Not enough room!

I say go for it. The way I see it is, yes, the tree will definitely outgrow the space, but in how many years? Until then you will have a nice tree in that space and it'll be what you want and it'll be beautiful. When it gets too big - just remove it. No big deal. And I think the concerns about planting trees too close to structure is overblown a bit. The nicest neighborhoods I've been to are those tucked underneath shade trees that by "today's standards" are all too close to the house.

Not a good idea. It will take years until it develops enough height that the branches aren't causing problems. And no.....you cannot keep wacking it in order to fit the limited dimensions of your space. So, your initial concern that crapes won't work is absolutely right.

The multi-trunked specimens are especially problematic in tight locations.

whats at the other end of the driveways?? .. garages??? .. in other words.. how are the drives used????

why all of one thing ... if thats your intent ...

and how will you open the car doors with wide bushes ... and the houses so close on the other side of the car .... or do you offload down near the street???

if you chalk out where the cars might be parked ... and presuming you never buy a different car ... lol ... i dont see why you could not strategically place a couple ... but i think if you lined out the whole spot with them ... you would not be able to get out of your car.. door wide open ...

ken

I wouldn't necessarily take someone's personal experience as the gospel :-) If you do a Google image search on the Black Diamond crapes, you can see that they do not necessarily stay very narrow at all. And they don't automatically start out as trees either, so you will need to contend with brushy, twiggy growth sticking out right at door height for some time.

It doesn't seem like a very sound plan to me.

Sorry guys, been trying to delete this thread but it doesn’t seem to go away. I appreciate all the comments, but I decided to change from my plan and go mostly with ornaments grasses, stuff that won’t scratch car doors.

I love ornamental grasses! Have fun!

While I don't know where you are located, one of the things you may consider is Pampas Grass. It grows quite vertical and would provide a privacy barrier.

One problem with pampas grass in that spot will be the sharp serrated edges of the leaves people would brush against while walking between it and a vehicle. A smaller cultivar might fit, but the common one eventually gets 6+ ft wide.

I agree. Do NOT plant pampas grass - Cortaderia selloana - in high traffic areas. Those blades are like knives!!

Sorry guys, been trying to delete this thread

==>>> why.. we are still interested ....

Well I'll need to figure out a decent planting scheme eventually. Ornamental grasses being just one component (and I agree with you all on pampas grass), but I'd really like some diversity. Maybe include some lavender, muhly grass, firecracker fern, purple fountain grass, yarrow, iris, etc. I need to make this strip look natural while leaving plenty of room on the sides for vehicle entry/exit.

Something that's red (your original preference) and won't need to be cut back in winter is a combo of Brakelights Red Yucca and one of the red foliaged dwarf nandinas like Blush Pink Nandina. They could be planted in groups of three or four each and then repeated with maybe a fire cracker fern every few feet or another small shrub to provide some contrast.. Whatever you plant you may want to run a drip irrigation line along side. Good luck and keep us posted. It's a very interesting project.

What about something like Orange Rocket Barberry Bushes? They get max 4' tall x 1½' wide, and are somewhat cylindrical. They are very colorful with coral/orange leaves with lime edges. Many Texans are posting gorgeous photos of theirs on my other garden forum (but they are deciduous, so they lose their leaves after spectacular burgundy color in the Fall, leafing out with lime green leaves in Spring). They seem to do well in Texas. I just ordered some thru Walmart and I'm here to say that they that were some of the best-packed, healthiest plant specimens I have ever ordered from ANYPLACE on-line. Been in the ground 2 weeks and loving the sandy soil at our cabin property in Gause. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Orange-Rocket-Barberry-Live-Deciduous-Shrub-with-Colorful-Foliage/49094501?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222036989139&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10355304266&wl4=pla-1103074146087&wl12=49094501_0amp;wl14=%27Orange%20Rocket%27%20Barberry%20bush%20for%20sale&veh=sem&msclkid=797e9b46446919e2e048c6e69e51fca1. Perhaps these planted alternately with something that isn't deciduous so there would be color and foliage in your median in winter as well. Winter Daphne (nice blooms, evergreen throughout winter) and a lovely scent as well. They're pretty compact, too. https://www.waysidegardens.com/variegated-daphne/p/v1829/?msclkid=bffb8e9c489613230442d33c94b67df0&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping1&utm_term=4582420873088447&utm_content=Vines%20%26%20Climbers

As already said, Pampas Grass is a hazardous exotic that should be banned and removed, not purposely planted! And Nandinas are also invasive exotics with poisonous berries that kill birds! "Orange Rocket" Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is another dense, thorny invasive that harbors ticks. Winter Daphne (Daphne odora) is also non-native, albeit I don't think invasive...at least. But, I would just avoid ANY of these!

Frankly, given how that strip is basically a walkway...the only thing I might plant are a few amply spaced-out, single-leader trees that could eventually provide a canopy with little in the way below...not multi-trunked shrubs (like non-native Crepe Myrtles) or hedges. Even a flower bed would probably get stepped on there at some point...

Japanese barberry is in addition spiny. Also many examples of the specific cultivar suggested above have a floppy, rather than closely vertical habit in my area.

Crape myrtle cultivars come in a range of sizes starting with kinds that are effectively miniature - a crape myrtle might still work for this situation, if a suitably sized kind is chosen.

What about something like a few spaced out windmill palms?

You may have already done this, but if not ... do a google (image) search for ‘hell strips Texas’. Lots of great pictures come up that might give some inspiration and ideas, especially regarding arrangement.

One thing I’d do is keep a section of it in hardscape (path stones, whatever) to have a little walkway to each side. It’ll break up the space, look friendly, and if residents visit each other, you/they won’t have to walk around the strip (or through plants).

https://www.wildflower.org/magazine/native-plants/heavenly-hellstrips

^^ No, palms have wide, spiky crowns that takes years to grow up out of the way...

I strongly suggest some native trees that years from now in retrospect you will be glad that you chose them. Given your small root space, I would probably choose mid-sized trees that are tall enough to give you head clearance, but not too tall that their roots get too confined by the 2 driveways...

Here's a few suggestions:

Bigtooth Maple

Texas Redbud

Eve's Necklace

Western Soapberry

Interesting suggestions there - we’ve thought about a Texas redbud, too. Do you think those trees could be pruned for a few years to allow easy vehicle access, then allowed to fill out?

Also - any thoughts on the bauhinia orchid tree?

crepe mirthless also drop a "dew" in summer that might be corrosive to car paint. I can't remember about the corrosive character ....

What drips from crape myrtles is not a caustic sap or 'dew' but the excretions (aka 'honeydew') of their very own species of aphid, Tinocallis kahawaluokalani. While sticky and messy and will contribute to the development of sooty mold, it is not corrosive but can be darn hard to remove if allowed to dry.

But it is good to note that planting any tree or shrub that attracts aphids in an area where cars are parked or near entries and outdoor living areas is not the best idea :-)

Our van tops always quite ugly... It was an old ugly van anyway, but it staid alive for years The Pecan was not that good in the same regard. The squirrels nip on the green pecans and the sap would do a number also.