AboutMarc Chapelle, ASLA Expertise As a licensed Landscape Architect, I am available to answer general questions about style and design, ideas and suggestions for site amenities, larger site-planning issues, or recreational and park design. I prefer you ask somebody else why your petunias are not as perky as they should be...I'd LOVE to tell you how can use those petunias to increase your home's value!
Experience Member, American Society of Landscape Architects(ALSA); My clients are mostly contractors, developers and local civil engineering/architecture firms, plus the occasional homeowner. I am currently located in the dry Great Basin area (Reno/Sparks), so use of landscape materials OTHER than plants is emphasized. As a licensed Landscape Architect on the East and West Coasts, I have been in practice over 18 years. My website: DesertLA.com
Expert: Marc Chapelle, ASLA Date: 7/7/2008 Subject: I need help selecting a tree
Question I have a raised deck, which looks onto our neighbors back yard, and live in a zone 3 climate. I want to put a tree in between my deck and my fence to get a bit of privacy.
My main concern is the tree will have to be planted about 8 feet away from the house, and I do not want a risk of having the roots damage the foundation. I was originally thinking of a Swedish Aspen as it is a quick growing tree that isn't very wide, but I read somewhere that the roots will damaged a foundation.
Do you have any suggestions? Ideally I would like a faster growing tree so I do not have to wait years to get privacy...
Thank you for teaching ME something. I have specified all sorts of trees from Schmidt for years, and didn't know about this unique tree, until today.
You are correct that Aspens and Poplars generally have invasive root systems. Where I live, they are banned from commerical landcapes.
I called Schmidt's horticulture department, and they assured me that they specifically selected out the invasive rooting problem - It is their #1 question asked about this tree. It is also DECIDUOUS, which means that 1/2 of the year, it is bare stems. Mind you, this would be in the winter months, when you are probably not using your deck, anyway.
If you want more columnar tree suggestions for a zone 3, try looking ar the Columnar Oak, Bowhall Maple (both Deciduous), or the Leyland Cypress (evergreen - but not good in high wind areas). Planting larger trees to begin with will give you that "instant" feel. And, 8 feet is a good distance for these colomnar trees...No closer than 5 is OK.
Don't forget to look UP, too. 40 feet is mighty tall - Are there power lines or other trees in the way?
