Where to find young trees? Our garden is as bald as my dad's head

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I love trees and have planted lots of them here in Texas and am glad to see other people doing it here also. I can't understand having a house with almost no trees or shade around it here as hot as the summers are. I tend to like trees that provide good shade in summer and don't make much of a mess in the fall. I planted some really nice Red Oak trees at our first house, which provide wonderful shade now, but they are a big mess and a lot of work to clean up all the leaves they drop every fall.

In most instances I was planting trees for shade in Summer but also wanted the sun in Winter. I also wanted them established fairly quickly, so slow growing oak trees were not a good choice, plus the oak leaves are very sturdy and tough, don't biodegrade quickly and so they are a lot of trouble to clean up every fall.

The following trees are nice shade trees that do not make a big mess in the fall. The leaves are small or thin, not much work to clean up and biodegrade quickly.

Chinese Pistach - good shade trees, this is one of the species that the City was giving way a few years ago to encourage people to plant more trees in their yards. I have planted three now and am very happy with the results. Great shade trees that grow relatively quickly.

Texas Persimmon - a smaller, slow growing shade tree with very pretty smooth silver barked trunks. Slow growing but very attractive silver trunks.

Crepe Myrtles are another small tree that will grow tall enough to provide good shade around the house if you water and fertilize them, and they make very little mess in the fall.

City of Austin provides some good plant guides here. City of Austin - City of Austin - Grow Green

I have always bought my trees at any of the local plant stores. I'd probably go check the Natural Gardener if you are in Southwest Austin. The Natural Gardener: Organic Gardening Headquarters

Thank you, CptnRn! I can't believe people are so nice here. Thanks again

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by neddy

I would not bother planting trees however till the drought is over.I know its hard to wait if you planted now you have a good chance of losing them.

Heehee. we are still doing indoors. we upgrade our floors and plan to do planting after we finish everything indoors.

Thank you

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by Lil_ly

We love Round Rock Gardens and Countrywide Nursery up here in Round Rock. The staff at Round Rock gardens are very helpful and very knowlegeable. Love that place. If you want a great tree that grows very fast and in any soil and takes sun and shade, I highly recommend the wax mrytle.

wax mrytle. That name sounds french

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Thanks for the tip on Ted's Trees, however it looks like it is in EAST Austin, on Tillery north of E. 7th street, not SOUTH Austin.

Of course from where you live it may all look like SOUTH Austin to you.

It is south to me~

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by nmnita

If fruit trees are what you want, I would suggest late winter or very early spring. As for your dad's head, does he know how you feel about his head?

Nita

Hi Nita. we loves his head. it is such a good toy for small kids.

[vironica.ee]

Originally Posted by inthecut

Are your Burritos as big as your Dad's head as well?

heehee.
I really wish so. It is hard to make burritos as shiny as my dad's head.

[orangetravelerJP]

I've found that most of the staff at the Natural Gardener are very knowledgeable and more than willing to answer any questions. They only carry plants that are native or will grow well in this area. After a summer like this one it's easy to see why those types of plants should be used! I compared their tree prices to Lowe's once and found they were very comparable but Lowe's sells lots of things that really should not be planted in the Austin area. It's easy to be swayed by things that look great at the store but will not make it through a summer here. Stick to a nursery that specializes in native plants and you'll have much better results! My vote goes to the Natural Gardener.