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| Kind Garden-webbers, please suggest a tree for my back yard. It's a large flat south-facing back yard with no power lines. We are in USDA zone 10a (sunset 21?) on the top of a LARGE hill in NE Los Angeles, inland. I dont' know much about trees so here is what I *THINK* I want...(but there may be things I am not considering.) Low and wide -- but with a big canopy which has enough clearance that I can put a table under it. I want to wrap lights around an overhead branch. I don't want to block the view too much from upstairs, if that is possible. Hopefully it doesn't drop lots of sticky stuff. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 12, 12 at 19:07
| clearance below.. is a function of your dreams.. and your pruning saw .. such does not occur naturally.. and done properly.. does not harm the tree ... my base question to your.. is what is your budget ... and i dont mean actual dollars ... but your hanging lights dreams.. is 20.. 30 years down the line.. unless you are willing to spend ten of thousands of dollars ... also.. you want the tree 6 to 8 feet high below ... but no taller than the windows above ... whats that 15 feet??? .. i dont know how that works.. unless the tree is planted way off to one side ... things to think about ... and we need a lot more facts.. and a pic or two of the yard.. and from the windows above.. might help.. as well as dimensions of the yard.. etc. any other real facts.. gets you closer to real answers .. as of right now.. to fill all your variables.. i suggest a pergola .. and many much smaller trees .. ken
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| One of California's native Live Oaks is probably what you want. Don't know which one and there are several to choose from. May take 10-20 yrs. before it gets big enough to do you any good. I'd suggest plant one of those where you want it on one side of your yard and on the other a temporary/faster shade solution to be cut down once your oak has grown enough. Either : A. Plant a trio of Arizona Cypress somewhat close together (these will block a portion of your view eventually)and locate table near them. They should provide shade much quicker than oak and the color is nice. You may decide to leave one or two. They are fairly long-lived and relatively clean, drought/disease resistant, etc. Excellent choices in themselves. or B. Plant a Mimosa tree : These will get 8-15' high and spread out nicely. They will drop flowers and are considered a trash tree with a short life, but they would match exactly what you wanted for providing a tree with low spreading canopy to shade a picnic table and hummingbirds love the flowers. |
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| Visit local collections with mature trees such as the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia and The Huntington in San Marino to see what kinds you might like. |
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