Tree landscape ideas needed

Developer · LA, Nashville TN · Member since 2015 · 295 posts · 75 votes

In order to get sign off from Nashville metro Forrestry department, they made my GC install a total of 7 trees. The three in the front are Oak trees. In order to complete the job, the GC just threw the trees in the middle of the yard.

I intend to remove some or all of the trees since I already am approved so these trees don't overrun my yard, but might want to add some nice smaller trees around the yard. Suggestions?

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Malkia Ra

Rental Property Investor · Prince George's County, MD · Member since 2022 · 177 posts · 187 votes

Builders and GC's often do a bad job at tree selection and placement.

Oak trees will get HUGE; and your GC placed three of them on the front lawn... sheesh.

Pulling them up now will save you tons of $$$ later. You can always donate them.

If your property is close to others, consider planting screening trees for privacy (green giant arborvitae, Nellie Stevens holly and crypotomeria, for example). And perhaps "anchor" trees on the corners of your foundation. Do a Google search for "residential landscaping" for some ideas.

Evergreen trees are the best, green year-round with no messy leaves to clean during fall/winter. Be sure to know how much sunlight your property receives and whether or not your area has deer.

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Luka Milicevic
Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3y
Italian cypress, Taylor juniper, and the best would be liquidambar styraciflua ‘slender silhouette’.
All of these grow tall but stay slim.
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Leland S.
OP
Developer · LA, Nashville TN · Member since 2015 · 295 posts · 75 votes
3y
@Luka Milicevic
impressed with your species knowledge. I need to get the list from Metro and find out what I like. Those are nice options, they also grow tall. I could put them down the side of the property instead of clogging the front/back
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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
3y
I don't know what type of oaks those are in the front but they are way too close together and are going to be ridiculously out of scale. Why did the GC pick oaks?

I'm also in TN. Depends on the effect you're looking for. If you don't want a solid wall of greenery, go for something deciduous in scale. Redbuds and Dogwoods both do great here in TN and are smaller scale trees that don't require a lot of upkeep. American Dogwoods do get anthracnose but if you make sure they're getting some sun it will keep it down. Redbud can put up with more sun than dogwoods in my experience.

If you want greenery, American Holly is a TN native tree that will give you privacy, deer generally hate it and it has few disease problems. Hathornes are cool trees too (also native) but have a lot of berries to drop. They are deciduous as well.

My preference is to always try to stay native as much as possible :)
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Malkia Ra
Rental Property Investor · Prince George's County, MD · Member since 2022 · 177 posts · 187 votes
3y
Builders and GC's often do a bad job at tree selection and placement.

Oak trees will get HUGE; and your GC placed three of them on the front lawn... sheesh.

Pulling them up now will save you tons of $$$ later. You can always donate them.

If your property is close to others, consider planting screening trees for privacy (green giant arborvitae, Nellie Stevens holly and crypotomeria, for example). And perhaps "anchor" trees on the corners of your foundation. Do a Google search for "residential landscaping" for some ideas.
Evergreen trees are the best, green year-round with no messy leaves to clean during fall/winter. Be sure to know how much sunlight your property receives and whether or not your area has deer.

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Leland S.
OP
Developer · LA, Nashville TN · Member since 2015 · 295 posts · 75 votes
3y
@JD Martin Thanks!
I'll look into those. The approved tree list is here: https://www.nashville.gov/depa...
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JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Leland S.:

@JD Martin Thanks!
I'll look into those. The approved tree list is here: https://www.nashville.gov/depa...

Eastern redbud, white dogwood and crabapple are all native trees. Redbud and crabapple are virtually trouble free, native dogwood gets anthracnose (another one of those asian diseases where there's no immunity) so you have to spray it with fungicide. Any of those 3 are going to stay under 25 feet in height and roots that are well behaved.

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Henry T.
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Seattle will not let you cut a tree, even on your own property if the trunk is larger than 6". Be careful what you plant especially over sewer lines. I like fruit trees. Plum and Pear seem to stay manageable. Privets, Little gem elm?
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Brian S.
Rental Property Investor · Wilmington, NC · Member since 2020 · 22 posts · 20 votes
3y
@Leland Smith if they’re newly planted they should be very easy to dig up and put back in pots. The place they were purchased from may take them back or give you credit for new plants. Also agree with the Italian Cyprus if it’s a two story home. Emerald green abortive are great too for mini screening trees and low maintenance if you can let them get full size 5’x15’. Great that you’re changing it now before it’s a problem.
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Leland S.
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Developer · LA, Nashville TN · Member since 2015 · 295 posts · 75 votes
3y
@Brian S. It's a tall building. Privacy screening would be help as it's on a busy road/intersection.
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