What kind of tree should I plant in my back yard?

Question

I just bought the house and there's no tree at all in the back yard. It's a small yard and there's a little already landscaped area in the middle (previous owners had nice stuff and took it when they left)...it looks stupid without anything plated there. So I thought I'd plant a tree.

I really like birch trees. I like the sound the leaves make when the wind blows and I like the white bark. But my dad says it gets icky birch tree bugs of some sort. And I dislike bugs of most sorts. So what tree is similar to a birch tree? It is the east side of the house - if that matters.

THANKS!

Answer 1

Go ahead and plant a birch tree. Specifically, Betula nigra Heritage® or Betula nigra Duraheat™.

These are River Birch and do not get Birch Leaf Miners or Birch Borers.

They come as a multi-stem tree or single stem, with attractive, salmon to rust colored exfoliating bark. (Off-White).

You will need to plant this tree a minimum of twenty feet away from your house. Put Heritage River Birch in Yahoo Search, and look in the Images heading for photos.

They are available at Nurseries in heights from 6'-8' up to 20'-24'.

Answer 2

Do you have the room for a tree? Remember their crown can get 20 feet across (minimum) and way high. Their roots will go at least 20 feet from the trunk on all sides.

Is the soil good enough for a tree? Roots grow out more than they grow down. They need water throughout that root zone, not at the trunk. Tree trunks don't have mouths to suck up water, the roots, especially the root tips, are the main water and nutrient absorbing area.

Yes, a birch under stress, such as from poor soil, poor watering habits, will get borers.

Sounds like you have a very limited area. You need to be looking at small trees: smaller crabapples, small hawthornes. An alternative is to plant a big shrub and prune it into a tree........rose of sharon?? Contact your area Master Gardeners (through the County Agent) for suggestions for your area.

Answer 3

Dad is right. Always listen to your parents!
Birch minors and birch beetles are a problem unless you live in Frost Bite Falls Minnesota. Then it is too darn cold for the bugs to live.
Also birch have a lot of webbing roots near the surface and keeping other plants alive under them, while their roots are sucking all the moisture is all most imposable.


SO, what did the last people have? You liked it. so attempt to do your own version of what you all ready liked...

Ask dad to help, you both will get to know each other so much more closely

Answer 4

the Birch is a great tree but the Birch is a big tree with massif tree roots but all in all a good tree maybe do some crape myrtles there like Natchez its a white color and they get 20- 25- foot in time for the size of the area i think crape myrtle will do its job and it will peal bark as well good luck OK

Answer 5

Mint is going loopy so far as some thing to conceal floor immediately and unfold immediately. I planted a small section final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days in a small herb backyard and this weekend in simple terms ripped a great armful out and planted it go into reverse on the aspects of our creek, considering that we've some erosion occurring there too. It incredibly went wild in there and grew to become into taking on all the different herbs and commencing as much as unfold into the backyard. besides, a floor conceal is swifter and greater helpful than wood.

Answer 6

If you live in a Zone above 7, plant an evergreen Magnolia tree.

Answer 7

I'd plant an evergreen because it doesn't loose leaves in the fall. Don't plant it too close to your house because rodents will climb onto your roof and get into your attic.