Suggestions, anyone?

20 years ago

As my family grows older I find less time to putter about in the yard. I have lots of "cool" stuff that I enjoy messing with but don't have the time to dedicate to making them work properly: hardy kiwi, goumi, apple trees, etc. My raised beds have fallen victim to more time at work and less time plucking the every-persistent bermuda grass from the plants.

Two ideas I'm considering, but will welcome any advice:

1. I'd like to add a fast growing tree to the yard, hoping that some additional shade will slow down grass growth (or at least thin it out) and provide more shade to inspire me to work more in the yard. Plus, a shady yard is easier on young kids who are out with me.

2. Suggestions on the grass in the raised beds?

Exotic is good, even preferred. I do not want to be like everyone else in the neighborhood, waiting patiently for the Bradford Pear Tree branches to snap in the next windstorm.

Edible is better. Even if I don't get a single piece of food from my efforts I know that some year I might. And, if the creatures with whom I share my yard get some additional yummies that's fine. The robins love the goumi, for example.

Thanks in advance.

PS I've got a royal empress in the ground, year 3. It grew from 6 inches to 2.5 feet the first summer. It went to 4.5 feet after the second summer. I have surmised that it likes a lot more water than I gave it. It showed out a lot of foliage early, responding to the water treatment, but has since had most die a slow death due to wind damage from storms. I have taken the position that either the tree won't be around long enough to produce offspring (highly invasive) or that the winters will keep enough of the seeds from developing it won't be an issue. I do not want to be the guy responsible for a big problem.

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Comments (2)

ccecilm
20 years ago
2. Bermuda in raised beds: Roundup [kills almost everything] or Ortho has a product called Grass-B-Gone which I use successfully in flower beds. Just spray it all over but it only kills the grass [don't think it recommended to use around edible plants though].
susanlynne48
20 years ago
using Roundup in your raised beds. Don't if you don't want to destroy the plants you have in the bed. It will kill everything. Also, the chemicals are not good for the environment, especially if you have children playing around there.

You can dig up the plants in the bed and then use 20% vinegar to kill the bermuda, or you can put down weed cloth or several layers of newspapers all around your plants, covering the bed all around them, and then mulch well. This should kill the bermuda.

Ah, trees - so many to choose from. I have a contorted mulberry (no fruit) in my backyard - gets to about 20' tall, great big shiny green leaves, has great winter interest. Grows fast. Love it. Hard to find.

Vitex is a beautiful tree - grows to about 20', comes with lavendar or white blooms, has beautiful branching structure for winter interest. I think HD has them on sale right now.

If you want a large tree, with a higher canopy, I don't know. I love the thornless honey locusts (make sure you ask for the thornless). I think they can get 30-40 feet tall. Beautiful foliage. Tulip trees are nice large shade trees also.

One that I think is a marvelous tree is Lacebark Elm. Doesn't get elm disease or anything, has a beautiful branching habit that is great for wintertime interest, gorgeous multi-color bark, is drought tolerant and a rapid grower. There is a hybrid of it called Golden Rey, with gold foliage. Gets about 60' high, 40' wide.

Sawtooth Oak and Shumard Oak do nicely in Oklahoma, too. The Sawtooth is a bit faster growing than the Shumard, but you'll get nice fall coloring with either, and both do nicely in clay soil.

Another is Autumn Purple Ash - beautiful tree - nice for shade, widely adaptable to any soil type. Great fall color, too.

Were it me - I'd get a prunus serotina (wild black cherry). Yes, it get's cherries on it, for the wildlife (they're a bit sour), but it's the host tree for the red spotted purple butterflies, and the spice swallowtails, and so many more types of butterflies and moths that your kids would absolutely love!

Have fun!

Susan
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