What to put where tree used to be?

[dr.girlfriend]

We have a big tree that unfortunately is dying and will probably need to come down.  Here is what the area around it looked like in the spring:



I understand that you can't plant another tree right where an old tree used to be...something about the dying roots not making for a good environment?  How close could I plant a new (smaller) tree, like a cherry tree?  Could I plant a big bush like lavender or something?

[winecat]

If you have hopes of getting fruit from a cherry tree, the side of your house that it would be planted on makes a big difference. Here, planting on the north side is recommended because it prevents the tree from flowering too early. Before I knew this, I planted peach trees on the south side of my house so they tend to flower too early and late frosts kill the buds. I can't remember if cherry trees need more than one tree to produce fruit/more fruit. But that's also something to check.

I love lilac bushes. Maybe you could do lavender and another bush that flowers later so that you can have color longer?

(edit lilac instead of lavender)

[winecat]

I also have Rose of Sharon in my yard. They bloom later than lilacs so it's nice to have both.

[simpsongal]

I'd probably use the opportunity to landscape the whole area differently. We have a limelight hydrangea standard ringed w/roses in a circle where a tree used to be - the plants have enjoyed the acidity of the decomposing tree material. If you want privacy from the road, I'd consider an attractive evergreen. I think you're space limited, so japanese pieris would be relatively small, maybe a camellia (though mine are like 17 ft tall now)? If that's the perfect spot for a tree you could plant one next to it and just put hostas or other plants there that would be happy under a tree.

In selecting a tree, do you want a shade tree like an oak? Or something a little smaller/more ornamental (e.g., japanese snowbell, japanese stewartia)? I love black gum trees, they're beautiful in the fall.

[deadwing]

May 26, 2021 7:35:12 GMT -5 winecat said:

I also have Rose of Sharon in my yard. They bloom later than lilacs so it's nice to have both.

You must not have the type of rose of Sharon that seeds like crazy. I have 2 and my neighbor has 1 right on our property line. I am constantly pulling seedlings and it's impossible to keep up. They're pretty but I hate them so much. So much.

I have a barren spot in my yard from where a tree was removed. I've been covering it with a picnic table, but that's going away when my patio gets built. I'm interested in what I can do with this sad part of my yard. I like the idea of a lilac bush...

[Wallflower]

With some work, you could plant a tree in the same spot - www.mayertree.com/plant-new-tree-stump-removal/#:~:text=How%20to%20Plant%20a%20New%20Tree%20After%20Stump,order%20to%20provide%20plenty%20of%20room%20for%20growth.

I'm planning something similar in one of my gardens - dying tree and it's in the perfect spot, so I'll plant something else there after I clear out the old tree.

[winecat]

May 26, 2021 8:00:39 GMT -5 deadwing said:

May 26, 2021 7:35:12 GMT -5 winecat said:

I also have Rose of Sharon in my yard. They bloom later than lilacs so it's nice to have both.

You must not have the type of rose of Sharon that seeds like crazy. I have 2 and my neighbor has 1 right on our property line. I am constantly pulling seedlings and it's impossible to keep up. They're pretty but I hate them so much. So much.

I have a barren spot in my yard from where a tree was removed. I've been covering it with a picnic table, but that's going away when my patio gets built. I'm interested in what I can do with this sad part of my yard. I like the idea of a lilac bush...

Mine don't seed/spread at all.  I have more random peach and honey locust trees popping up than I have Rose of Sharon seedlings.  

[deadwing]

May 27, 2021 11:54:01 GMT -5 winecat said:

May 26, 2021 8:00:39 GMT -5 deadwing said:

You must not have the type of rose of Sharon that seeds like crazy. I have 2 and my neighbor has 1 right on our property line. I am constantly pulling seedlings and it's impossible to keep up. They're pretty but I hate them so much. So much.

I have a barren spot in my yard from where a tree was removed. I've been covering it with a picnic table, but that's going away when my patio gets built. I'm interested in what I can do with this sad part of my yard. I like the idea of a lilac bush...

Mine don't seed/spread at all.  I have more random peach and honey locust trees popping up than I have Rose of Sharon seedlings.  

I'm jealous.  I feel like I would wish my rose of sharon trees on my worst enemy.  They're incredibly time consuming and annoying without actually being harmful haha

[simpsongal]

May 27, 2021 12:06:41 GMT -5 deadwing said:

May 27, 2021 11:54:01 GMT -5 winecat said:

Mine don't seed/spread at all.  I have more random peach and honey locust trees popping up than I have Rose of Sharon seedlings.  

I'm jealous.  I feel like I would wish my rose of sharon trees on my worst enemy.  They're incredibly time consuming and annoying without actually being harmful haha

+1 to Rose of Sharon hate!  Mine also seed like crazy

[k3am]

We pulled two trees out and replaced them with new trees in roughly the same spot. I think we had maybe a year or two gap between removal and planting the new ones (Pretty sure the trees came out pre-covid, and we just planted the new ones two weeks ago). That being said, we paid someone to do it, so we werent the ones digging out roots. He knew there had been trees there before and agreed that the locations would be the most aestheic for replanting.