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Small Evergreen Tree Suggestions

17 years ago

Afternoon All.....

Could you recommend a smallish (c. 15 - 30ft) evergreen tree which I can place next to my new deck?? I would obviously like it to be native but don't care if it is native to the area, state or country. Ideally I would like it to provide a nesting site for birds and/or provide them with food during the winter months

I am in z5 NY. The site is towards the bottom of an incline/small hill but doesn't sit in water like at the very bottom. The site is south facing and so receives full sun all day. The soil is clay and is currently covered with weedy grass, it has NEVER been amended with anything

Thanks for your help

Claire

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Comments (4)

ladyslppr
17 years ago
I like American Holly. It grows rather slowly, but it grows as a nice, pyramidal tree, has berries that birds eat (generally waiting until winter to eat them), and it makes nice christmas decorations. You should probably plant two - a male and a female - to make sure you get verries on the female. If you plant two about 5 or 10 feet apart they will grow into a single shape. If you plant more than two, you need only one male for each 4 or 5 females.

Under a holly is not a great place to grow things - the hollys have shallow roots, I think. A layer of mulch would keep down weeds and maybe you could find some wildflowers that would thrive there.
Scbnymph
Original Author
17 years ago
Thx Ladyslppr.....American Holly sounds like a nice suggestion, the berries would certainly be appreciated I would think. I 've been looking into Dwarf Pines also
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I like the variety idea, too. Except for the fact that it's a small area, that is. The previous owners put a shed up so there's a narrow path between that and unattached garage that basically leads straight back to the spot in question. Right now there's a butterfly bush that, if not kept well trimmed, pokes at us as we wheelbarrow past with stuff for the compost pile. If I can remember, I'll take a picture of the offending clothesline and spot tomorrow. I love all of these suggestions! I can't decide, now.
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All trees drop their leaves - the only difference is when, and whether it's all at one time. I have a huge wisteria which drops an enormous quantity of leaves onto a paved area in autumn. I HATE sweeping. So the leaves are left until they have all fallen and then get cleaned up in one foul sweep and put onto the garden. Wouldn't suit a lot of people (like my friend who regularly washes her front fence) but gardening is such a personal thing. From the sound of things, you are only going to have one tree. Make it a tree that you are going to be happy to have and happy to live with. Forget the evergreen ash. How about taking a walk through your botanical gardens and similar places and looking for "your" tree. Council parks and streetscapes, as well as leafy suburbs will also provide examples. If staff or owners don't know what the tree is, ask permission to obtain a piece and take to a nursery for identification.
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nywoodsman
17 years ago
American holly is a beautiful tree but you wont be walking barefoot around your deck too much,at least not anywhere near that tree.The summer leafdrop is very painly to walk on.My favorite slow growing longlived native evergreen by far is the Eastern red ceader,Juniperus virginiana.Many beautiful cultivars available.Easy to transplant from the wild.
Scbnymph
Original Author
17 years ago
NYWoodsman.....Thank you for the heads-up re. the leaf drop on the Holly, I hadn't considered that. Since there will likely be a lot of bare feet walking in that area I will have to find a place for the Holly elsewhere in the garden.

Eastern Red Cedar huh! I had been looking at Junipers but wasn't completely sure if they were native and also am hesitant as I don't want a tree that will eventually get to 700ft tall!!! Now I think I will make a strong effort to find a suitable Juniper for my site. What exactly is termed slow growing??

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