Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Feb 18, 2012 6:08 pm We have just moved into our new home & I'm now nutting out our landscaping plan. Here is a pic of the house to see what were working with Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We live on 2 acres (but not landscaping it ALL) our front yard from house to road is just under 15m deep & width I'm not sure of but it's wide We are having a gravel driveway & I'm thinking of lining it with maybe 3 or 4 moptop trees on each side. I have been searching for a suitable feature tree to put in aswell & considering a claret ash, would that be suitable? Any other recommendations? I want a largish tree as it's such a big area, I don't want it "lost" Also, how many meters should it be from the house so it doesn't fill the gutters with leaves? I'm also working out what trees to put on the backlawn area, I want some trees to provide shade for the kids to play. Area hasn't been really worked out but it will be about 10m deep by 16m wide. Bearing in mind that the area surrounding the yard is all our land so doesn't matter if it overhangs as such. I was thinking another claret ash for shade but not sure what else I should scatter around? Watering shouldn't be an issue as we need to use up plenty of water from our sand filter septic system, our fruit trees are getting it all at the moment & it's too much for them!! Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 2Feb 18, 2012 9:08 pm Change of plan I love the look of mop tops, a house nearby has several & I always admire them when I drive past! However after doing lots more online reading I have seen lots of reviews saying they have a massively invasive root system. I don't think I want one of them let alone eight! So can anyone recommend another species of tree that I could line my driveway with? I want something that stays fairly tidy looking as neither DH or I are really interested in shaping the trees ourselves Maybe something like this?? http://www.flemings.com.au/topten_detai ... D=CRIMSENT Or I quite like the look of this ornamental pear but would it have to be spaced far away from the driveway due to the low leaves, I don't want our cars scratched! http://www.flemings.com.au/ornamental_d ... T_ID=GLENS Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 3Feb 20, 2012 7:27 pm I have some ornamental pears (pyrus capital) along my driveway This variety grows very narrow, the branches grow up rather than out. You can always prune back some of the lower branches. I've also used Prunus "Crimson Spire" which is also quite narrow growing, with lovely dark red leaves. Hope this helps Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 4Feb 20, 2012 8:30 pm Thanks for your advice! Actually we had "pyrus capital" ornamental pear in our last house, we only planted it about 18mths before we sold but it was nice, I'm glad you reminded me of the name. Had a read on the Flemings website & it apparently grows well in heavy soil which is hard to find, most trees seem to like well draining soil & ours is a heavy clay. I did a google search on the "Chanticleer" ornamental pear & there were lots of reviews saying they have an "interesting" smell.... Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 5Feb 20, 2012 10:04 pm I think the smell refers to the blossom flowers? Our Capitals don't smell though, and they are doing really well in our clay soil. The Crimson Spires also don't seem to mind the clay. Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 6Feb 22, 2012 7:51 pm I am in the same situation as you and did want mop tops until reading the downfalls of this tree. I am now contemplating this http://www.flemings.com.au/topten_detai ... T_ID=GLOBE. Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 7Feb 22, 2012 9:57 pm The ornamental pears can have the lower growing branches cut off to raise the canopy- I did it with the ones we had at our last place. I didn't mind the scent from the blossom on the Chanticleers! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 8Mar 03, 2012 10:21 pm kezza71 I am in the same situation as you and did want mop tops until reading the downfalls of this tree. I am now contemplating this http://www.flemings.com.au/topten_detai ... T_ID=GLOBE. Thanks very much for that link Looks like the perfect alternative to the troublesome Robinia, very helpful! Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Front & backyard trees - Claret Ash? 9Mar 03, 2012 10:24 pm Deemaree The ornamental pears can have the lower growing branches cut off to raise the canopy- I did it with the ones we had at our last place. I didn't mind the scent from the blossom on the Chanticleers! Cheers Deemaree, I do like the look of the ornamental pears & that's a good idea about cutting off the lower branches. I'm thinking of scattering 2 or 3 in our front yard garden beds, surrounded by native ground covers. In my head it looks great but who knows how it will turn out, I'm no gardener Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 A survey must’ve completed by a certified surveyor. 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