Help with Choosing Tree for Close to House

9 years ago

We have a MASSIVE tree that is the only source of shade for that side of the house - but it was planted directly next to the house and we're worried about invasive roots. It currently shades the kids' bedroom as well as the entire back patio - but in addition to the roots being problematic, it reseeds like nothing I've ever seen, and our entire street is literally covered in saplings that grow like gangbusters. We'd like to replace it with something else, but we need something that will provide good shade without the roots becoming a major problem in the future. The old tree was planted maybe 4 feet from the house originally...but it's because there's maybe only 6-8 feet of room to plant anything.

The city gives out free trees, so this is our list of options:
http://www.cityplants.org/images/docs/tree_species_2014.pdf

We'd like something that will get quite tall without being too bushy (we roll out the trash next to it), and I don't mind cleaning up leaves but would prefer not to have tons of pollen or sap because my kids will rub their hands in it and bring it inside to show me. =)

We were thinking of the Bradford pear, but apparently the flowers reek, and I'm worried about the spread on the Southern Live Oak (the tree will only have about 12-15 feet of room to spread out next to the house, so something with a more upright trunk might serve better?) Silver Birch? Magnolia seems perfect except for those roots... Any thoughts or advice? We're quite new to any of this and know very little about most trees... TIA!

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
Is that the only place you can locate a tree to provide shade? 6-8' from the house is a really tight space for any tree of size. And how tall is your house? You don't necessarily need something that gets large if only a one- or two-story -- 20-30' is more than adequate and you want to stay with something that has a narrow canopy to avoid a lot of unnecessary pruning.

Evergreen will provide year round shade. I'd consider the loquat, the Agonis or the Indian hawthorn. Or even the Podocarpus - these can all be easily pruned for size as far as width is concerned but it is really only the podo that will require much.

If you want deciduous, the redbud, crape myrtle or jacaranda. Everthing else will get far too large or too wide or have issues with debris or pollen. Or simply grow too slowly.

Roots should not present an issue with the foundation as long as the foundation is structurally sound. Pavement could be at risk, as any tree has a potential to develop surface roots that can lift paving.
thursdaymcgee
Original Author
9 years ago
The house is only one story, but we like tallish trees for the birds, etc, and need some good spread at about 8 ft to block the kids' window from the sun. The shade is less important in winter since it's cold enough not to be necessary - our deciduous usually don't drop leaves until December, and then regrow by early March.

I love the Redbud but was worried the trunk would be too squat. Same with the crape myrtle since it's so thin and branch-y - the current tree has a trunk that fills that hole space (about 4 feet or more in diameter), so the gap that's going to get left is going to look quite strange I fear...
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years ago
Can you post a photo of the area. Is this on the side of the house?

Bronze Loquat is a good clean tree, doesn't get too big, just big enough. Good shade. Fairly well behaved as trees go.

'Majestic Beauty' Rapheolepsis grows about 3" a year, so your kid will be 35 before it shades his room.

You can see good photos and descriptions of the trees on your list at Selectree Cal Poly SLO

Here is a link that might be useful: loquat @ Selectree Cal Poly SLO