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We are considering purchasing two more trees to put in our backyard to act as a privacy fence. We recently cut one tree down because it died, and now our kitchen window faces the neighbor's windows that are always open. We currently have four Bradford Pear trees that turn green and white depending on the season.
So here's the question... With the Bradford Pear trees turning white once a year, should we choose another white tree or go with the pink tree? My wife wants to go with the pink ones for color, but we're also wondering if it will look weird with white trees.
Here is a picture of our yard now...
Where we are considering putting the trees...
This is the rest of the yard showing how we have trees lining the entire fence.
Sometimes, a garden/yard that looks too planned (a.k.a. in which there is two of everything b/c of a concern for symmetry) looks just as weird as one with all of the same colors. I would actually only get one dogwood (pink) tree and then something else, like a Japanese maple (purple).
Just a different thought, what about a fruit tree so that it can give something back to you beyond just the spring flowers and fall leaves? Maybe a pair of semi-dwarf peach or cherry trees?
You may really only have room for one tree. The bradford pear on the left (top photo) still has much growing to do. Maybe a taller flowering or fruiting shrub for the corner and a tree on to the left? Add another shrub or two between the existing bradford pears in the top photo?
Sometimes, a garden/yard that looks too planned (a.k.a. in which there is two of everything b/c of a concern for symmetry) looks just as weird as one with all of the same colors. I would actually only get one dogwood (pink) tree and then something else, like a Japanese maple (purple).
I agree. I think a redbud in the mix would be interesting. Forest Pansy redbud has purple heart shaped leaves and I think their lacy look contrast nicely with dogwoods. red-bud-and-dogwood.jpg
Dogwoods bloom for a very brief period in the spring. Blossoms are pretty, but not a good way to choose a tree.
You should plant the tree which best suits the conditions in your target area and has the fewest disease problems. I believe both of these trees are grafted?
Pick the dogwood which will be healthiest tree in your conditions, nonwithstanding the color of their [short lived] blooms.
Grafted dogwoods do suffer from some serious disease problems. Choose a healthy tree breed, not a flower color.
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I will check into the Red bud tree also. The two choices I mentioned above were our picks out of the 5 trees available at Lowe's near our house. The rest were large maple trees (autumn blaze maple, october glory maple). All of the ones sold near us are for zone 7.
I vote for the pink. And I second the idea of redbud - they are beautiful, and far less susceptible to problems, than dogwoods. One more suggestion...cut down the Bradford pears! They stink in the spring, and the first really good windstorm you have, once they have any size on them, will take'm out.
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