The House Plants Thread
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Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!
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You think you know a thing or two about growing.... then you read a post like this.
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Siliconemelons
Naxxramas 1.0 Raider
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Looking for some advice for a challenging situation:
- small bed in a condo patio with high walls, so max 3 hours of sunshine a day, sometimes blocked by trees
- very poor soil, clayey
- prefer a perennial that doesn't require a lot of water
- southern California coastal climate
- small bed in a condo patio with high walls, so max 3 hours of sunshine a day, sometimes blocked by trees
- very poor soil, clayey
- prefer a perennial that doesn't require a lot of water
- southern California coastal climate
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Olscratch
tour de salt
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Can confirm all of this, worst job I ever had. Was paid under the table too. I think I made it 2 months which felt like 2 years.
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Sludig
Potato del Grande
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Low margins, so not a suprise.
In Colorado. Need to plant 2-3 tree's. Looking for something that gets fairly tall but not gargantuan and relatively wide. Parents suggesting some pear or another forget name. Any other suggestions? I have a $100 voucher from the city that has a species specific list, but dont have it handy and willing to go outside the list for the perfect match.
Basically need a tree for behind slightly raised deck in backyard to try and shade the house which gets full broadside of the sun and overwhelms the AC. (Set 76 and usually hits 80 or so in high summer) Other one is front yard to replace a small tree that died when we bought house, shade is nice but not quite as important. (Front yard off the porch, don't want to completely cover house from street afterall.
Eventually probably some smaller ones for the back fence line which is open mostly so neighbors and I can see in each others kitchens. And bunch of aspen where here and starting to get >10 years old and die off. So also rows of small ones for side fences.
In Colorado. Need to plant 2-3 tree's. Looking for something that gets fairly tall but not gargantuan and relatively wide. Parents suggesting some pear or another forget name. Any other suggestions? I have a $100 voucher from the city that has a species specific list, but dont have it handy and willing to go outside the list for the perfect match.
Basically need a tree for behind slightly raised deck in backyard to try and shade the house which gets full broadside of the sun and overwhelms the AC. (Set 76 and usually hits 80 or so in high summer) Other one is front yard to replace a small tree that died when we bought house, shade is nice but not quite as important. (Front yard off the porch, don't want to completely cover house from street afterall.
Eventually probably some smaller ones for the back fence line which is open mostly so neighbors and I can see in each others kitchens. And bunch of aspen where here and starting to get >10 years old and die off. So also rows of small ones for side fences.
Caliane
Avatar of War Slayer
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Small tree out front. are you sure you even want a tree? blueberry bush, butter fly bush, lilac, rhododendron, mountain laurel, holly?
there are small decorative trees as well, but personally, I rather go bush out front. small and not blocking road view, as you say.
Shade tree is tough. First, best answer will be from someone local. I can't tell you exactly what local pests you have and might need to avoid. Any large tree, which will be there for decades, and possibly near you house, should be something relatively safe from blights, and not endanger your house.
Example:
Tree Diseases in Connecticut - Exotic and Native - CTPA
What's Killing Our Ash Trees in Connecticut? - Barts Tree Service
Fruit trees tend to be smaller, and slower growing then a typical shade tree. Especially if you prune it for fruit.
Pears require 2 species for cross pollination btw. you need a barlett+bosc, or barlett+d'jou, etc. So, you need at least 2 pear trees to get pears.
Various fruit trees are like this. Bing cherries need a pollinator, such as stella. Stella ITSELF, does not.
Fruit Tree Pollinators Chart
General hardwoods may have that same problem in speed. An oak is a wonderful shade tree... 30 years from now.
Crab apples are relatively quick, but wont top 20-30ft. so limited in shade potential, often you can't walk under them. But, also, will not grow over and damage your house during storms.
there are small decorative trees as well, but personally, I rather go bush out front. small and not blocking road view, as you say.
Shade tree is tough. First, best answer will be from someone local. I can't tell you exactly what local pests you have and might need to avoid. Any large tree, which will be there for decades, and possibly near you house, should be something relatively safe from blights, and not endanger your house.
Example:
Tree Diseases in Connecticut - Exotic and Native - CTPA
What's Killing Our Ash Trees in Connecticut? - Barts Tree Service
Fruit trees tend to be smaller, and slower growing then a typical shade tree. Especially if you prune it for fruit.
Pears require 2 species for cross pollination btw. you need a barlett+bosc, or barlett+d'jou, etc. So, you need at least 2 pear trees to get pears.
Various fruit trees are like this. Bing cherries need a pollinator, such as stella. Stella ITSELF, does not.
Fruit Tree Pollinators Chart
General hardwoods may have that same problem in speed. An oak is a wonderful shade tree... 30 years from now.
Crab apples are relatively quick, but wont top 20-30ft. so limited in shade potential, often you can't walk under them. But, also, will not grow over and damage your house during storms.
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We have a huge American Elm that dominates the entire lot. It somehow escaped the genocide of Dutch Elm Disease and is likely about 100 - 115 years old. It along with a 100 year old White Oak from the neighbors yard create a ton of work for me to pick up after but I consider it totally worth it. They shed a lot but they make great pets. I have no real advice other than to say that I find it quite agreeable to live underneath these behemoths. Can't grow grass for shit in the back yard though, so there's a price to pay.
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Mrs. Gravy
Quite Saucy
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If the pear suggested is a Bradford Pear...run away...that is not the shrubbery you want. It is evil.
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Upload to imgur, takes like 2 seconds. Then link here. Same like everywhere else FoH being like one of the only exceptions.
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Yeah. Top heavy, smelly, and invasive. They do look cool for a couple weeks a year, but that doesn't really make up for it.
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Sludig
Potato del Grande
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We already have some bushes/roses along the front deck, but like I said shade might be nice, and keep the lawn more shaded. Even with heavy watering the grass seems to suffer more there than on the other front side under a tree and the backyard.
I wasn't sure how regionally tree choices would be, I assumed some. Colorado is famous for the damn borer beatles of course, one of my aspens has some kind of scale. Need to check the big front tree on the other side again, it had something going on causing little clusters of closed leaves.
The pear my parents recommended was a huge son of a bitch. Had it in texas. Grows the tiny little pea sized non edible fruit, not an actual harvestible fruit tree. I dont think I want anything fruit bearing, just the added bugs and pests and clean up is a pita. (We had fruit tree's in back in texas)
Caliane
Avatar of War Slayer
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yeah, region matters a good deal. Forestry dept might be the best place to ask really.
ps. heres more on Bradford pears.
The Curse of the Bradford Pear
honestly, any shade tree will take decades to actually shade. be aware of that. Especially a 100$ tree which is 2-3 years old.
Also, consider nuts. Oaks, etc dropping acorns. Annoying, or attracts dear/squirrels/turkey=fun!
Tulip popular might be good.
Tulip Poplar on Fast Growing Trees Nursery
Liriodendron tulipifera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ps. heres more on Bradford pears.
The Curse of the Bradford Pear
honestly, any shade tree will take decades to actually shade. be aware of that. Especially a 100$ tree which is 2-3 years old.
Also, consider nuts. Oaks, etc dropping acorns. Annoying, or attracts dear/squirrels/turkey=fun!
Tulip popular might be good.
Tulip Poplar on Fast Growing Trees Nursery
Liriodendron tulipifera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia