Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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Monday - April 27, 2015
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Planting, Trees
Title: Fastest growing shade tree for Austin.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
What is the fastest growing shade tree suitable for Austin? We are anticipating selling or renting our house in two to three years and want a shade tree for a baked full sun area of the yard that will be largish and well established by then. Thank you!ANSWER:
When planting a tree, there are multiple factors to consider, but three important ones are; tree selection, the size when planted, and growing conditions.
I”m going to provide you with several links that should prove helpful. The first is a previously answered question that is very much like yours, and has some examples of possible trees for you. Pay attention to all the links to the Texas Tree Planting Guide in the answer.
The second is a forum on fast growing trees. Note the the comment by "jobert" about the starting size of the tree.
Two other links are about cedar elm and bur oaks and also have useful information.
More Trees Questions
Need suggestions for plants for a privacy screen for a pecan orchard in Chappell Hill, TX.
September 21, 2011 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
My family has just begun converting our land in Chappell Hill, TX (Washington County) into a pecan orchard. We had to clear a lot of the overgrowth around the edge of the proper...
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Thinning out of maple tree following heavy winds
July 26, 2008 - A 15 yr old red maple lost significant fruit in spring from heavy winds, in summer the tree seems thinned out. Is this the reason? Tree is otherwise very healthy and has always had thick foliage in ...
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Small trees for NJ shore
April 22, 2011 - Hello! What's a good native shrub or small tree to feature in my front yard in Brigantine, NJ, on the Jersey shore. Sunny site, dry, sandy soil. The yard is very small. I'm trying to design a l...
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Is a wasp colony in hollow in my oak tree harming it?
November 26, 2013 - I have wasps colonizing a hollow portion of a live oak here in my backyard in Austin ten feet from my backdoor. They are yellow and black banded, maybe an inch long. Two questions:
1. Are they hurt...
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Will Black Walnut trees grow in Boerne TX?
June 01, 2011 - Was curious if any one sells Black Walnut Trees??? They used to be around the Boerne, TX area and I wondered if we could try to grow them.
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