Shade trees for small yards: Re: Replacements for big leaf maples?

» Marge_Talt - Re: Replacements for big leaf maples?

Hi Laurie, Welcome to Gardening in Shade!

I've also looked at your photos. Since I garden on the other side of the country fom you, Kirk's suggestion for trees would be more relevant than mine tho' there are lots of lovely smaller trees (many that can also offer flowers at different seasons, fruit or interesting bark as well as shade) that I am sure would grow well in your climate.

While I always hate to remove a large, mature tree, if that species is known to create problems, better to deal with them before they happen.

What to plant depends on so many things:

• How you use your yard now;
  
• How you would like to use it if the trees weren't there and you could make some changes to grade within the yard - staying away from the river retaining wall;
  
• How much interest you have in gardening (would ou like to plant some flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals?)
  
• What the orientation of the site is - like which direction is the house - where does the sun hit? That sort of thing.
  
What kind of soil you have; what kind of drainage.

• What kind of budget you have to spend on plants or any work in your yard.
  

And a lot of other questions besides those:-)

Removing large trees is, itself, pretty expensive - at least in my neck of the woods. Especially trees near a house - that requires an experienced crew who can climb and take them down in sections so they don't damage the house!

If you are concerned about the health of the trees, it would be worth the investment to have a licensed arborist come out and inspect them and tell you what kind of shape they're in and what kind of life-span they have left. It may be that one is in bad need of removal, but not all of them - you need to know this plus you need to get some prices for removal so you know where you are.

http://www.shadetrees.com/ has a search function for different kinds of shade trees by different requirements; size, fall color, etc. - it's a nursery located in Oregon, so I assume all the trees they list will grow in your area. This might help you to narrow downa list of trees that you like that would meet your requirements.

-- posted by Marge_Talt