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#1
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Choosing trees
Hi, I hope you can help me, but if I'm in the wrong newsgroup, please
forgive me. My family and I live on almost 2 acres in an older neighborhood in a small Southern Oregon city. Recently building started on the acreage abutting ours - a three storey, 96 unit apartment of low income housing! Now I'm not about to say that low-income people can't live near me, especially since my husband and I are closer to low-income than we are to middle-income. But I am uncomfortable with the fact that many of those apartments will be looking directly into my windows. So we've decided to plant trees on the border between our property and the new neighbors. We're leaning toward decidious trees, something attractive, with seasonal changes. We may want more privacy, but we want it to be a beautiful change. I just don't know what to plant. We're hoping for fast growing trees, not especially expensive. The site has good drainage, but also has a good water source in the form of an irrigation ditch that flows between our lot and the lot under construction. There are no power lines to consider, although there is a metal sewer line that is buried underground within 10 feet of where the trees will be planted. We are not considering planting the entire 330 ft border with the same tree, we'd like several kinds to add more interest. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly |
#2
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Choosing trees
In article , "Shelly" wrote:
Hi, I hope you can help me, but if I'm in the wrong newsgroup, please forgive me. My family and I live on almost 2 acres in an older neighborhood in a small Southern Oregon city. Recently building started on the acreage abutting ours - a three storey, 96 unit apartment of low income housing! Now I'm not about to say that low-income people can't live near me, especially since my husband and I are closer to low-income than we are to middle-income. But I am uncomfortable with the fact that many of those apartments will be looking directly into my windows. So we've decided to plant trees on the border between our property and the new neighbors. We're leaning toward decidious trees, something attractive, with seasonal changes. We may want more privacy, but we want it to be a beautiful change. I just don't know what to plant. We're hoping for fast growing trees, not especially expensive. The site has good drainage, but also has a good water source in the form of an irrigation ditch that flows between our lot and the lot under construction. There are no power lines to consider, although there is a metal sewer line that is buried underground within 10 feet of where the trees will be planted. We are not considering planting the entire 330 ft border with the same tree, we'd like several kinds to add more interest. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly Plant lombardy poplars. They grow like weeds and they'll block the view, while some slower growing trees grow just inside of that row. Lombardy's are cheap and that water ditch will make them grow fast. Deciduous will let your new neighbors look into your house all winter. Do you want that? I'm low-income, but I'll be damned if I want to look into anyone's house or have anyone looking into mine. Just because we're poor doesn't mean we don't want some dignity, for Pete's Sakes! The folks who move into that complex will be used to trading their dignity for public assistance. It would be cool of you to give a little bit of that back to them, in the form of privacy and a sound buffer. Jan |
#3
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Choosing trees
On Tue, 17 Jun 2003 23:14:22 -0700, "Shelly" wrote:
Hi, I hope you can help me, but if I'm in the wrong newsgroup, please forgive me. My family and I live on almost 2 acres in an older neighborhood in a small Southern Oregon city. Recently building started on the acreage abutting ours - a three storey, 96 unit apartment of low income housing! Now I'm not about to say that low-income people can't live near me, especially since my husband and I are closer to low-income than we are to middle-income. But I am uncomfortable with the fact that many of those apartments will be looking directly into my windows. So we've decided to plant trees on the border between our property and the new neighbors. We're leaning toward decidious trees, something attractive, with seasonal changes. We may want more privacy, but we want it to be a beautiful change. I just don't know what to plant. We're hoping for fast growing trees, not especially expensive. The site has good drainage, but also has a good water source in the form of an irrigation ditch that flows between our lot and the lot under construction. There are no power lines to consider, although there is a metal sewer line that is buried underground within 10 feet of where the trees will be planted. We are not considering planting the entire 330 ft border with the same tree, we'd like several kinds to add more interest. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly If you can dig up some close to a wooded area they will most likely be native trees--strong and climatized. Dig large holes, dump in some peat moss, and water water water. Deciduous trees won't offer privacy during the winter months. |
#4
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Choosing trees
Phisherman wrote:
If you can dig up some close to a wooded area they will most likely be native trees--strong and climatized. My dad did that in Texas and we wound up with a yard full of cottonwoods. They were the biggest trees in the neighborhood and offered lots of shade, but the roots did a serious number on the foundation and got into the pipes. They're gone, now, but they did a lot of damage first. Don't plant anything that you wouldn't buy. |
#5
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Choosing trees
