Edge trees

I’m about 25 minutes east of Charlotte and looking for some good trees to go along the border of a soybean field and near a road.

Primary looking for shade trees in the back bordering the field since that’s where the sun sets in the summer and tree that would be good filters for whatever comes off the field/road.

Thinking about Ginkgo and maybe some Poplars.

Nice area to put some trees!

Are you thinking several stand-alone (that will get large like you mention shade tree)? Or maybe those, mixed with an understory?

I'm fond of the spicebush, redbud, and watever other little trees sprout up among them under those larger ones - personally I like to leave areas under larger trees somewhat undisturbed...if mowed maybe once a year - taking note of seedlings coming up you might avoid and let grow.

I's hard to beat diversity - I think ginkos are amazing! Plant as you wish, and then give space around it for the others. In just 4 years or less there will be welcome cedars, oaks etc to fill in as nature runs its course.

I planted 11 white pines thinking it'd be great around the berm of the hill the house is on...well 2 years later only 1 survives. Theres lots of other things I didn't plant filling in though :) Some things are still there, like around 20 2 year old paw paws started from seed...I figure why not incorporate some of them among the edges and under trees that are alive now.

I understand reason for mowing around some trees though too, especially if weed seed spread is a concern?

I'm no expert on regions, just know a little about whats around here, but wanted to add that sycamores are great trees and in those field edges if theres wetter areas that would be cool, pretty sure they are fast growing and resilient.

I sprouted hundreds from on seed ball this season and going to place them around some dug out water catchment areas.

Maybe you could do some trenching/mounding in your tree areas you want to create there?

These are great suggestions. We just moved in last month and I’m only started to get some general ideas so far.

I know we are going to put a patio off the back and incorporate a kitchen garden around it with blueberries and other berries. Eventual goal is to have a walkable edible property but I know this house of going need definite shade.

Other places around the house I’m thinking some oaks, weeping willow for a soggy area near the left side of the house (mid-afternoon sun). These will be the upper portion with fruit trees, tea bushes, asparagus bushes etc catching the rest of the sun.

I would want to plant fast-growing trees that are evergreen.

What type of trees are native to your area?

This article lists several that are pretty and evergreen:

https://www.thespruce.com/fast-growing-trees-5070367

Anne Miller wrote:I would want to plant fast-growing trees that are evergreen.

What type of trees are native to your area?

This article lists several that are pretty and evergreen:

https://www.thespruce.com/fast-growing-trees-5070367

I was thinking of doing some evergreens a little further out from the house as a privacy screen. The winter sun hits the front of the house and (in the picture) that right side, didn’t want evergreens too close and blocking the winter sun. Summer sun gets the front, same side as winter sun and the end at the back.

Evergreen Trees
Atlantic White-cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides Ti-ti, Cyrilla racemiflora
American Holly, Ilex opaca
Topel Holly, Ilex x attenuata
Eastern Red-cedar, Juniperus virginiana
Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora Sweet-bay, Magnolia virginiana var. australis Common Wax-myrtle, Morella cerifera syn. Myrica
cerifera
Red Bay, Persea palustris syn. Persea borbonia Long-leaf Pine, Pinus palustris
Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus is suitable for the
mountains though difficult to grow in the piedmont
or coastal plain
Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda
Laurel Oak, Quercus hemisphaerica Live Oak, Quercus virginiana
Eastern Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis