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…
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.
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.
a Japanese maple would be very nice
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.
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.
I bet those are not power lines but cable/phone lines. In Brownstone Brooklyn power lines come in from the street underground.
I’ve always heard recommended Fall to plant a speciman tree like those suggested, too.
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.
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.
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.