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Posted: Mar/16/2008 8:41 PM PST
I have a question about planting trees. I have about 15 feet between my house and my neighbors fence (the total square footage of where I want to do some work is roughly 680 sqr ft.). That side of the house gets full western exposure and the sun can be pretty brutal in the summer. I'd like to plant a couple of trees to shade the windows in the summer but not block the sun in the winter. I'd like to keep the height of the trees no more than 20 feet. I would also like to keep it native (in Maryland right outside of DC). I was thinking dogwood but am not sure that'll give me the shade I'm looking for. One last thing, I want to avoid root creep at all costs. I don't need a tree's roots invading my foundation. Any thoughts? |
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Posted: Mar/18/2008 8:24 PM PST
Dogwoods have really shallow roots. Maybe a crepe myrtle would do. |
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Posted: Jun/22/2008 4:26 PM PST
What ever tree or large shrub you decide to use you need remember the trees root system will generally grow the same size as the trees crown or top.there are situations where this is not true, however most healthy trees need a good sized healthy root system to suport them. Also sprinkler watering can cause excess roots to spread shalow under the soil or grass, try deep root watering to help roots grow deeper. Sorry I dont know natives from your area good luck. |
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Posted: May/05/2009 9:22 AM PST
Trees with deep roots like a crepe myrtle might work. In my experience having dug up a number of them, I have noticed that the roots are not always wide spreading, but more deep....Really deep. There is a wide variety of colors to choose from and you can prune a crepe myrtle into a fine shade tree for a small area and you can also determine how tall you wish it to be when you cut it back each year. I am not sure about Japanese Maples. They may tend to spread further than you would like but you may want to look at those as well. |
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Posted: May/05/2009 9:28 AM PST
Welcome, artsy. Where in SC is Powdersville? |
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Posted: May/05/2009 4:43 PM PST
Looked it up, it is near Clinton, SC |
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Posted: May/05/2009 7:06 PM PST
Flowering plum or pear may be a good choice, too. Don't know about their root systems, but they are manageable trees. |
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