If you leave it,you're going to be cleaning pine needles forever.Personally I know I wouldn't want to be doing that.also for me personally,I hate pine trees.Then again I Don' t have to live there.

How do you feel about pines in general,do you like them,tolerate them,like cleaning up the mess they make etc.

Also to me,those pictures looks like the tree is leaning,is it??
Jon
Kathi

Strong ocean breezes there? Those trees are leaning.

If it shades the house, the value toward reducing A/C costs would outweigh a lot of other variables. And it gives you a shady spot in the heat of the afternoon to enjoy the yard. Since it is not leaning toward the house, I'd leave it.

A cordless vac or a leaf-blower set to vacuum makes quick work of pine needles.

I'll leave the landscaping advice to those with So. Cal. experience.

tj

Yorkie,
I may live in South Carolina, but that tree is ugly.
I would have it cut down.
The tree at the street is creating alot of shade too, and that has to be taken into consideration when you go to plant new plants there.
Can you see the shade in the pic?
Go to a local real privately owned nursery for plant suggestions. They will know which succulents to suggest that will live in your area, and tell them about the shade too, unless in the heat of the summer there is more sun on that spot of the front lawn.
I like your idea of a dry bed, and succulents. You won't have to wter very much either, which will benefit your water bill and the environment.
After you are done, post a pic please.
Love to see after pics.

Yes I'm leaning towards removing it as well. As you can see in the pics, it won't even fit on the pic. It's like 40+ feet high maybe 55??

I think that you're right maintenence and the fact that this thing is leaning and will get worse in 5 or more years.

Anyone have suggestions about a tree that will not get too big that will look nice here? I've heard Acacia and Palo Verde trees are good for dry landscapes

Do these things just keep growing indefinitely?? :-)

I don't like cutting down any living thing especially one so large, but I think it might be best in this case.

That's a Cook Pine, or Araucaria columnaris... they often lean... does not mean they are going to fall down. But they do drop foliage (not too many individual needles like most conifers, but still, can be a bit messy)... but I, unlike the others here, like Araucarias and after growing succulents in So Cal for so many years, I find there are a number that appreciate a bit of shade, if not even quite a bit of shade... and some need something to climb up etc. Not taking up much room and the shade this Araucaria creates is rather narrow and minimal... still, does not really fit in the 'scheme' of a succulent garden... though I don't really stick to schemes much.

Wow I came upon the Palo Verde "Desert Museum" it looks BEAUTIFUL. Maybe I'll replace the Pine with this.

Anyone have first hand experience with a Palo Verde tree? I heard the desert museum doesn't shed as much seeds/ leaf litter as others, but most Palo Verdes shed a lot of litter. Do you think this could be a problem, which I'm trying to avoid with the Pine?

Here is a link that might be useful: [palo verde desert museum[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/great-design-plant-desert-museum-palo-verde-phvw-vp~5750043)

Sorry Izrrdr just read your reply after I sent my other.

You are correct a lot of the succulents- sedums, aeoniums during summer, even some aloe will need some shade.

I'm not particularly a fan of pines. Maybe if there was a huge yard that might fit in.

But like u said, it doesn't really fit in. Even with the little cottage style house, it really dwarfs the house. It's like 850 square feet and one story and the tree makes it look even smaller than it is.

Either way your input is helpful, any others are appreciated as well

No, it doesn't fit, but I think most about the wildlife, the birds living in it. It's not an ugly pine tree like the ones I have to put up with, either... I mean, we have some uuuugly pine trees, haha. That really is a nice tree by pine tree standards. And it's healthy and not at all taking over the facade of the house or shading the whole yard.

For your landscape goals, it might not completely fit, sure, but I don't know that it would ruin the landscape style, and some plants like a little shade, so it could be made to work to your advantage. The tree might also better fit the goals of a future owner someday. Perhaps doubtful, I know. There will be those who will treasure a yard with a shade tree, and I'm one of them. It's a place for people to rest and a place for plants with certain needs. Not everything I like wants all-day direct sun.

Trees give a space some personality. I personally tire of seeing flat yards with solely direct sun, even with the beauty of succulents. It just seems harsh and hot with the sun, and the yards begin to feel very flat and standard to me. But I know this doesn't bother many Californians. I'm used to rolling hills where I am, so wanting an open, flat yard is completely contrary to what I am used to and contrary to my view of landscape beauty.

You are considering a replacement tree, though, so you can ignore that... :)

I'd find a way to honor that tree in my landscaping plans, hell or high water. ;) If I had a large tree I wanted to keep, I'd consider placing a bench below it, creating a stone path leading to it, something to give the tree a positive spin and encourage a future owner to keep it. But that's just me and my idealistic way of things.

This post was edited by teatree on Tue, Mar 18, 14 at 0:31