Featured Blog: Shade and Beauty - Get It Right The First Tile

They took it down today (Sunday); the last overgrown, ill placed evergreen tree in my yard. 

I'll mourn for the branches to use at holiday times for wreaths, arrangements, table decorations.  

But I'll sleep better during storms knowing this one, broken at the top, split down the side, planted much too close to the house, will not take a strong wind and land on my roof.

This is the 21rst tree I have had removed from my average sized lot in the last 20 years. 

First there was the crabapple tree in the front yard, my yard and the neighbor's.  It was enormous.  It was spectacular in the spring.  We could tell it would be because there were bushels of crabapples on the ground that fall when we moved into the house in late September.

City crews removed a lot of brush and trees as they upgraded our road; however they left a large female Linden tree.  When it bloomed in the spring the perfume from the blossoms was hypnotic. 

Later came the fruit that mingled on the ground with the crabapples.  At first I thought those little "berries" were rabbit droppings.  Knowing nothing about Linden trees I was concerned.  I did know nothing would have a chance to grow if there were that many rabbits in the area. 

The Linden remained in the yard for a number of years until it became a squirrel condo.  When I'd bump the outside of the tree there was a distinct hollow sound.  That Linden had to come down before it went down in a storm.

Before I had any work done on the property I had an arborist I knew come out and assess what really needed to be done.  Trimming, pruning and removal of trees is an expensive business.  I knew I couldn't have everything done at once.  He gave me a list in the order the work should be done and quoted prices.  This was very helpful.  I had been right, at that time I couldn't afford but the most severe problems.

There were two Arborvitae in front of the bedroom windows.  They had grown well beyond the roof line, had grown together and negated any light or air passing throught the windows.  They had to go.

Mountain Ash can be lovely trees, well shaped with colorful berries.  But when planted years earlier only 24 inches from the foundation of the house they were now presenting major problems to the siding and the foundation, not to mention blocking light and air from two windows.

Seedlings that had grown to maturity were over taking the fences and ruining some bushes.  Walnut trees sprouted and grew everywhere thanks to the big walnut tree and a lot of help from the resident squirrels.  The birds had planted a lot of mulberry seeds so those trees were plentiful. 

A storm had partly demolished a big cottonwood and an ash, both falling on the fence and grazing a neighbor's roof.  And there were more, lots more ....

Trees are an asset.  We all want some shade, a lovely specimen tree.  Just take care when deciding what tree to plant and where to plant it.  Do get rid of the seedlings before they decide to take up permanent residence.  Female trees have less pollen but they do bloom and they do have fruit.  Know what you are planting.  Buying a tree on a whim isn't a good idea.