornamental trees to consider for the front: Serviceberry (Amelanchier 'Autumn Brilliance' or 'Princess Diana' are two generally available cultivars); 'Winter King' Hawthorn; Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus); Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum); Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia). Check these out for size, shape and color and see what suits the family.

Consider that getting two of the same tree will give you a more formal (balanced) look - if that is what you want.

Those of us that like trees find it hard to narrow it down to just one! :)

I spoke with Josh over at Buck Jones. He said they had serviceberry in 15 gallons and in 6' B&B. How tall of a tree am I looking at off the bat. Those seem pretty large. Also, what should I get container or B&B.

He also has oaks but not a scarlet. He had Willow, Shumard, and Pin in 30 gallon containers. Again how tall is that going to be?

Do I want such mature potted trees or do I want something smaller

B&B is a tree that was grown in the field and then dug up and wrapped in burlap ("balled in burlap"). Between two trees of equal size, the general preference is to get a container grown tree because the roots were never disturbed. Serviceberry often are grown in clump form (it's an attractive effect) rather than a single trunk. I think they could be 8-10 feet tall in those sizes. That's a good size, noticeable from day one. 15 gallon is pretty big to handle; bring a truck if you're getting it and some cloth to wrap around it during travel.

Shumard is a popular oak. 30 gallon is big, you'd probably need help loading it (and unloading it). Got some buddies?

I'd recommend a birch (betula) tree. I'm sure you've seen this tree before, you'd recognize it by the very familiar peeling bark. You can find them in single-trunk versions, but there are plenty more two- and three-trunk versions as well. You'd probably want to go to your local nurery and look at them to refresh your memory.

We have one in front of our office with three trunks. It has been there for at least 6-7 years and hasn't gotten more than 15-20' tall, in fact I don't even think it has grown in the last two years. A single-trunk tree could potentially plant two side-by-side, whereas a multi-trunk tree may not even need two trees.

I agree, serviceberries are nice.