"Shelly" wrote in message ... Hi, I hope you can help me, but if I'm in the wrong newsgroup, please forgive me. My family and I live on almost 2 acres in an older neighborhood in a small Southern Oregon city. Recently building started on the acreage abutting ours - a three storey, 96 unit apartment of low income housing! Now I'm not about to say that low-income people can't live near me, especially since my husband and I are closer to low-income than we are to middle-income. But I am uncomfortable with the fact that many of those apartments will be looking directly into my windows. So we've decided to plant trees on the border between our property and the new neighbors. We're leaning toward decidious trees, something attractive, with seasonal changes. We may want more privacy, but we want it to be a beautiful change. I just don't know what to plant. We're hoping for fast growing trees, not especially expensive. The site has good drainage, but also has a good water source in the form of an irrigation ditch that flows between our lot and the lot under construction. There are no power lines to consider, although there is a metal sewer line that is buried underground within 10 feet of where the trees will be planted. We are not considering planting the entire 330 ft border with the same tree, we'd like several kinds to add more interest. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly Penty of ideas! ... red maples (Acer rubrum) will do well, with wonderful fall colors and many varieties to choose from, each with a slightly different 'coloring' times .. Careful selection of varieties will give you a continious show from late august to mid october. They are quick growers and many get to heights of 40-50 feet with 30 to 50 foot crowns. Common and inexpensive. Might maybe possibly invade the sewer line. Northern red oak "Quercus Rubrum". fast grower, pretty danged big when full grown (60ft tall w/ 60 ft spread) Not invasive of water/sewer lines. Might be difficult to find and/or expensive Linden trees (Tilia americana OR Tila Cordata) are another nice choice. Can grow to be well over 80 ft tall (take THAT oh intruding housing project!) Heavily scented blooms in spring. Transplants well Yellow fall foliage OOH! Bald Cypress (Taxodium distchum) should do wonderfully for you in Oregon! Likes wet conditions (drainage ditch and Oregon wetness!) a pretty pyramidal shape, gorgeous bark and has decidious needles that turn an interesting shade of brown before dropping. (They also make a kicking mulch!) They usually reach 70 ft tall with a 30 ft spread. Don't leave out your native Mahona, either... And best use an evergreen to screen the veiws into your back porch, patio, deck area from the apartment dwellers. everything else can be as deciduous as you wish |
#6
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Choosing trees
I'm in Washington state - hello neighbor.
There are some native trees that would be hardy and healthy in your location- well, actually southern oregon ranges from rainforest to desert, so I'm not sure exactly where you are, but I'm sort of assuming Ashland/Medford area or else Klamath Falls. Anyway, you could consider the Oregon big leaf maple, the Oregon Garry Oak, native species of alder, native dogwood, etc. The advantage of any of these would be minimal maintenaince after they are established (one year of irrigation, then they'd be on their own). Non-natives that grow well in Oregon are things like Catalpa (pretty flowers in July, HUGE heart-shaped leaves), linden, black locust (although this suckers profusely), several varieties of oak and maple. You could mix in a few evergreen flowering trees - the native madrone, evergreen magnolia, a tall variety of English holly - to give you some privacy during winter months. Good luck. " |
#7
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Choosing trees
Jan Flora wrote: In article , "Shelly" wrote: Hi, I hope you can help me, but if I'm in the wrong newsgroup, please forgive me. My family and I live on almost 2 acres in an older neighborhood in a small Southern Oregon city. Recently building started on the acreage abutting ours - a three storey, 96 unit apartment of low income housing! Now I'm not about to say that low-income people can't live near me, especially since my husband and I are closer to low-income than we are to middle-income. But I am uncomfortable with the fact that many of those apartments will be looking directly into my windows. So we've decided to plant trees on the border between our property and the new neighbors. We're leaning toward decidious trees, something attractive, with seasonal changes. We may want more privacy, but we want it to be a beautiful change. I just don't know what to plant. We're hoping for fast growing trees, not especially expensive. The site has good drainage, but also has a good water source in the form of an irrigation ditch that flows between our lot and the lot under construction. There are no power lines to consider, although there is a metal sewer line that is buried underground within 10 feet of where the trees will be planted. We are not considering planting the entire 330 ft border with the same tree, we'd like several kinds to add more interest. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly Plant lombardy poplars. They grow like weeds and they'll block the view, while some slower growing trees grow just inside of that row. Lombardy's are cheap and that water ditch will make them grow fast. Deciduous will let your new neighbors look into your house all winter. Do you want that? I'm low-income, but I'll be damned if I want to look into anyone's house or have anyone looking into mine. Just because we're poor doesn't mean we don't want some dignity, for Pete's Sakes! The folks who move into that complex will be used to trading their dignity for public assistance. It would be cool of you to give a little bit of that back to them, in the form of privacy and a sound buffer. Jan Lombardy poplars are seldom recommended for urban settings - the grow too fast and too big, are weak-limbed and prone to wind damage and sucker rampantly. Few reputable local garden centers even offer them for sale. Columnar European hornbeams (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' or 'Franz Fontaine') make an excellent privacy screen. They are moderately fast growing, relatively inexpensive, will reach a size compatible with most city gardens and have a very dense, upswept branch system which provides very effective screening properties even when the tree is out of leaf. Very tidy, crisp green foliage in season, followed by a golden fall color. Additionally, they offer a rather narrow profile which makes underplanting or filler planting in front of the trees simple. Other narrow columnar trees could work also, but few will offer the same winter screening potential of the hornbeams, unless they are evergreen. pam - gardengal |
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