Which tree for this spot?

Skip1909

9 years ago

I'm looking for a small to medium, dense pyramidal or bushy tree to provide a sight screen. Currently there are 2 ugly, hacked up white mulberries, and a little struggling crab apple of some kind. I would like to get rid of those 3 trees, and plant something nice looking.

The trees in this picture from right to left are the mulberry, Apple, and mulberry that I want to get rid of, then a black locust, and a pin oak. The black locust and pin oak are around 15ft closer to the camera. The first mulberry is 21ft from the house. To the left of the oak, not pictured, there are a lot more trees including a couple black walnuts, so morning shade and juglone are factors. The mulberries aren't directly under my power lines, but they've grown and leaned up and around the power lines. I need a tree that won't do that. As for sun exposure, the camera is facing south. The little shrubs in the picture are about 10ft further from than camera than the mulberries.

The soil is like a compacted red clay loam, and gets inundated in the spring, then dries out during the summer. The pH is around 6.5, according to a cheap DIY tester. If its pouring rain, water will pool on the ground then drain away within an hour after stopping, but the ground stays mushy for a day or two if there was a ton of rain.

I want a native tree and was thinking Magnolia virginiana would work here, but I'd also like to hear about other cultivars or species that you think would work. I love the look of magnolia grandiflora, but is there a cultivar that will grow in these conditions, without getting too big? Thanks

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Skip1909
Original Author

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Edlincoln, I think I got the description mixed up with a different holly species, or maybe didnt think there was enough light.

Laceyvail, I planted a row of shrubs in front of those trees, this is their second season and they are growing slowly. It could be the trees are robbing them of moisture and light, or I need to put down more mulch, or run drip lines to them, and/or I just need to be patient. I planted a line of standard ninebarks, clethra alnifolia, viburnum nudum, and aesculus parviflora (all non-dwarf nursery selections). I want to replace the disfigured weed trees with something nice that will also give another layer of screening. Ilex opaca looks like it will work well.

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Comments (8)

edlincoln
9 years ago
American Holly (Ilex opaca)? Dura Heat River Birch (Betula nigra)? Green Hawthorne (Crataegus viridis)? Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)? I think it's boring, but arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) would fit the conditions perfectly.
Skip1909
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Nice suggestions, I never though of birch or hawthorne. I think the arborvitae is boring too, but are there any cultivars that will grow wider and taller? I don't like the tall culumnar tree look for this situation. For some reason I was under the impression holly wouldn't grow well, but on second look it does seem like it would be a good choice.
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edlincoln
9 years ago
Why did you think holly wouldn't grow well? You may something about the conditions I don't. It's my favorite pyramidal screening tree. It has a lottle tolerance for wet soil...not sure if it would be enough for your conditions.
laceyvail 6A, WV
9 years ago
Looks to me that dense shrubs that reach at least six feet would work much better.
edlincoln
9 years ago
American Holly are fairly shade tolerant, and should be fine their...the wet soil would be more of an obstacle.
Quercus_peanuts
9 years ago
Ok, it's not native, but Turkish tree hazel is a medium sized pyramidal tree that tends to have a neat, attractive form. It's pretty adaptable about soil type and moisture, too.

Whatever species you settle on, if a screen is the goal, you might think about a line or grouping of 3-4 seedling trees, then cull the weakest when their foliage touches.
Skip1909
Original Author
9 years ago
I got the trees taken out, with stumps left in place. Feels so open now. I'm going to let the stumps resprout and give me a little screening for a couple of years while the new trees get established. From my experience with a different white mulberry that fell over, the stump spouts grow crazy fast.

I'm going to go with the holly trees in the spring, 3-4 as suggested. I will be looking for the Rutgers selections Jersey Princess and/or Jersey Knight. Can anyone guess the caliper:height relationship? Will a 1-1.5" caliper holly be at least 6ft tall?