posted
LOOKING FOR; Small to medium height trees/shrubs that are #1. Structural soil suitable #2 Salt tolerant #3 Exhaust tolerant #4 Zone 3,4 or 5
I am on a tree committee for my town, we are looking for some trees or shrubs that can be placed in the structual soil, high lime tolerant, "people friendly" trees, taking to pruning, stays reasonably short~due to powerlines, able to take salt from our streets and exhausts from a major Route thru area...
Any one's suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'll get a list in here of the ones' we're looking at right now in a bit. *Busy morning!*
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
#1. Ussurian Pear #2. Smoke Bush #3. Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn #4. Eastern Redbud #5. Japanese Tree Lilac #6. Ivory Silk Japanese Tree (I know this one is a bit bigger, and slightely acidic???? but it's pretty)
What are you're thoughts???????
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Our last tree planting we planted the Japanese Tree Lilac because it is supposed to be a good street tree. I know nothing about the other trees.
We have 2 main drags through our neighborhood the one Pleaseant Run Parkway is planted with sycamores. It is considered one of the prettiest streets in the city.
The other we are just now starting to plan a streetscape. It is Washington Street and the Old National Road or highway 40.
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From: IN | Registered: Dec 2003
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I do know that the locust trees will lift sidewalks over time and the surface roots can spread up to 35'. The ash seems like a good choice, but I would get a guarantee that there are no females mixed in so that litter won't be a problem. The Summit green ash would probably be the best of the selections for your purpose.
We have sycamore as a street tree here and they are lovely but shed leaves all season long and are a bit messy.
Newt
bbbbbbbbb When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
From: Maryland zone 7 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
You all are great! Thanks for all of the responses'..... Here lies the problem, The town has taken down a building on a corner lot, and for right now, has no plans of ever putting anything there again!!! What we want to do is, map it out so that we can put in an area for some cars to park, depending on size of cars 8 maybe, they'd like 3 trees (smaller ones) on the main route side, but they have to be shorter, because of power lines. The are thinking they can put in 4 medium ones on the other side of the parking lot....on either side of the trees is also sidewalks (and almost on the edge of the lawn area was the foundation to the building, it was right on the side of it, that close. So, there's wasted "dirt" space as it is. It's a very small spot as far as I'm concerned for all that they want to do, and the major issue is, we have in the budget money to get something called Structural Soil. Urban Horticulture Institute Basically in a nut shell, It's soil that's under pavements that are highly compacted to meet load-bearing requirements and engineering standards, but still allows trees/shrubs to grow the roots to grow down and not so much out! According to the "The Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University" that's what this type of soil promotes. The concept is there for me, really it is!! But I have a hard time understanding how the tree feeds it's self later on down the road, when there is only a 4 ft wide width *(I believe) for dirt/dripline. And it's supposed to be maintainence free. *no fertilizing, watering (*except intial planting) and no way to ammend the soil later!* Also they must be able to withstand the exhausts of cars, like lime alot~because of all the foundations and pavements that excrete's it... and must be people friendly (meaning they can't scratch some one as they walk by, or drop so much fruit on the side walks they slip and roll on it.) and salt tolerant! We're not picky are we???? haha.
But then the girlie~girl in me would like to find some type of FLOWERING tree/shrub/bush to put in there. But it has to be relatively maintenance free if there is such a thing. Because I like flowers and not so much foliage.... but the fruit that it produces must be dissementated *I think that's how I spell it, so the fruit dries up or hangs on a long time and dried and useless.* But I would like trees that attrack birds so they can eat and be viewed, I know, there in lies another problem with the bird p**p? But hey, something's got to be a pain!
The original list I put on the top are the ones I've found on the master list to be the most showiest, but just was curious if there might be another one out there, that might work as well??
RUE, You said you planted the Japanese Tree Lilac? When? What's it done?? Let me know? Very Curious!
PHIL, The Sunburst Locust, it looks like a pretty tree, nice spring color to it, does it drop it's leaves like the Black Locust does?? Just curious???
Thanks for all that have posted! I really appreciate it!
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
I planted a Kwanzan cherry tree a few years ago right along the street and have done NOTHING to it. It is upright growing so you don't have to worry about branches getting in people's faces, it flowers in Spring. The salt and exhaust do not seem to bother it at all.
From: Eastern MA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Have you taken a look at the National Arbor Society's website? I have gotten trees from them - and I'm actually rather pleased (prices are really low too).
With each of their trees they specifically list if it is a good choice for such things as urban traffic.
One good thing about the site - to join the Arbor Society is $10 for which you get 10 trees - and you get to choose between 3 different packages (admittedly they are small seedlings in the packages). Then, if you order other trees - just for ordering 1 or more you get a free red maple tree and if the order is more than $25 you also get 2 free forsythias. (I was looking up some info on the fosythia when I found your site.)
Jon
Sorry Jon, I had to edit out an html tag from your post.
I have looked there, and I am wondering about writing them... The question is for the trees...is the ability to live in "structual soil" It's *IMHO* not the greatest living environment. And I am wondering how the trees feed it's selves later down the road.. But they claim it will work.
I've been researching some former towns write up's on their trees that have been planted and their out comes, some good, some favorable, so not so good, but only a handful on have been in the structual soil as it's so new???
But I do THANK~YOU SO VERY MUCH for helping!!
I love their trees, I would love a golden rain tree they had from last year!! (or a golden chain tree, I like them both)
I was going to find the guy in charge of our cemetary and see if I could donate some of those trees to them????
Thanks Jon!
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
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