I am looking for some suggestions for an upright tree to fit into a specific place. I would like something upright and not too tall, something for full sun and the ability to cast some light shade if its going to get over three stories tall(like Locust). It would have to be around 8 feet from the garage near a gutter downspout. We already have Linden, Burr Oak, crab apples, flowering cherry and flowering plum on the property. I plan on adding evergreens to the NW for wind-breaks in the fall or next year.

What do you think about a magnolia? Royal star is upright, but the house has white trim and I think they look better in front of evergreens personally. If I got a Magnolia shiraz..or another pink cultuvar, I am pretty sure their growth habit is mounding and spreading and might block the neighbors' view.

I was thinking pine, but I am worried about the gutter gushing all the water whenever it storms. Every house in the neighborhood has a colorado blue spruce next to at least one side of the house and I want to be different.

Suggestions appreciated.

==>>> never amend the soil when planting trees ...

i am also of the opinion.. that 8 feet is too close to the house for anything that gets more than 10 feet tall ... especially something that gets 30 feet tall ..

my magnolia bloom for about 72 hours in spring.. the last thing i would be worried about is the flower color matching the house trim ... and i have seen very old mag's going on 20 to 30 feet .. again .. 8 feet is too close to the house .... same with most pines.. unless you went for a pinus strobus pendula .... see link .. no shade though .. check out the conifer forum.. we have been posting all kinds of pix of unique things .....

any chance at a picture??? i have a hard time recommending things.. when i cant see the site ...

also ... what do you plan to do under your trees ... some trees are not conducive to gardening under .... so consider that in your equation ..

ken

ps: the downspout can not be realigned????

We have mags here - royal star and mag soulageanna. We have more problems with late frosts on roses and hydrangeas than with magnolias. I know several fanstatic specimens that shouldn't be alive because of soil or wind, but they look amazing and aren't cared for at all. I often see royal star growing upright.

In terms of soil ammendments, I usually plant high because we have such hard clay with no organic matter at all (new subdivision). In the winter thaws, water often puddles. I will argue that no ammendment causes the trees (non-native) to just plain give up...I add a generous amount of rotten manure, sand, pine bark chips and old potting soil into the whole and chop the clay up..no native soil ever leaves the whole (except rocks and really large clumps of clay). Ken your right though, 90% soil ammendments would cause the tree to grow only in the hole and no where else. (I am more for like 20% ammendements). If you don't add soil...you cannot plant the tree because you need to get more dirt to get the root flare a nice mound. I top-dress religiously with manure and compost once or twice a season. I dig shallow craters though, not fence posts! LOL

The downspout can be moved...but not much. I would like to garden around it, so I think Ken is right, a large tree just will not fit no matter what. I have been lurking on the conifer forum as well, and there are so many choices for a moderate dwarf...any suggestions other than strobus? I remember that E. White pine hates our clay (but Pinus flexilis - limber pine loves it). I am planning on putting these on the NW corner of the property as a wind-break.

If I divert the downspout, a lilac or royal star magnolia would fit perfectly I think, even an upright Japanese maple. Somehow I have a lot of red bushes and trees planted already ...so something green would be nice!

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