"escape" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 13:42:22 -0500, "John"
opined:


I don't blame you for wanting to block out that darn street light..Those
things can really ruin your evening in the yard...
Sounds like a good useful place for one..My gramma had a house in Las
Vegas
that had a beautiful big window over the french doors out to the patio
from
her bedroom, but there was a street light behind it which shined in..My
uncle planted some sort of pine tree back there to block it off which it
did
pretty fast..Over the years it practically took over the entire back
yard!!!
I need to find some fast growing shade trees for my folks. We just moved
them into a house in the Pine Forest in Bastrop, but they have no trees in
the front and they face west and the living areas are on that side and
they
get a bit warm in summer..Been looking for something that would grow
somewhat fast and not be too hard to keep up..Was thinking of Bradford
pears
(?) but don't know how fast they grow..She wanted a china berry, but I
told
her even though they were well loved in Las Vegas(they grow great there),
they don't like them here. There are wild ones all over the place out
there
as they appear to easily reseed themselves..So I don't want to put an
invasive tree on purpose out there..Any recommendations?? I am all ears
for
help for her yard..Could easily put two to three across the front to
lessen
the sun bake in the summer...
Thanks!!!
John


To be perfectly honest I would never plant a Chinaberry or Bradford pear.
Bradford pear is not a shade tree as it grows in an upright form. It is
also
famous for having horrible trouble in high winds where literally half the
tree
will rip off. It has a very poor crotch where it easily breaks off and it
attracts boat tail grackles...do not use! My suggestion is for you to
choose
native trees to the area.

Take a gander into Kimas Tejas garden center. I believe it's over there
by
where your parents live. They have an outstanding selection of trees.

You are far better off planting hardwood trees which grow moderately, than
fast
growing trees. I have planted some trees on our property in conjunction
with
the native Live Oaks. They a

Chinese pistache
Texas redbud
Peach 'Dixieland' which grows very fast and bears delicious fruit
Ginkgo biloba
Vitex castus agnus
Burr oak
Parkinsonia aka palo verde (very loose tree, not dense shade by very rapid
growth)
Little leaf sumac
Flameleaf sumac


I hope that gives you a start.


Great list!
Thanks so much..I didn't know all that about the Bradford pears..I just know
they are sure pretty and nicely shaped..Didn't know they were weak..The
indigenous tree to the area is Loblolly pine and some Blackjack oak, but mom
said she would like something she can enjoy in this life! :-) She has quite
the sense of humor...Will stop out there at Kimas, your correct it's about
five minutes from their house..We have been out there several times but was
prior to their spring shipment.
Thanks again!
John