Do you want evergreen trees (pretty but block sun's heat in winter) or deciduous? All you named are evergreen, and Nellie R Stevens is a holly shrub but can get upwards of 12 feet, and laurel is more an ornamental tree (meaning shorter than regular trees like oaks and pines, and can get up to 35.

and Cherry Laurel can be poisonous (I think everything except the actual pulp of the fruit is poisonous). They also don't do well in drought.

Edited to add, after seeing carrie's reply - live oaks are pretty, but there are usually thousands of seedlings under them, which is why I've never wanted one.

I definitely would not plant a magnolia. While being a beautiful tree, they require cleaning up after them almost all year long.

Of those that you've listed, I would choose Live Oak. They are great shade trees and an evergreen. If you wanted to add deciduous trees to your list Cedar Elms are good with drought, grow fast and create shade (moderate) and turn a brilliant yellow in the fall before dropping their leaves.

Pkponder - How tall that is the Cedar Elm get to be?

I would never and I mean never plant a live oak in a yard as most of them will produce thousands of sucker sprouts which shall forever prohibit you or your children from walking barefoot in the lawn!~ Unless you are extremely lucky and the genetics of the one you purchase doesn't do this but the vast majority do!~ A Chinese pistache would be good.

Bobby

I am certainly open to other options too! What other trees would you experts recommend?

The 28 ft yard depth is probably not enough for some of the trees mentioned and other good Dallas options unless it backs to open space like an alley or substantial overhang into the neighbor's yard is not likely to become a problem. Of course, won't become an issue for you if not planning to be there for eight or more years.

Even cedar elms, which are known for having relatively narrow crowns through much of their lives, can span 40 or 50 ft when old. Nice tree with small leaves that make very easy clean-up in the fall. Ours is still a toddler, but the ~40 year old ones on our street are about 30 ft across.

In defense of live oaks, we've gotten a lot of squirrel planted seedlings, but not seen many sprouts or much self seeding from ones growing over our lots and around our neighborhoods in Dallas and Houston. We and our neighbors mow under the crowns, which might explain why it has not been a problem. Though suspect self sprouting might also occur less in the heavy clays we've had. If pruned well as it grows, could probably keep the crown looking good in a oval shape that will fit the 70 x 28 ft space.

Hum.... This is all so new to me. So what would be an option for smaller trees, so the neighbor would be able to see our back windows most of the year? These trees sound enormous!

There are a few maple and ash species that can fit smaller north Texas spaces well. Their names and size estimates, as well as other options, can be found in this North Haven Gardens tree list. NHG is a well known local nursery on the north side of Dallas. Don't believe all the listed trees are ones they would necessarily recommend (or stock), but are ones that can be found growing in the Dallas area.

Yaupon Holly and Texas Mountain Laurel are two evergreens that can be grown into attractive small tree forms, but are very slow growing.

Wax Myrtle would make a good fast growing, evergreen screen. As for trees, is evergreen a requirement? Everything on the original list is. If that doesn't matter, you have options out there of other quality oaks like Shumard and Chinkapin.

As I said, I know nothing about trees. I would like an evergreen on the area across from my bedroom windows. The other areas can have a mix of trees.

Would it help if I post the drawing of the lot, showing where the house is in it?

Are your bedroom windows located on the first or on the second floor?

Omar

Their is also a large growing CLUMP bamboo.

Here is the lot layout. Master bedroom is on first floor, back side of the house, right side of the picture.

I'll let others suggest suitable varieties of trees/shrubs for your area, but looking at the layout, it appears that there's only 28' between the back of your house and the back property line. Definitely not suitable for large trees like live oak.

Hmm.. Could you provide a picture of your neighbor's yard taken from your bedroom window? I am thinking that you may solve the problem planting fast growing vines (confederate jasmine, coral honeysuckle, mustang grape vine, Antigonon leptopus, etc)alternated with small trees like Natchez crape myrtle. Just an idea...

I love my Live Oaks. I'm in DFW as well. They are extremely resilient and drought tolerant. When everything else in my yard looks horrible in August, my oaks look great. Theyre also fairly fast growers. You mentioned Nelli Stevens Holly, I have one that I like as well. It is in part-sun and is doing very well in the heat so far. I've only had it for a season, but so far I really like it.

We have had no sucker sprouts from our live oaks :) Muskogee and Natchez crape myrtles also grow very nicely here.

I'm leaning towards having the Natchez Crape Myrtle, and the Nelli Stevens Holly. I like the idea of the Live Oak, but I am afraid it will take over the the entire width 28' length of the yard. But it would be ideal in front of my bedroom.

With the first two, in imagine I could plant them closer to the fence. How far from the fence do I need to plant the Live Oak?

Now that we know how much space you're working with, the Natchez CM is a good choice for an ornamental/small shade tree for the amount of space you have. They grow fast and will mature at around 25' tall and wide. Two would be perfect for your backyard. I would plant some evergreen shrubs that stay a little smaller along the back fence to shield the view of your neighbor. Something that tops out round 8'-10' tall would be perfect, IMO. If you like Hollies, Burford Holly is tough as nails and would top out about that size. Like other Hollies, it's evergreen too. Personally, I'm not a fan since they're prickly, but that's just me. :^)