AboutMarc Chapelle, ASLA Expertise As a licensed Landscape Architect, I can answer general questions about style and design, ideas and suggestions for site amenities, larger site-planning issues, or recreation and park design.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO ASK FOR A PLANT SUGGESTION GO HERE: http://www.growit.com/PlantInfo/LandScape.htm
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.org); 20+ years of working with homeowners, contractors, developers and local civil engineering/architecture firms. Currently, I design recreational facilities for the National Park Service (DOI).
I am located in the dry Great Basin area (Greater Nevada/Utah), so the 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 20 years.
Organizations ASLA (ASLA.org)
Education/Credentials BSLA in Landscape Architecture, 1989
Many additional seminars, educational venues, and classes (both taught & attended)
Awards and Honors Best Multifamily project, 1993
Best Model Home Landscaping, 1993
Question We had our back yard professional landscaped 10 months ago. We did request a few shade trees. We have two Fantasy Maples and one Carrotwood Tree. We wanted trees between 25 to 35 feet tall and we were looking for more fall colors for our backyard. The Carrotwood tree is planted 42 inches from our common fence. Our neighbor's want us to replace this tree as it is the worst tree to plant and will up root the fence and interfere with the telephone wires because it grows to big.
We just need a little more information about this tree before we make any decisions.
It has a very neat habit, but some don't like its seed & leaf litter. The roots are NON-invasive, so the concern for hurting utility lines is bunk. 3-1/2' feet from a fence is plenty of room. I've seen them planted as street trees 18" from concrete curbs with no adverse problems.
Here is another un-bias source of info(US Forest Service): hort.ufl.edu/trees/CUPANAA.pdf
Finally, there WAS a rumor a few years ago, that they are banned in LA. Not so! It is just over-used by landscapers in LA because of its low maintenance, medium growth, and non-invasive root systems. They are invasive plant in FLORIDA, and might be banned in some counties, there. I don't know about that.
(As an aside, my kids love it when I say its name in Latin - its fun!! Cupaniopsis anacardioides. Phonetically, is pronounced "Coo-pani-opsis...Anna-cardy-oy-dees" It is also called "Cupaniopsis anacardiopsis")
