Tree for north facing bed
Question from Kristina:
We’re looking for a fast growing tree or tall shrub to plant in a north facing bed that will not shade the lawn.
Answer from Pat:
Do you like Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens ‘Stricta’)? I happen to love this tree and I have planted 3 of them in my garden as strategic accents to remind me of Tuscany and the marvelous backgrounds in 15th century paintings. This tree casts a narrow shadow but of course on the north it will not cast any shadow and nor will it shade your lawn. Feed this tree once a year in March but next to a lawn it may also benefit from the lawn fertilizer with which you should be feeding your lawn at the proper times of year for lawns. Last year I had trouble finding this tree because unfortunately the patent ran out for Monrovia Nurseries special type and for some unknown reason they stopped growing the tree. I purchased instead two of their C. sempervirens ‘Mondale’ as a gift for my granddaughter and her family and these are growing well in Hollywood at my granddaughter’s home, one on each side of her front picture window. They are a more compact type but from what I hear if you feed and care for them they will eventually grow tall and should look very good.
Another suggestion if you need a screen and like a tropical look is giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai). What I like about this tree-like plant is that it fits well with a tropical look, has the look of a banana plant without the problems of bananas, is easy to prune, clean, reasonably drought-resistant, and brings Orioles, which are attracted to the the sweet nectar in the giant flowers.
Yet another possibility is a flowering tree, for example bottle brush (Callistemon). There are several of these you might consider, but people don’t like them since they are messy. This would never bother me. If I were wanting a tree to the north of my lawn I know what I would choose in a jiffy. I would love to have a weeping bottle brush tree (Callistemon viminalis) because they are not only beautiful but bring mocking birds. I have seen some lovely ones growing in Laguna Beach to the north of lawns and even in lawns. But there is no doubt this is a messy tree that drops the blossoms onto the lawn after each wave of bloom. Personally, I think they look pretty there, like a pink ring, but also I would most likely rake them up after they fall, which is good exercise.