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BARF arborists I need your advice

kevin 714

kevin 714

New member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Location
Mugello
Moto(s)
LOLWUT?
Recently purchased a home (yay!). It’s a small and modest but cool old 30’s bungalow. I quite like it, and the lot of weirdly huge. The only drawback is it’s east west facing, and it gets a LOT of sun in the afternoon,, and I’ve definitely developed some light abs gear sensitivity over the last few years.

I’d like to take advantage of the large wrap around yard to plant some trees, for natural shade and heat reduction, plus I’m not wanting to maintain a large lawn in what looks like a drought cycle.

Thoughts on best compromise better fast growing trees and yet strong wood so falling isn’t too much an issue long term? Location is Sonoma county. They’d be within about 15’ of the home, near the side walk
 
Abacinator said:
Fruitless mulberry?
Click to expand...

Fruitless mulberrys do grow quickly BUT, the ones I had at my old house in Gilroy shed a lot of seeds that are often like a dried sticky berry that sticks on things and stains concrete and other materials.
 
we recently hired an arborist to come out to our new property and evaluate the trees and educate us on them (age, condition, maintenance and how to keep them healthy). we have mostly black oaks and ponderosa pines, but also fir, redwood, birch, maple, madrone and cedar. it was a phenomenal experience - like a master class in trees. she said both the madrone and cedar are fast growing (tree-wise) and especially suggested planting additional cedar if we wanted more wind and sun breaks.
 
We really liked how the magnolia bush and fig trees we planted have grown very quickly in only 3-4 years. The fig trees started as a small 5’ tall sprig. Now is over 20’ tall and 15’ wide. The magnolias were the same and has grown about the same. I only fertilized once when planted and they are growing in the clay soil. Our one pommegranite tree also has grown huge but not as big or as quickly.
 
kevin 714 said:
Recently purchased a home (yay!). It’s a small and modest but cool old 30’s bungalow. I quite like it, and the lot of weirdly huge. The only drawback is it’s east west facing, and it gets a LOT of sun in the afternoon,, and I’ve definitely developed some light abs gear sensitivity over the last few years.

I’d like to take advantage of the large wrap around yard to plant some trees, for natural shade and heat reduction, plus I’m not wanting to maintain a large lawn in what looks like a drought cycle.

Thoughts on best compromise better fast growing trees and yet strong wood so falling isn’t too much an issue long term? Location is Sonoma county. They’d be within about 15’ of the home, near the side walk
Click to expand...

Maybe Crepe Myrtle or Japanese Maple.

We have both and both are deciduous and grow quickly.

Urban Tree Farm will talk to you about both and options; they have TONS of trees and each tree type comes in various sizes.

The even sell full grown trees! :laughing

They will drive you around in a golf cart the place is so huge.

Fulton is essentially part of Santa Rosa.

URBAN TREE FARM NURSERY 3010 Fulton Road - Fulton, CA 95439

https://www.urbantreefarm.com/?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB
 
kevin 714 said:
Recently purchased a home (yay!). It’s a small and modest but cool old 30’s bungalow. I quite like it, and the lot of weirdly huge. The only drawback is it’s east west facing, and it gets a LOT of sun in the afternoon,, and I’ve definitely developed some light abs gear sensitivity over the last few years.

I’d like to take advantage of the large wrap around yard to plant some trees, for natural shade and heat reduction, plus I’m not wanting to maintain a large lawn in what looks like a drought cycle.

Thoughts on best compromise better fast growing trees and yet strong wood so falling isn’t too much an issue long term? Location is Sonoma county. They’d be within about 15’ of the home, near the side walk
Click to expand...

You might want to consider arbors and fast growing vines that can cover the arbors. These can be used to shade a sundrenched wall in a relatively short time.
 
What's your soil like? You don't want roots staying at the surface, especially near sidewalks.
 
motomania2007 said:
Fruitless mulberrys do grow quickly BUT, the ones I had at my old house in Gilroy shed a lot of seeds that are often like a dried sticky berry that sticks on things and stains concrete and other materials.
Click to expand...

