Skinny trunks, big poofy tops :)

NOSfusion

Ello,

I am looking to plant trees in the front of my yard just along my fence line. I have about a foot of ground space between the fence and the hill. The front side of my home is exposed to sunlight from sunrise to sunset. Thus I am looking for trees that have skinny trunks (maybe an inch or two in Diameter) but seem to have an abundant amount of leaves. Preferably, six feet or more from the ground. The goal here is to be able to still see through my yard to the road/neighbors while achieving some sort of shade. The closest thing a found were these Nuttall Oak trees.



Just wanted to know if there is something better out there that isn't so triangular shape. Maybe something similar to the trees from the childrens book "Dr. Suess' Lorax".

Thanks for the help!
`Noob to landscaping

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Eric Frei

Bamboo?!

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NOSfusion

something with a bit more of "poof" at the top. Looking to create a layer of shade with leaves.

Therrin

Ahah! Slender trunk and a poof at the top. You could plant a whole forest of palm trees!

NOSfusion

Great idea! Do you think a palm tree could survive in the great Northwest? It rains about nine months out of the year here lol

NOSfusion

Ok, so I found out some information regaurding palms in the PNW. Turns out some can survive. Now I'm on a mission.

Thanks for the help...


Here's some pictures I found of snow covered palms in Seattle if anyone is interested :]

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Therrin

Um..before you go too much further with this.

I'd like to let you know that I was COMPLETELY KIDDING about the palms!



They're really a very poor idea. They give very little if any shade, and the older they get the more mess they make, as well as the less shade they give you. Very very BAD idea. You shouldn't do it. Big waste of money and time.

Then again, if you really like them... hey! It's up to you.

Um, down here in SoCal I don't typically see palms enjoying snow. Freezing can kill them, I think the heads fall off or something.

dov

Haha! Reminds me of one of my old neighbours where I grew up. His banana plant got fruit on it for the first time - then it snowed. Weirdest thing you've ever seen.

The closest thing to a 'Truffula' from 'The Lorax' that I can think of is Cordyline Australis. Nice trees in the right setting, but not perhaps what you are after.

Therrin

yeah once i realized she wanted something only an inch or two in DIAMETER, i went

Maybe she meant a FOOT or two?

dov

The palms I can think of that might create a bit of shade - Date palms and Canary Island palms - also have reasonable sized trunks - especially the Canary Island palms. They are also horrible, horrible things to live with.

Brent Ferris

There is a book - available from Amazon.com

Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas [Illustrated] [Hardcover]
David A. Francko

that you might want to check into.

NOSfusion

So the more research I've been doing the more I found out how costly and risky the palm idea was haha. andway, can someone please tell me what type of tree this is?

(Cedar Hill, TX - Official Website)

This has a very thin trunk, and it's got a "good size" amount of leaves

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS AND GALS!

Therrin

Well, after visiting that link and CLICKING ON THE PICTURE , I was directed to this paragraph.

I would imagine that if the two trees they are giving out as part of that free program are Southern LIve Oaks and Shumard Red Oaks... then if you're really interested in getting a tree as part of that program, those are the two you'd have a choice from.