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April 14, 2008
small tree for rowhouse backyard
We are considering planting a small tree in our rowhouse backyard, which gets good sun. THe place where the tree would grow is close to power lines. Can anyone recommend a pretty tree that will not grow too large, that flowers but does not attract flies? I have heard dogwoods mentioned, but wouldn't know what kind or whether they get too large.
Comments
Dwarf Cherry trees don't get too big and they have a beautiful show of small white flowers before bearing fruit.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at April 14, 2008 4:56 PM
A Magnolia or Crepe Myrtle would be nice.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 4:57 PM
I've got an apple that bears what seem like golden delicious apples...its great...and 2 fig trees. The apple has great white flowers in the spring....you could get anykind of flowering fruit tree...cherries and plums probably the nicest...and the plum has plum colored leaves. The fig doesn't flower but you can't beat the fresh figs!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 14, 2008 5:10 PM
Dogwoods, redbuds and dwarf cherries are great choices for this kind of spot. A magnolia, this far north can be a little fussy, plus the flowers have big rubbery petals that are kind of gross once they hit the ground.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 5:12 PM
Dogwoods, redbuds and dwarf cherries are great choices for this kind of spot. A magnolia, this far north can be a little fussy, plus the flowers have big rubbery petals that are kind of gross once they hit the ground.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 5:13 PM
5:12 I've been walking around brooklyn for the last 2 weeks admiring the amazing magnolias. To each his own though.
OP: I suggest checking wayside gardens and parks landscape online as they give good information on the hight you can expect from their trees.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 5:18 PM
5:12 is right about the magnolia...its beautiful for about one week and makes a mess when all the petals fall off and then a bigger mess in the Fall.....a southern magnolia evergreen is a different story...they are beautiful but some grow quite high
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 14, 2008 5:20 PM
I can't think of a messier tree than an apple or fig, Dave.
Plus, both attract flies. One thing the OP was NOT looking for.
Magnolias are gorgeous. All either blooming or about to right now.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 5:49 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers great FREE services and much information. Be specific about how much light/sun the area gets and the size of the area (width spread, as well as hight limitations due to the power lines. Do you want one that flowers for a short time, or a longer time? Do you want one with colorful leaves when the flowering is done? Their arborists can give you great info. I went there in person and they were very helpful: what I had in mind turned out to be rather desease prone, so they helped me make another choice. Good luck:)
Posted by: parkslopemom at April 14, 2008 5:52 PM
I've never had a fly problem with my apple or fig trees. If anything you have to beat the birds to the figs. They drop no more leaves than any other tree.
Magnolias are gorgeous for about one week and, like 5:12 said, they make a mess when the petals drop. I know, I have one of those too.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 14, 2008 6:10 PM
Very few productive fig trees are hardy this far north. It's best to get 2 or more for productive cross polinization. If you really want one spend enough money to get one that is more mature and baby it through the next year while it develops a good root system.
In fact, in this area it is really best to plant new trees in the early fall. They need time to focus on root growth before flowering, leafing, fruiting and contending with stressful summer heat.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 6:25 PM
Agree with Parkslopemom re: BBG. In fact, their giant Plant Sale, which features trees and shrubs, is coming up the beginning of May. You can go there and get great free advice and see the trees, too.
Posted by: guest at April 14, 2008 8:36 PM
River Birch are quite nice. I've seen them growing successfully in Brooklyn backyards. There are many on the Pratt Campus as well. Some varieties are more appropriate for local conditions than others.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 10:06 AM
I've always heard recommended Fall to plant a speciman tree like those suggested, too.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 10:26 AM
I bet those are not power lines but cable/phone lines. In Brownstone Brooklyn power lines come in from the street underground.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 11:39 AM
Regarding magnolias:
The magnolia you would probably want is the Sweet Bay (native) or Stellata types. The southern magnolia does not do all that well in our zone. It survives but does not always thrives...gets leave burn in winter...and if you would like trees to drop their leaves so you get more sun in your windows in winter, the southern magnolia will continue to cast shade. There is a relatively new crossbred magnolia (southern magnolia with, I believe, a non-native type). It is deciduous and blooms with white, medium large, teacup flowers throughout the summer that have an intriguing "scented powder/grandma's soap" fragrance. You really can't get your nose away from the flowers. The tree might be a little too big for your spot. It grows a bit like a sweet bay magnolia but larger. It may have been bred at the BBG along with the yellow magnolia Elizabeth...am not sure...Ask the BBG outreach people who will probably know more about this "ever" blooming magnolia.
NATIVES:
o Unless the spot gets A LOT of sun, don't plant a dogwood tree because of anthracnose.
o Redbuds are native but may get a little too tall for the spot. Also, I have seen them die off as street trees...am not sure of the survival rate in urban backyards.
o But if you can go up to 20 feet, think about the rare Franklinia or a Dwarf Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinoides).
o Serviceberry/Shadblow may work. They are native with very lovely, though white flowers...though the flowering period can be very brief. They usually stays at about 15 feet max.
o Smokebush might be the right size if you don't want to go over 12 feet
o Witch hazel can be worth a try. The native one blooms in the fall if I remember correctly, and the North Asian varieties bloom in late winter.
o Some of the hollies can be attractive though many available cultivars are not native. It may be very nice to have foliage in winter (most are evergreen though we have smaller native deciduous types that are also worth at try)...and it almost always seems there is usually a male holly bush somewhere in the nabe since individual female plants seem to have decent fruit set...though you might want to plant a male holly along with the female just to make sure you get good "Xmas" cuttings with full berries for the mantle.
NON-NATIVES:
o All the dwarf and semi-dwarf fruiting trees and ornamental cherries and crabapples can work...some fruit trees are generally short-lived such as apricot and peach. Also, with nut and fruit trees (stone fruits like apricots)...the squirrels tend to get the whole crop eating the nut inside. Be prepared/resigned if you think you'll ever taste a home-grown Brooklyn apricot. One native stone fruit is the beach plum. Might be a good size for your garden. [Note that most of our native fruiting trees (chokeberry, persimmon, paw paw) tend to get too large for Brooklyn backyards and your needs.]
o If you don't necessary need to have a "tree" planted in that spot, see about, maybe, a tall lilac or deutzia. There are a number of very tall shrubs that can be lovely. Even good old mock orange (the native one can get very big but has no fragrance) and vase-shaped rose plants can work.
o Bamboo may be a possibility. There are lots of varieties that might work. [The native bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea) won't grow this far north and without a wet environment.]
Japanese maples also come in just about every shape, size and color.
Wrapping up, if winter sunlines to your windows are not an issue, I would encourage planting evergreens. Certain types with heavy needles and horizontal branches serve as great winter protection for birds, give you some winter green, and can be thick enough to help screen out undesirable views and noise.
One last thing, you can achieve a charming effect if a healthy apple tree has a rambling rose weaving through it, cascading down with a hybrid clematis to pick up the slack into summer. You'll have spring, late spring/early summer and summer, possibly fall blooms.
Have fun but do your research.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 6:53 PM
Oh, yes, and there are the hawthorns (both native and non-native). They can be great for the backyard scale.
Have fun planning a lovely, green, positive space.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 7:01 PM
a Japanese maple would be very nice
Posted by: MsBrooklyn at April 16, 2008 10:24 AM
There are many dwarf choices for urban yards. We have a fantastic dwarf red maple - dont know exactly which one - but after 12+ years is only 7 feet tall is has fantastic blood red leaves.
you might also want to consider a evergreen/conifer - something with character that is green year-round.
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 3:28 PM
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