You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
This is our very first home and the builder left us with a very sad excuse for landscaping.
Anyway, they put in a Yaupon Holly tree where the focus of our flowerbed should be and this tree is just downright sad.
I am in Dallas, Texas (Zone 8) and I am looking for a replacement tree.
I would like something bright and showy and I do not like plants with yellow as the main show color.
My other problem is this spot is kind of up against my house, with a gutter drain above where the tree will be planted.
The gutter makes me worry a little as the tree there is doing so poorly and when I read up on basic causes for trees that look like this it was over watering.
We really do not get much rain here in Texas, it comes in, dumps a whole bunch and then the storm is gone in an hour or two.
I am currently looking at either a Pink Dogwood (I think this might get too big/tall for that area) or possibly a Jane Magnolia.
ShadeWraith, the Japanese Magnolia (Jane or Susan, both have great color) would be lovely there, but I would suggest
1. Move the new tree forward a couple feet to clear the roofline. Determine the canopy size of the tree, divide that by two and add 1 foot. If a tree has canopy spread of 10ft, then set the tree at least 6ft from the roofline. This keeps the foliage off of your roof. Also, it helps keep roots away from the foundation.
2. Add a diffuser to your downspout (you can get them at any home improvement store) they just spread out the water flow to prevent washout
3. Create a slight rise for the tree (setting the tree a few inches higher than the surrounding area. This is called turtlebacking.)
Hope this helps.
4. Use weed block landscape fabric on the area to help keep the soil in place while the tree gets established. You can plant a few annuals like pansies or violas around the tree to help with this also.
I've never heard of turtlebacking. I suppose it makes sense though. I mean, I've seen the technique in action but I never knew it was actually called turtlebacking.
I would also have to agree with you about moving the tree out. If you are going to go through the trouble of digging up the old one, you might as well get it positioned exactly where you need it.
Great advice.
I can't find a picture of this plant you are talking about, do you have one? I'd really like to see what it looks like.