Hasn't been an issue for ours. We had it pollarded in the fall and it's already pretty full again, perfect for shading the front of the house now that it's starting to get hot.
 
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GAJ said:
Maybe Crepe Myrtle or Japanese Maple.

We have both and both are deciduous and grow quickly.

Urban Tree Farm will talk to you about both and options; they have TONS of trees and each tree type comes in various sizes.

The even sell full grown trees! :laughing

They will drive you around in a golf cart the place is so huge.

Fulton is essentially part of Santa Rosa.

URBAN TREE FARM NURSERY 3010 Fulton Road - Fulton, CA 95439

https://www.urbantreefarm.com/?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB
Click to expand...


Think I’m gonna look into this it’s only a few exits away
 
GAJ said:
Prepare to have your mind blown.

They are very helpful, been around forever.
Click to expand...

2nd this recommendation. Also OP listen when they tell you “small trees grow faster than bigger specimens”

Mulberry is a good choice and is in wide use for its kindness to sidewalks. A hearty vine is also a great suggestion. Walk your neighborhood and see what is growing well.

Some fast growing softwoods are getting hammered by borers. Even native live oaks are susceptible to SDOD. But there are 10s of options for you situation. You could even plant a hop wall. Those things grow 4” per day in a good spot.
 
scootergmc said:
What's your soil like? You don't want roots staying at the surface, especially near sidewalks.
Click to expand...


Not all that great LOL it’s Sonoma county so prob plenty of Adobe in there

Basic search shows Autumn blaze as a potential, think I’m gonna schedule with the place linked above and get some hands on local expertise
 
GAJ said:
Maybe Crepe Myrtle or Japanese Maple.

We have both and both are deciduous and grow quickly.

Urban Tree Farm will talk to you about both and options; they have TONS of trees and each tree type comes in various sizes.

The even sell full grown trees! :laughing

They will drive you around in a golf cart the place is so huge.

Fulton is essentially part of Santa Rosa.

URBAN TREE FARM NURSERY 3010 Fulton Road - Fulton, CA 95439

https://www.urbantreefarm.com/?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, GAJ, for ruining my productivity today :mad
I went through their entire product list on their website! :wow
I'm already planning a trip up there :laughing
 
Congrats on the new home!
I grow succulents but they are very small compared to trees. If you ever want some babies lemme know.
Congrats again!
 
I can’t offer any specific species but please plant trees that are native to your region.
 
KrustyKruser said:
We really liked how the magnolia bush and fig trees we planted have grown very quickly in only 3-4 years. The fig trees started as a small 5’ tall sprig. Now is over 20’ tall and 15’ wide. The magnolias were the same and has grown about the same. I only fertilized once when planted and they are growing in the clay soil. Our one pommegranite tree also has grown huge but not as big or as quickly.
Click to expand...

Downside to fig trees is that's it's figapocalypse from August to September. Basically few pounds, at peak, every other day. Not to mention weight gain from all the dry figs. Lol
 
UDRider said:
Downside to fig trees is that's it's figapocalypse from August to September. Basically few pounds, at peak, every other day. Not to mention weight gain from all the dry figs. Lol
Click to expand...

Very very true! I have lots of family and we eat and use quite a bit of figs. But the tree gives great sun shade to the side of our house. I just wish our avocado tree would grow quicker. Probably be about 15 years more before we see any fruit from it.
 
Currently living under a fruiting mulberry for the past three weeks, I don't recommend it. I have nothing directly under it, the berries look like blackberries, with all the staining that goes with. I wash off the concrete pad many times a day so I won't track the staining inside. Rolling tomorrow, heading for Sturgis, , ,

A mountain hemlock gave me fits with all the flowers overloading the fresh air system on my truck. Dash needs to be pulled to clear it all out.

Had a fig tree when I was a kid, every time I get to see one I'll walk around it and graze. :thumbup
 
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